'Lending' recovery gear.

[landy]

This Father's Day my four kids chipped in and bought me a second set of Max Trax. So that's nearly $600 of brand new plastic sitting up top waiting to get me out of a sticky spot.
Now this got me thinking, with the winch, snatch bloc, snatch strap ect I have a fair few dollars invested in recovery gear.
My last trip to Fraser I was shocked at how badly prepared some people where. In fact I'm sure some even counted on others for help if they got bogged. One guy in a brand new Jeep had a brand new un opened 1" no name snatch strap. Utterly useless. My mate and I used our gear to get them out.
So my question is what is the go with helping others out of a spot. It sounds bad but I'm not so keen to let someone else take the knobs of my Max Trax just because they are under prepared. But by the same token I wouldn't want to see someone's pride and joy vanish beneath the sea either.
So whats the general feeling here on helping out. What if your strap or winch is broken/damaged. How do you recover the cost of broken equipment. Do you just grin and bear it, happy to have helped someone in need.
Do you just say no, as jack as that would seem?
You thoughts please.

Cheers,

Nino

[Alex 110]

Another aspect is what happens if their vehicle is damaged during the recovery? I've heard of good samaritans getting sued in this situation

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[komaterpillar]

its a hard one as i dont think anybody wants to be "that guy" that won't help out when someone is in need.... but on the other hand if people go to these places with the expectation that "someone will help me out so i don't need to take my own recovery gear" where do you draw the line

[Toxic_Avenger]

I wouldn't hesitate to assist, assuming no liability for any damages.
I'd hope the beer economy would come into play though.

A mate in Newcastle would recover stuck beach drivers for a small fee, in the end of the day, your gear can break, damage your vehicle, plus there's your time, diesel, etc.

[PhilipA]

Hmm, I have seen how divisive this situation can become, so now I give a briefing to the stuck person, as to what can happen and who should pay if say their car is damaged, or my car or gear is damaged.

I had a woman in a Falcon ute decline my help and wait for her husband when I explained that she had no recovery points and it was quite probable that the recovery would damage the front spoiler .

I was on a club trip where someone became REALLY stuck in a D1 with mud half way up the driver's door.

Another club member volunteered to snatch him using his own old frayed snatch strap and to make it worse IMHO snatched really hard and at an angle. The old strap broke at the loop attached to the bogged car and just about destroyed the tailgate of his RRC.


He expected the owner of the bogged car to pay, and the bloke eventually did, but I believe it caused bad feelings. I had a view that they should have shared the cost .
We eventually got him out using his 12000 lb winch and my airbag under the front of the car to lift it.

So I think lots of these problems can be minimised/ reduced by pointing out the facts of life to the person bogged.

1 You expect to use their recovery equipment if they have it .

2 they can get dirty attaching it if is in mud. I had one bloke expect me to wade into mud to attach a strap as he sat in the car!

3 If their car is damaged it is their problem and expense

4 If your car is damaged it is their expense. I once had my rear ball joint in a 76 Rangie ripped out when I snatched someone but I limped into Nowra and had it welded at my expense. There was no offer from the stuck club member. Maybe I should have been more demanding.

But of course some people believe everyone but them is at fault and have no ethics.
Regards Philip A

[austastar]

Hi,
Sell them the gear - with an offer to buy it back afterwards?

I've only been in that situation a few times, and gear damage was never goin to be an issued.
Stuck driver is the one to get muddy though.
Cheers

[101RRS]

In the good old dayd you just helped someone in need and if that caused a bit a damage to gear or car that was an accepted part of being a good samaritan.

These days it is all about me me me so we have situations where everyone wants to be covered if there is a mishap - people who want to charge or expect beers for a recovery get under my skin a bit - unless you are a business it is not a profit making concern.

However I do value my vehicle and gear and if I am doing a recovery I am in charge (happy to listen to an astute advisor but I have the last say). Prefer to use their gear but as mentioned often they do not have it. If I am in charge and I break my gear well that is my head but if it your gear that is on your head but it hasn't happened.

I don't expect payment and I do not expect top pay either. If recovering me and you expect something other than my sincere thanks then you need to be upfront about it and be graceful in rejection. I am happy to be the first to offer to pay if I am really in dire straits (was there once but there was no one around anyway).

I think the camaraderie that once existed 30 years ago amongst 4wders is often not there and has been replaced by a "it is all about me" culture.

Garry

[Disco Muppet]

I don't lend recovery gear. If you want it to be used in your recovery, then I'll be the one recovering you.
That said, if I'm recovering you and I damage my car out of bad luck, be nice of you offered to come to the party but I'm not going to expect it, or payment for the recovery unless that's already been offered.
However your attitude will determine if I recover you or not. If you're acting like a ****, I'm not going to help you.

[Patchy]

I dont see the problem if someone needs help help them and dont expect anything in return I've helped alot of ppl out of bogs usually the first timers with there new 4wd no idea or recovery gear stuck on the beach or in the hills its how they learn and once they know they can help someone else another time.

I've personly never taken much thought to who pays for what damage to vehicles i just think if your cars damaged u cover the cost if there car is damaged they cover it if it gets messy with someone demanding me to pay for there car, thats what insurance is for and they can go through them coz they will say the same..

if your paranoid about damaging your gear dont go 4wding leave it in the shed it happens gear wears out you replace it because its been getting used like it was designed to do.. I do think everyone should carry the basic recovery gear a snach and rated shackles but doesnt always happen so just help someone out coz next week you might be needing the help.

cheers Brian

[vnx205]

Ask yourself what you would want someone else to do if you found yourself in a situation where in spite of all your equipment, preparation and expertise, you needed extra help to get out of trouble.