Side airbags deployed on both sides.. Ouch.
Always keep those hands inside the vehicle!
Always keep those hands inside the vehicle!
Landcruiser rolled down hill in Colorado
- Thread starter Gallowbraid
- Start date
Sean Slavin
Adventurist
This happened as well recently.
That's one of the Jeep rentals and I heard fatality. The Jeep rentals up there have always made me nervous. Last summer, there was a big rollover with a rental as well.
Ouch. That's terrible.
The potential for carnage is great when you rent someone a vehicle with dual lockers. But just like any other outdoor pursuit whether it be a dive shop or ski rental, the responsibility for safety is ultimately in the hands of the individual. Because they are there doing what they love of their own free will.
It's too bad that people get hurt, but it's going to happen.
The potential for carnage is great when you rent someone a vehicle with dual lockers. But just like any other outdoor pursuit whether it be a dive shop or ski rental, the responsibility for safety is ultimately in the hands of the individual. Because they are there doing what they love of their own free will.
It's too bad that people get hurt, but it's going to happen.
No idea what the rental companies do with Jeeps, but I stumbled across a bunch of Jeep dealers running the Rubicon trail with Jeep Rubicon's a few years ago. I got to shooting the breeze with the "guide" that was leading them. He told me that they had disabled the front lockers on the Rubicon's because they were breaking too many front axle shafts from the drivers having the wheels cranked over and too much throttle, primarily when they were driving on "the slabs" at the beginning of the trail.
We, American Adventurist, MUST take a position and assume some responsibility when it comes to our community of interest - outdoor recreation.
We cannot be just another group that looks the other way when things are wrong, or unsafe. I encourage all of our members to be proactive when it comes to safety, education, and self-policing risky practices.
There have been ALOT of examples lately of individuals and groups making flagrantly unsafe and/or illegal decisions when it comes to off highway travel and 4WD vehicle use. Social media is full of bad examples.
I for one will not sit by idly without comment or opinion and ignore unsafe or illegal conduct. None of us should.
We cannot be just another group that looks the other way when things are wrong, or unsafe. I encourage all of our members to be proactive when it comes to safety, education, and self-policing risky practices.
There have been ALOT of examples lately of individuals and groups making flagrantly unsafe and/or illegal decisions when it comes to off highway travel and 4WD vehicle use. Social media is full of bad examples.
I for one will not sit by idly without comment or opinion and ignore unsafe or illegal conduct. None of us should.
Somewhat off topic, other than the safety aspect...when I was coming home from Idaho a couple of weeks ago, a guy pulled in to the campground I was staying at in a Toyota pick up. This guy had a 5 gallon gas can (the lawn mower variety, complete with safety nozzle) strapped to he radiator grille!.
I couldn't stand it, I just had to go say something to him. I got to shooting the breeze with the guy, then told him that I thought his gas can carry location was poorly thought out. If he rear ended another car they were going to have 5 gallons of raw gas sprayed all over both vehicles. The guy gave me a look, and said that he would reconsider his mount location. I saw him leaving the next morning, gas can in the same spot...I was thrilled to see him turn north out of the camp ground as I was headed south.
I couldn't stand it, I just had to go say something to him. I got to shooting the breeze with the guy, then told him that I thought his gas can carry location was poorly thought out. If he rear ended another car they were going to have 5 gallons of raw gas sprayed all over both vehicles. The guy gave me a look, and said that he would reconsider his mount location. I saw him leaving the next morning, gas can in the same spot...I was thrilled to see him turn north out of the camp ground as I was headed south.
You did the right thing Bob. When faced with any given situation, the best we can do is to politely, diplomatically, enlighten the other person or parties as to why their chosen course of action may be less than ideal or even result in loss. They'll either blow you off, blow up on you, or continue on oblivious to their folly.
But you/I/we can sleep at night knowing we tried to make a difference. That's how we roll.
Gallowbraid
Adventurist
This is one of the many things that keeps me rooted in this forum. I'll be the first to admit that I don't have anywhere near the level of 4WD vehicle experience needed to tackle challenges like The Rubicon Trail or Engineer Pass. It's refreshing to be a part of a forum that promotes education, practice and doing things the right way. Users aren't afraid to speak up, politely point out opportunities (mistakes) and offer suggestions. Too many other forums/outlets are operating using the redneck "hammer through it" approach, or preach education and safety without actually applying it to their organized runs and events. Differences of opinion that sku away from "hammering through it" are met with criticism or even being banned. It's more important to look good on Instagram after all.
While I don't have great amounts of 4WD experience, I have spent years on dual sport motorcycles and have logged hundreds of thousands of miles on road and off with two wheels under me. There are some striking similarities between the two communities. Many new riders finance a huge BMW 1200GS, set their credit card on fire adding all the farkles the internet tells them they need and then promptly hit the dirt thinking they're as prepared as Ewan McGregor in "Long Way Round" (watch it if you haven't!). Portions of the ADV rider community support this mentality while others preach Rider Safety Courses, practicing for hours in your driveway, and buying a small used bike and learning to not only how to ride, but how to work on the bike yourself as well. The divide there is huge and the same thing has formed with the promotion of the "Overland" lifestyle. There's a motorcycle adage that says, "When in doubt, throttle out." And while a little throttle fixes a lot of things off road on a bike, it's not the cure all. Often times all hitting the throttle does is end the suspense faster. When you're on a bike and you take this mentality you're most likely only going to hurt yourself. Folks out there in 4WD vehicles taking this mentality and proceeding into challenges that they aren't prepared for are much more likely to hurt others as well.
I have no doubt I'll run Engineer Pass one day (it's on my bucket list) along with other Colorado trails, but I'm not rushing in to that until I'm ready. I'll make sure I have the knowledge, the experience, the equipment and a good support group with me when I go (@bob91yj you coming?). Only by doing this will I mitigate as much of the risk as possible so that if an accident does happen, I can hopefully walk away knowing I did everything I could to prevent it. In the meantime I'll just keep watching all you guys and gals on here that know what you're doing...
Gallowbraid
Adventurist
Should have pulled out your Scout's Archery Badge...a flaming arrow to that gas can would have changed his mind. I'm picturing you doing the Hollywood-style badass walk away from a flaming Toyota explosion with bow in hand.
If you read those comments, the incident in the OP was NOT on Engineer Pass. It was on Cumberland.
buckwilk
Adventurist
I agree with Dave's posts. I think if we want to continue to have these trails to run we must be vigilant in how they are used. I am in Moab every year and am very uncomfortable with the Jeep rental companies policies. I have gone to the desk and told them I have no experience but want to rent a Jeep and go on "fun" trails. Answer, No Problem. The resource we have in this country has no lack of detractors. Every incident like this puts road closures on the agenda. What this site does is educate, instruct, encourage and teach proper use of our land and its opportunities. I resolve to make an effort to interact with folks I see doing acts which will reflect badly and wrongly on our passion. I intend to have business cards made up with this sites web address to hand out in hopes that they will come here and learn. Might not be much but every journey starts with ------
