Got the 80 a bit stuck at the weekend

[Ecoman]

I joined up with my old 4x4 response group, at the weekend. We were up in the wilds between Ullapool and Bonar Bridge supporting the 2014 MacMillan Coast to Coast Walk/Cycle/Ride.


All was going well and I even rescued a few trucks that were bogged down or hung up on rocks.






A kitted out Ranger with both his front wheels hanging after he hit a boulder entering a burn.


That was until I took a route I had walked the previous night and found it to be wet but firm ground. Its amazing how much rain can fall while your asleep!!

Here are the results:





And what came to rescue me?? Thankfully not a Land Rover!!





Anyway, only battle scars for the weekend were two torn off mud flaps and a broken door check strap. I have all the bits now to fix it so I know what I will be doing tomorrow after work!! :thumbsup:

 

[Ben]

Great pics thanks for sharing them.

Your 80 looks smart!

 

[Chris]

Very tidy 80 indeed. Just needs that winch and ground anchor .....

 

[PETE BELL]

well done Ecoman -looks like fun

 

[AndyCook]

All fun and games.

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Tapatalk 2

 

[clivehorridge]

Very tidy 80 indeed. Just needs that winch and ground anchor .....

Agreed Chris, good looking truck, but only stuck for the sake of some equipment.

I bought a ground anchor after a being stuck alone in a very remote place on the mountain. It took me hours to manage to drive it out.

Since then, I've only used it once, but it's a piece of "insurance" kit nonetheless.

Great photos Ecoman

 

[Ecoman]

Thanks for the compliments on my truck. It means a lot coming from you guys.

I was about to fit a winch to it before I sold it 2 years ago. Now I have it back the plan is to get one fitted before winter comes around again. I'm planning on fitting a Goodwinch TDS Goldfish into an ARB/ TJM type bumper.

 

[Geert]

Nice pics
Your right wheels seem to be on somewhat firm ground. Weren't you able to drive out with you lockers engaged?

 

[Ecoman]

No Geert the axles were well and truly grounded. my NS wheels were not even at the bottom of the trough. The annoying thing was that there was a hard crust over the top of the water and as I drove over it the whole vegetation sank into the waterlogged abyss below. the hole you see around my truck suddenly seemed to appear as I drove over it!

Still, it reinforces my argument with the missus that we NEED a winch and winch bumper on the truck

 

[clivehorridge]

No Geert the axles were well and truly grounded. my NS wheels were not even at the bottom of the trough. The annoying thing was that there was a hard crust over the top of the water and as I drove over it the whole vegetation sank into the waterlogged abyss below. the hole you see around my truck suddenly seemed to appear as I drove over it!

Still, it reinforces my argument with the missus that we NEED a winch and winch bumper on the truck

I like that approach, all my recovery gear has been purchased in the name of "safety" it works a treat!

 

[Ecoman]

Aye, I showed the missus the pictures of the truck in the bog and said "it was a good job somebody had a winch or I would still be there now. She just nodded knowingly and said "yes, well I think its about time you put a winch on that thing to keep us all from getting stuck in the middle of nowhere."

How I kept a straight face I will never know!

 

[clivehorridge]

Aye, I showed the missus the pictures of the truck in the bog and said "it was a good job somebody had a winch or I would still be there now. She just nodded knowingly and said "yes, well I think its about time you put a winch on that thing to keep us all from getting stuck in the middle of nowhere."

How I kept a straight face I will never know!

Bravo! That's the way to do it!

 

[PETE BELL]

Ecoman i have been trying to get a tjm winch bumper for months now ,the only supplier in europe is ashika in france and they dont answer emails or calls ,im led to believe that in the uk a winch bumper is ok as long as there is no bull bar on it so a arb like the one on the blue ranger is all we can legally fit as new equipment -so i am waiting for feedback about one from devon4x4 ,you may get away with it on the 80 but cos my 100 is a 2004 i have no chance any one with relevant info please share

 

[Doodle]

As far as I was aware, the 2 main points were that an integrated replacement bumper was ok, a load of pipework fitted over the front of the existing bumper wasn't. Also, if a winch was fitted this became working equipment?

What about TJM Switzerland? Magna & Hutchinson are the EU distributors according to the TJM Aus website, they have a trader list on their website at http://www.mh4x4.at. Curiously, the company you mention aren't listed.

 

[PETE BELL]

As far as I was aware, the 2 main points were that an integrated replacement bumper was ok, a load of pipework fitted over the front of the existing bumper wasn't. Also, if a winch was fitted this became working equipment?

What about TJM Switzerland? Magna & Hutchinson are the EU distributors according to the TJM Aus website, they have a trader list on their website at http://www.mh4x4.at. Curiously, the company you mention aren't listed.

cheers Doodle every day is a school day ,devon4x4 wont sell me a ARB sahara winch bumper with the ss bar or the one with the pipework to protect the lights/grill ,i asked a traffic cop about this and he said they are all banned and his mate said he dont know what the rules are

 

[Doodle]

I would have thought TBRUK would sell you the Sahara bar with chrome hoop, they have it listed on their website. I have the same setup on my 100, I'm fairly sure they supplied it.

 

[Julian T]

Didn't some one say they had a container coming to the UK?
I always fancied one of these http://www.nudge-m.co.za/Vehicle_details.asp?Model_id=-1330321776
Also as far as I could find out the bull bar law was not retroactive and only made it dodgy to sell a bull bar, however it is perfectly legal to fit a winch bumper that incorporates head lamp protection.

 

[PETE BELL]

I would have thought TBRUK would sell you the Sahara bar with chrome hoop, they have it listed on their website. I have the same setup on my 100, I'm fairly sure they supplied it.

I will try tbr tomorow ,thanks buddy

 

[PETE BELL]

Didn't some one say they had a container coming to the UK?
I always fancied one of these http://www.nudge-m.co.za/Vehicle_details.asp?Model_id=-1330321776
Also as far as I could find out the bull bar law was not retroactive and only made it dodgy to sell a bull bar, however it is perfectly legal to fit a winch bumper that incorporates head lamp protection.

hi thanks Julian ,i just had a look at the bar from these guys to fit my hunde its maassifff

 

[Ecoman]

IIRC it was only illegal to fit a bull bar or winch bumper inc a bull bar after a certain vehicle manufactured date. Otherwise it was OK to do so so long as it was part of a working recovery/ protection system, ie you can only fit a winch bumper if there is a winch fitted also.

To be honest, I'm not that bothered if the bumper has a nudge bar incorporated into the design or not. No matter what I fit it won't be pedestrian friendly.