Thread: Priceless

I generally pull up and ask whats up then asses the likely time to sort the problem.

opening words after looking are alway, "look Im happy to help you but anything that gets used that gets broke you bought or replace."

If its just a flat they cant change cause their gear is US i just jaffle up while they get to work...

if its a bogged to the hilt break out the shovels, road building gear snatch straps and chains I normally hint at lunch/dinner at the next road house and a donation to help the fuel bill.

90% of the time by the time I've pulled up, hit the hazards and reversed up to the stricken vehicle I either get a cheery waive off and thanks for stopping or a Mate im glad you stopped,would you like a beer, BTW Ive gone and done this....

one of my more memorable ones was an old couple in a winnebago whod done both rears (on one side) and couldnt change them as the nuts were too tight Theyd set up camp in a truck stop near the toilets and the water. I got the clue that all was not right by the scrape marks in the concrete where theyd driven and the lean on the vehicle. while changing the tyres for them we were treated to the best snagers wed had on the trip and piping hot coffee. When we went to leave they flagged me down, They couldnt get it to start as theyd been ther 2 days and the batteries were a bit sad could I help out?

quick jump start and away we went.. The winnebago followed us like a lost puppy for 3 days and every time we pulled up for a break/refuel the old gal was out with a fresh round of sangers and a hot coffee...

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

I generally pull up and ask whats up then asses the likely time to sort the problem.

opening words after looking are alway, "look Im happy to help you but anything that gets used that gets broke you bought or replace."

If its just a flat they cant change cause their gear is US i just jaffle up while they get to work...

if its a bogged to the hilt break out the shovels, road building gear snatch straps and chains I normally hint at lunch/dinner at the next road house and a donation to help the fuel bill.

90% of the time by the time I've pulled up, hit the hazards and reversed up to the stricken vehicle I either get a cheery waive off and thanks for stopping or a Mate im glad you stopped,would you like a beer, BTW Ive gone and done this....

one of my more memorable ones was an old couple in a winnebago whod done both rears (on one side) and couldnt change them as the nuts were too tight Theyd set up camp in a truck stop near the toilets and the water. I got the clue that all was not right by the scrape marks in the concrete where theyd driven and the lean on the vehicle. while changing the tyres for them we were treated to the best snagers wed had on the trip and piping hot coffee. When we went to leave they flagged me down, They couldnt get it to start as theyd been ther 2 days and the batteries were a bit sad could I help out?

quick jump start and away we went.. The winnebago followed us like a lost puppy for 3 days and every time we pulled up for a break/refuel the old gal was out with a fresh round of sangers and a hot coffee...

now that is appreciation, i would recover everyone if they did that.

OK for my bit
I have come across this serval times before
I have resuced people free and out of the goodness of my heart (and to show that it is no problem for a Land Rover , and wind them up).
BUT i think it is just manners to offer the person who recovers you money or beer. That is just good manners. I have been recovered before . It was at night at the top of a moutian in wales and the land rover was up to its door handles in mud. Chap came out and got the car out. We offered him money and he refused so took him and his famly to the local pub for a meal and a fee beers. Had a really good night in the end with him.
But i have also recovered people who have taken ages to recover form a difficult position and they have just gone once clear and you see nothing of them
But i also pulled 25 transits and 25 cavans out of a muddy feild for aload of gipos . I charged them £20 each car and caravan (so £40 for both). Had them waiting at the gates with the money. They were more that keen to pay.


All of these thing need to be looked at , at the time.
Nothing worse than trying to recover a truck which could end up damaging your own car. Or When the Tw*t you are recovering got the car stuck becuase he is a idiot , and is somewhere he should not be in a car which is not prepared

i don't think asking for money for a recovery is very Australian! i agree with asking the person to replace something that got broken during the rescue, but as for asking for money or beer that's disgusting. what ever happend to helpin' someone in trouble because its the right thing to do and something australian's have prided ourselves on for centuries. if the person being rescued has any manners they will offer some reward. if it was me i would help them out regardless. i hope i never get stuck and need any help from you ppl that need a reward for doing whats right.

Alright I'm in.
Depends on circumstance. I have never asked any payment for recovery or changing someone's Mum's tyre or getting a stranded car running in the midddle of nowhere at 1am with two wailing kiddies in the back. It's just plain rude not to offer assist if you are able. It's also just plain good manners if someone were to offer you a drink or such for your trouble, but not an obligation.
In most cases if you show/explain to the person why they have ended up stuck (and blocking the damn track) then they are mostly grateful, but of course some just don't learn. In fact many of the recoveries I've done in the bush or on the sand I've done nothing more than let their tyres down and they drive out. That way they don't get stuck again & pi55 somebody else off, plus they have hopefully learnt something for the future.

However in some of the cases previously mentioned where it is someone's own stupidity and not just an unfortunate accident that got them there then they should cough up, no different to calling for a towtruck. A mate stalled in a tidal stream on Straddy many yrs ago and it cost him $180 for the tractor pull but he saved the vehicle...

Originally Posted by twitchy's_boss

i don't think asking for money for a recovery is very Australian! i agree with asking the person to replace something that got broken during the rescue, but as for asking for money or beer that's disgusting. what ever happend to helpin' someone in trouble because its the right thing to do and something australian's have prided ourselves on for centuries. if the person being rescued has any manners they will offer some reward. if it was me i would help them out regardless. i hope i never get stuck and need any help from you ppl that need a reward for doing whats right.

My sentiments exactly ..

Tho this thread reminds me of a few years back up at Mapoon (Community north of Weipa and a top spot). Sign up saying something along the lines of ... "Hey youse white bloke pellas .. any one gettin imself stuck on dis beach gonna pay 1 hunnert dollar to da council ta git im out ... OK"

Whilst there we extracted an LC trayback of locals from the beach plus a Hino bus of oldies (also locals) ... the oldies were stuck in the sandy verge just off the bitumen in the carpark.

All good harmless fun and done for free with no thought of remuneration.

Cheers

Originally Posted by twitchy's_boss

i don't think asking for money for a recovery is very Australian! i agree with asking the person to replace something that got broken during the rescue, but as for asking for money or beer that's disgusting. what ever happend to helpin' someone in trouble because its the right thing to do and something australian's have prided ourselves on for centuries. if the person being rescued has any manners they will offer some reward. if it was me i would help them out regardless. i hope i never get stuck and need any help from you ppl that need a reward for doing whats right.

Centuries? You mean all 2 of them

Australian is helping a mate....

Australian is sharing a beer with someone....

Being a w&nk3r and doin' something stupid or not being prepared prior to doing something stoopid is not Australian....

Rendering assistance to a fool makes you legally liable for damage/injury anyhow... So if they're the fool why not charge?

Tow trucks do just that (and charge **** loads more for a remote recovery)
I can tell you a great tale of a goose in a Cruiser in 40+ heat heading into the Simpson....
Short version.. He got stuck, rang on Sat phone for help...
Recovery bill - $6000.00

He was warned 12 hours earlier not to go where he went.

Originally Posted by twitchy's_boss

i don't think asking for money for a recovery is very Australian! i agree with asking the person to replace something that got broken during the rescue, but as for asking for money or beer that's disgusting. what ever happend to helpin' someone in trouble because its the right thing to do and something australian's have prided ourselves on for centuries. if the person being rescued has any manners they will offer some reward. if it was me i would help them out regardless. i hope i never get stuck and need any help from you ppl that need a reward for doing whats right.

I think there's a difference between chancing upon someone in trouble, and doing a special trip just to recover them, and then another for the next person and so on.

I stop to help because I want to, and an appreciative thanks is fine.

The worst idiot I came across was in a Ford Falcon in the Kimberley, in the Wet Season, on a dirt track. He drove out to a waterhole, but the afternoon rains brought the creek level up before he could get out. His front wheels were on the exit bank, so the motor was high enough to keep running, but water was flowing through the back floor. It was just about dark and a Land Cruiser was about to push him out with his bullbar, as no one had any recovery gear. I towed him out with the SIII, and without even a 'thank you' he took off. The Cruiser followed him and I was a couple of minutes behind after packing up the recovery gear.

By now it was dark, we could see his brake lights flashing on and off as he dabbed his wet brakes, before plunging into the next creek. This creek had a V shaped profile and at it's deepest was up to the bonnet on the Land Rover. He aquaplaned across and again landed on the exit bank. My navigator and the people in the Land Cruiser jumped out and with some pushing got him out. Again he sped off without a 'thank you.'

Now in the Kimberely, it's an unwritten law that a recovery is a slab, I only expected a thank you. RANT RANT RANT (sorry to digress)