Pulled 2 Xtrails and a cruiser out of the creek on Thompsons. the Xtrails just left, one even tried to go when still attached to snatch strap, driving over it and dragging it under and around the county, ( a bit of damage) lastly was the Toyota. Took 2 pulls using his strap. He turned up at my work a week latter with a slab and a new snatch strap for me, very nice of the bloke considering it wasn’t him who damaged the strap in the first place.

There's no accounting for rudeness and stupidity I'm afraid.

Me? I will not think about charging since it is not a contract between them and me. I am under no obligation to get them out, but I will ask for replacement gear if anything is damaged.

If there is a contract then there are all kinds of liability and insurance issues that come up. As a common joe passing by and offering to help then there is goodwill and the liabilities tend to fade - I didn't have to stop.

On more than one occasion I have spent a long time getting someone free, even 12 hours in one case.

Alan

I have been bogged a number of times and been very grateful in any help I received.
Even if its cheap cheers from the side lines.

If something breaks I be happy to replaceand pay for it.

On the flipside, I have helped plenty more and often never even got a thank you.
Like the tools that got his Territory bogged at Robe over xmas.
***** did not even wave as he sped off.

None the less, I will always offer my help and it does help me learn something new for next time.
I will never stop learning and also met some funny people that way.
I met a bunch of woman stuck in the flinders creek bed in a older mercedes 300D.
There was 5 of them, one spoke some english, they carried 1L of water and wore heels.

Something out of a movie but we later met up and two were TV chefs from Denmark.
They cooked up a storm and were going to thank me and my mate in ways I really can't mention here.
Pitty we both were married but it was on thats for sure.
Funny night and 2-3 weeks ago low and behold and watched some foxtel at mates house and one of the ladies was on her show.

It really is a small world we live in.

For $4K, I'd drive out from Melbourne and recover you in the Simpson Desert.

Heck, I could even deliver spares and bring a fridge full of complimentary icecreams & beers.

That's pretty stupid really, I mean, you think you could recover a dead vehicle from the middle of the rig road?, how do you propose to get said vehicle over the sand dunes? your doing some obscene things to yourself if you think your going to tow a dead vecle 200km's over 500 sand dunes

Costs involved in the trip, time off work, 1 week (travel from melb remember, few thousand kays in diesel, a tyre if your unlucky, food, drinks, consumables......list goes on

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"There is a good idea in the bottom of every bottle"....Jack Daniels

I figure what goes around comes around, I pull a few people out and one day I might need a hand too and hopefully no one is going to charge me hundreds of $$'s for what I will do for someone else for free.

Also as someone else pointed out, once you start charging you have entered into a commercial contract and all the liability etc that goes with that, if no cash you are merely a good samaritan.

Obviously if my gear broke I would like to think those I am helping would chip in to replace, and obviously a thank you gift slab would not be refused if offered

I know somewho who had to pay $16k to be commercially recovered from the Canning Stock Route (I think) when he blew a clutch on his Pootrol, it took the operators two vehicles and several days to come and get him and then drag him back.

If Im there do it for nothing.

by the same token quite a few years ago I towed 6-10 vehicles up outof a gully last car up and rear diff went bang I got a thanks mate we have to go.

Generaly make a fun trip out the rescue.

Michael.

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No substitute for cubic inches.
1986 RR highline, HSV 215, 1.003 T/case, 4.3 diffs, custom front and rear links.
2005 Subaru Liberty 3R

A lot depends on who, where and when. I have not charged for a recovery yet and you would probablly find that it is illegal too without an ABN, relevant business and insurance.
Friends I will generally go and help no charge, exception was one friend 1000kms and had to trailer his Pajero back, they paid for fuel.
If I am driving by I usually will help, but will start making it clear any damage to their gear or my gear is at their cost.
I generally think a carton is a fair price, but nearly all people will just drive away, most say thanks and help pack up but some dont. Had one such case a couple of years back, had advised them to park up for a bit cause the soft roader had been working hard. Drove 20kms and they were pulled up on the side of the road (I would say hot tranny probs) and just drove past giving them the appropriate salute.

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2000 Defender Extreme : AKA Toyota Recovery Vehicle / Green Pig / Shrek
1976 SS Torana (due for restoration)
1998 Ducati 900SS (Feel The V-Twin Roar)
1984 RR (Gone). 1997 Tdi Disco (Gone)
Facta Non Verba

i can not believe some of the comments here charge this or no help ,as a few have said karma guys i will help anybody no matter what ,all you out there who charge (besides a beer) remind me to never go driving with ya

disgusted EDIT:not relating to recovery companys only fellow offroad enthuisists who want to take money of people who are in trouble

all you helpers out there well done in restoring faith back into society

cheers kelvin

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1990 Rangie with lots of other brands cool stuff on it and in it

PROJECT OUTCAST OFFROAD: TOY-ROVER

be disgusted it was my job and part of my lively hood where i was no one would even come look for under a 1000 i even get jobs off the competitors to go do jobs (still had to pay them a spotters fee)
but if im 4wding in a area i'll pull someone out for free i've even gone and pulled mates out just cause their stuck and their mates are stuck for nothing

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thanks Jono
Skip 1995 D1 disco tdi auto
Tin Worm the lickerish al-sort scat tojo diffs 42" iroks
Modern Times 87 falcon van soon to have au xr6 motor and boost