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#102501 - 08/14/07 01:04 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Erik_B]
Stu Offline
I am not a P.P.o.W.
Old Hand

Registered: 05/16/05
Posts: 1058
Loc: Finger Lakes of NY State
Originally Posted By: Erik_D


6. a tow strap would be a complete waste, as my station wagon can just gets itself up some hills, much less tow something. i'll add some road markers to the car kit as soon as i can find some decent ones.


The Tow Strap could be for you incase YOU need the tow.
_________________________
Our most important survival tool is our brain, and for many, that tool is way underused! SBRaider
Head Cat Herder

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#102503 - 08/14/07 01:16 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Stu]
Erik_B Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/10/07
Posts: 315
Loc: Somewhere in my own little wor...
you recommend any particular brand? do they require a hitch or anything to attach to? cause my car has none.


Edited by Erik_D (08/14/07 01:28 AM)
_________________________
Originally Posted By: scafool
Camping teaches us what things we can live without.


Originally Posted By: ironraven
...Shopping appeals to the soul of the hunter-gatherer.

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#102507 - 08/14/07 01:33 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Erik_B]
raydarkhorse Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/27/07
Posts: 510
Loc: on the road 10-11 months out o...
AAA and a guy to tow you is a good thing but if that was all you needed you wouldnt have gone through the trouble and expense of your BOB and car kit. We keep these things just in case. what happens if your phones dead or you don't have the $40? A large part of surviving is keeping and open mind and adapting. You took a big step by building your kits and starting to ask questions, but it is just the first step. Now that I'm off my soap box WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________________
Depend on yourself, help those who are not able, and teach those that are.

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#102510 - 08/14/07 02:10 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Erik_B]
Alex Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/01/07
Posts: 1034
Loc: -
Erik_D, you are way too confident in AAA and mobile telephony. What if your mob.phone just discharged (broken, lost, stolen, have no service in the area?).

Ok. The real life example (not towing but happened just 10 hours ago with me):

We were on the way home from a 3 day camping trip. I had to be back to work at 2 p.m. (Monday meeting). We had plenty of time ahead as we've checked out early to allow for traffic, but was ahead of schedule because there was no traffic at all. So, we've stopped at the Santa Cruz (CA) beach just to take a look at the famous Moscow Circus 1 hour performance (highly recommended!). We've parked on the narrow heavily trafficked one way street... When we've came back, I've realized that the car's battery is dead... There was no way to stop any passing-by car and ask for a jump start assistance because nobody would like to stop and block the one way street completely. I've called AAA and spent 15 minutes explaining my whereabouts and listening to a "5 year warranty new battery sale ad/offer exclusively from AAA" thing. Just to finally hear that the estimated time of service delay is more than 1 hour! Not acceptable!

Fortunately, the owner of the pick-up-truck, parked right behind me, has showed up. And the more important thing is that he had a jumper cable too! We've joined his cable with mine and got a long enough cable to do the job in this situation in just 5 minutes... I was at the important meeting right in time.

Sure thing I've canceled the request with AAA (they were glad because my order was not dispatched yet), replaced my 6 year old battery at the local Kragen, and going to shop for a longer jump starting cable (20 feet at least).

I'm just glad it died not at the camp site (no cell coverage, no people around (Monday), rangers are passing-by just 3 times a day...


Edited by Alex (08/14/07 02:45 AM)

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#102517 - 08/14/07 03:52 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Erik_B]
Rio Offline
Member

Registered: 11/26/06
Posts: 112
Loc: Pacific North West
Originally Posted By: Erik_D
you recommend any particular brand? do they require a hitch or anything to attach to? cause my car has none.


All cars come from the factory with tow points, they are used for shipping the vehicle and for use by tow trucks. Common ones I've seen are holes in the frame or small d-rings, some trucks and SUVs come with tow hooks or shackles.

As for the strap, just make sure you get a strap rated many times higher than the weight of your vehicle. When you are stuck in a ditch and someone yanks you out, the shock force on the strap can be much greater than the weight of either vehicle. Personally I'd shoot for a break strength of at least 15,000lbs. Also, be careful if you buy a strap with hooks on it. If the strap is tensioned and a hook slips off, the strap will launch the hook with surprising force. In my Jeep club, we flat out refuse to use a strap with hooks on it. However, for a hook less strap to work, both vehicles need to have popper recovery points, something not commonly found on most vehicles. On the street hooks are probably a necessary evil though, so just be careful.

Just my $0.02
Rio


Edited by Rio (08/14/07 03:53 AM)

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#102519 - 08/14/07 04:04 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Erik_B]
Raspy Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 01/08/04
Posts: 351
Loc: Centre Hall Pa
Here are a pair of article I wrote that may give you some Ideas.
2 out of 3 Car Kits

Car Kit 3 “The BOB”
_________________________
When in danger or in doubt
run in circles scream and shout
RAH

And always remember TANSTAAFL

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#102521 - 08/14/07 04:37 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Rio]
Paul810 Offline
Veteran

Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 1428
Loc: NJ, USA
Originally Posted By: Rio

All cars come from the factory with tow points, they are used for shipping the vehicle and for use by tow trucks. Common ones I've seen are holes in the frame or small d-rings, some trucks and SUVs come with tow hooks or shackles.

As for the strap, just make sure you get a strap rated many times higher than the weight of your vehicle. When you are stuck in a ditch and someone yanks you out, the shock force on the strap can be much greater than the weight of either vehicle. Personally I'd shoot for a break strength of at least 15,000lbs. Also, be careful if you buy a strap with hooks on it. If the strap is tensioned and a hook slips off, the strap will launch the hook with surprising force. In my Jeep club, we flat out refuse to use a strap with hooks on it. However, for a hook less strap to work, both vehicles need to have popper recovery points, something not commonly found on most vehicles. On the street hooks are probably a necessary evil though, so just be careful.

Just my $0.02
Rio


A rigging guy that used to work for my father (commercial construction) always taught us that if you have to use hooked strap or chain to make sure the closed side of the hook is facing down towards the ground (therefore the open side is facing up). That way if the chain/strap breaks it should fly towards the ground instead of up in the air. I've only ever had one hook break (pulling a van out of mud) and it did exactly what he said, flew towards the ground. I don't know if that is standard practice, but it is worth mentioning.

Also, don't use the hitch ball as a place to attach a strap. I've heard of them breaking, sending the steel ball flying with quite a bit of force.

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#102524 - 08/14/07 10:12 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Paul810]
JIM Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/18/06
Posts: 1032
Loc: The Netherlands
I would put some more trauma-supplies in your FAK. A triangulair bandage and some field-dressings for example. And also toss out the hydrogen peroxide and replace with Betadine/alcohol

_________________________
''It's time for Plan B...'' ''We have a Plan B?'' ''No, but it's time for one.'' -Stargate SG-1

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#102530 - 08/14/07 11:52 AM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: JIM]
Erik_B Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/10/07
Posts: 315
Loc: Somewhere in my own little wor...
thanks for the info Rio. JIM, is betadine available at walmart or cvs pharmacies? what are the advantages over HP?


Edited by Erik_D (08/14/07 11:52 AM)
_________________________
Originally Posted By: scafool
Camping teaches us what things we can live without.


Originally Posted By: ironraven
...Shopping appeals to the soul of the hunter-gatherer.

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#102535 - 08/14/07 01:09 PM Re: my BOB and car kit [Re: Raspy]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Originally Posted By: Raspy
Here are a pair of article I wrote that may give you some Ideas.
2 out of 3 Car Kits

Car Kit 3 “The BOB”
Excellent posts. Didn't see them when you originally posted.

My truck kit is based on getting stuck in the mountains in SOCAL (where it gets cold at night) or for when the Big One finally strikes, and what follows is The End of SOCAL as We Know It (TEOSCAWKI) wink Regardless, I have food, water and shelter to last quite a while and a walking kit for when I make the decision to abandon the truck.

The walking kit is sized for a 25 mile walk from work to home. With gear (including 5 qts of water and an MSR filter to replenish if water is available) it weighs in at 18 lbs and gets lighter as I drink the water.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

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