UGH-RECOVERY MISSION TODAY....
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:51 pm
So Winter Storm Indra left its mark here in Utah-close to 2 feet where I live, and created a mess of work for me.
After blowing away all the snow in the driveway and sidewalks then trenching the back yard for the dogs, we decided to load up for our daily coffee run. I didn't get 10 yards into the cul-de-sac only to become high-centered. Not moving forward or backward and at first I thought it was just deep snow. So, being the old MOS 63H mechanic and recovery specialist I just figured I'd go to low range, engage the Lockers, and drive away. Naah, I learned quickly that 4 tires are just as high-centered as 2, all spinning freely and going nowhere. What a Mo....
So I open the garage up where the M37 sits, awaiting the call. I fired her up and pulled out within chain range, hooked up and dragged the Rubicon off the snow berm. Then in another "Mo" moment, shut off the Dodge, hopped back into the Rubicon, got a running start this time, and yeah, high-centered it 10 feet further out. Jeez I guess I needed more exercise. So, I chained up again, dragged the Rubicon to freedom and parked it in the driveway. We off-loaded the dogs back in the house then jumped back into the M37 (no more horsing around). I engaged the lock-out hubs beforehand and shifted into 4WD to ensure I'd make it out.
We got a running start and hit the berms, taming them by showing them who is the real boss, got to the end of the street and turned right, into a half-dozen stuck Avalanches, Outbacks, little front wheel drive cars etc., all in various stages of digging out. I chuckled as I drove by because they didn't see my recent predicament that totally matched theirs-the trump card being the M37 that continues to rule the road
. The looks of "ah man" as we drove by the stuck modern vehicles was priceless.
So we ran our errands, got our coffee and headed home. About 5 miles out, just before the big hill with it's 10% grades I decided to add the tire chains as extra insurance getting back through the cul-de-sac, not confident that my two previous ruts would still be in place. So, turning into the local Chevron I also spotted the spray and wash there-what a great place to chain up! No cars being washed in this weather, shelter overhead, and a dry floor-perfect! So I installed the chains and made the climb.
All of the stuck vehicles were gone except one abandoned Silverado that the guy gave up on. However, turning left onto our street found two more stuck cars: my next door neighbor's Chevy Volt (seriously?) and some little Kia Sol FWD high centered at a 45 degree angle, with no room for me to get around it. Guys with shovels and blowers were trying to dig out the Kia but didn't realize that digging out the front and back wasn't going to address the berm under the car. I finally got out to offer moral support and to suggest latching a tow strap on the Kia to my M and I'd pull it off the berm. They agreed, and another neighbor grabbed a tow strap and handed it to me. Climbing under the back of the car, much to my surprise, not a single tow point, ring, shackle bracket, or anything else to secure to. Cheap-assed auto makers! So, since it was so icy, I fed the strap through the right-rear rim then backed out all of the slack. Then, just applying steady gas, freed the toy car from it's snowy grip, keeping the RR wheel from turning as it slid along the ice-improvisation at it's best! Once freed they backed it into another driveway so we could get by-no "thank you" or anything-that's the 21 Century, boys and girls. Finally around 8:30pm a bucket loader and plow cleared a single-lane snow chute down the street, so I knew then that I could garage the M37 and take the Rubicon to work.
Tiring day and evening yet amusing all the same...![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Thanks for letting me ramble,
Gary
After blowing away all the snow in the driveway and sidewalks then trenching the back yard for the dogs, we decided to load up for our daily coffee run. I didn't get 10 yards into the cul-de-sac only to become high-centered. Not moving forward or backward and at first I thought it was just deep snow. So, being the old MOS 63H mechanic and recovery specialist I just figured I'd go to low range, engage the Lockers, and drive away. Naah, I learned quickly that 4 tires are just as high-centered as 2, all spinning freely and going nowhere. What a Mo....
So I open the garage up where the M37 sits, awaiting the call. I fired her up and pulled out within chain range, hooked up and dragged the Rubicon off the snow berm. Then in another "Mo" moment, shut off the Dodge, hopped back into the Rubicon, got a running start this time, and yeah, high-centered it 10 feet further out. Jeez I guess I needed more exercise. So, I chained up again, dragged the Rubicon to freedom and parked it in the driveway. We off-loaded the dogs back in the house then jumped back into the M37 (no more horsing around). I engaged the lock-out hubs beforehand and shifted into 4WD to ensure I'd make it out.
We got a running start and hit the berms, taming them by showing them who is the real boss, got to the end of the street and turned right, into a half-dozen stuck Avalanches, Outbacks, little front wheel drive cars etc., all in various stages of digging out. I chuckled as I drove by because they didn't see my recent predicament that totally matched theirs-the trump card being the M37 that continues to rule the road
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
So we ran our errands, got our coffee and headed home. About 5 miles out, just before the big hill with it's 10% grades I decided to add the tire chains as extra insurance getting back through the cul-de-sac, not confident that my two previous ruts would still be in place. So, turning into the local Chevron I also spotted the spray and wash there-what a great place to chain up! No cars being washed in this weather, shelter overhead, and a dry floor-perfect! So I installed the chains and made the climb.
All of the stuck vehicles were gone except one abandoned Silverado that the guy gave up on. However, turning left onto our street found two more stuck cars: my next door neighbor's Chevy Volt (seriously?) and some little Kia Sol FWD high centered at a 45 degree angle, with no room for me to get around it. Guys with shovels and blowers were trying to dig out the Kia but didn't realize that digging out the front and back wasn't going to address the berm under the car. I finally got out to offer moral support and to suggest latching a tow strap on the Kia to my M and I'd pull it off the berm. They agreed, and another neighbor grabbed a tow strap and handed it to me. Climbing under the back of the car, much to my surprise, not a single tow point, ring, shackle bracket, or anything else to secure to. Cheap-assed auto makers! So, since it was so icy, I fed the strap through the right-rear rim then backed out all of the slack. Then, just applying steady gas, freed the toy car from it's snowy grip, keeping the RR wheel from turning as it slid along the ice-improvisation at it's best! Once freed they backed it into another driveway so we could get by-no "thank you" or anything-that's the 21 Century, boys and girls. Finally around 8:30pm a bucket loader and plow cleared a single-lane snow chute down the street, so I knew then that I could garage the M37 and take the Rubicon to work.
Tiring day and evening yet amusing all the same...
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Thanks for letting me ramble,
Gary