The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

Landcrusher · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 21:04 Post subject: Bogged down - again

Well it had to happen. I was in Scotland this weekend putting up a new shooting tower. We decided to be lazy and drive to the site rather than trek across the moor. I recce'd a little valley in front of us and satisfied that it felt pretty solid, we set across. Just near the far bank, the trailer caught and braked the truck. The back wheels broke through into the moss. Our estate is 'built' on a moss, which is basically an underground lake filled with sphagnum moss. Bottomless. We unhitched but to no avail. At this point I was regretting the decision not to put the ground anchor in. We hitched the winch to a boulder, which we pulled out of the ground. We ran the line backwards to a really really big glacial reject boulder. This nearly turned the truck over instead of spinning us around. We had the waffle boards out. I jacked up the truck and tried to get something under the wheels. Surprisingly the Toyota jack and some decking from the trailer DID raise the truck on a very soft boggy surface.

Then we tried running the rope through the bottom of a drystone wall with a spreader bar behind it. For those of you who know Scottish walling, you may ask why we bothered to try this. Vertical piles of stones would be the most polite way to describe them. We nearly pulled that over. At this point we were really running out of ideas and boulders still in the ground. Then I had an idea. When I was asking about ground anchors on one of the Oz sites (and receiving really stupid answers by the way) I recalled that someone mentioned burying your spare wheel. We had no other option. We dug a very waterlogged trench and dropped the spare off the trailer in there. Our first attempt pulled out. After several modified and failed attempts, we dug a bigger hole and dropped the wheel in flat instead of vertical. We then ran a snatch block from the wheel to a boulder behind us another anchor point, put the waffle boards over the 'grave' and built a cairn of rocks on the boards.

Whaddya know - it pulled us out. We had used every shackle, every last strop, strap, Halfords towrope and piece of old winch wire that we had with us. Rather than be cross, my mate (ex Army) absolutely loved it. It was a challenge for sure and not in his make-up to give in. We did try to dig the truck out, but it was like trying to part custard. Some of you may have used this technique before but for those who haven't, stick it in the back of your mind. I think that you could have a flat plate with a hole in the middle, which would store really easily in your boot, which would do the same thing as a tyre, cost less than an anchor and be quite easy to deploy.

Of course then the challenge was getting back across!

LC
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HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!)

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seph234 · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 21:31 Post subject:

lol

sounds fun, i hope you got some pictures. joe

Landcrusher · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 22:02 Post subject:

Nope. I didn't I'm afraid. Partly due to being very busy and absolutely covered on muck and partly as I had no wish to record my stupidity. I've walked across that ground dozens of times and always thought it pretty solid. I should have unhitched first really. I am going to cut part of the drawbar off following this. My drop plate (6 hole) is made from 10mm plate and it bent that! I think I would have made it across if it hadn't been for that.

LC
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HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!)

wildsmith · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 22:54 Post subject:

Sounds like one of those situations that's only 'fun' in retrospect Smile

I thought you had a rear winch? Burying your spare can be very effective but definately easier with a friend to share the work Laughing

If the ground ripples when you jump on it best to stay off or have done the thing where you look for places to bang your anchor in first which we all do of course Rolling Eyes

The pin and box mod anchor I posted on here somewhere has been very effective even in bog and peat pulling my 80 out which was about 3600Kg out and about.
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Jon m0zxj

01 UZJ100 lifted (AHC & 40mm BL), ARB locked f&r, cryo'd 4.88's, TJM front bumper, 12k goldfish, sliders, rack, snorkel, 35's, storage, aux power etc.
93 HDJ80 sold
94 HDJ80 RIP

Landcrusher · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:24 Post subject:

Well spotted. Yes, my rear winch was in the garage next to my ground anchor. We have loads of that 'waterbed' ground which ripples when you walk on it, but this was quite solid. I have crossed it on my quad before. It was the snag with the trailer that broke the surface. Rear winch would have had us fixed in a trice. I am considering putting a front receiver point on the cruiser as I have an Anderson connector there already, so that I could mount my rear winch on the front too. Hey why not? That way I could have a twin pull from two points. Look, I just like the idea.

LC
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HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!)

garystockton · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:32 Post subject:

Hmmm - and there I was mowing the lawn when I could have been out having al oad of fun instead Wink

Next time - give me a ring - more than happy to come and 'help out' - might just bring some boerewors and a braai with Laughing

Glad you got out OK.
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I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it.
- Terry Pratchett

Landcrusher · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:39 Post subject:

That would be a long way to call for help! Edinburgh to Stranraer. I bet you eat the sausage on the way too. We were only a mile from the farm. We could have just trooped over there to see our chap to come with his monster tractor. But we were determined to not be beaten. Next time, I shall just take all of the kit with me.

LC
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HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!)

wildsmith · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:59 Post subject:

Not sure how much your batteries would like having two winches pulling at the same time but otherwise you can't have too many options when you're stuck like that can you. My hand winch, 20m & 10m plasma extension ropes, the ground anchor and spade have been good options so far. FWIW, even if you're up to the axle(s) in bog, it's worth digging the bog away from each wheel a bit in the pull direction if at all possible to help get it moving, you'd be surprised how much effort even that can relieve from the pull (measured with effort needed on the hand winch handle!).
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Jon m0zxj

01 UZJ100 lifted (AHC & 40mm BL), ARB locked f&r, cryo'd 4.88's, TJM front bumper, 12k goldfish, sliders, rack, snorkel, 35's, storage, aux power etc.
93 HDJ80 sold
94 HDJ80 RIP

Landcrusher · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 13:12 Post subject:

Each winch is wired to a different battery. The main one is a real bruiser and got me off Tom's farm when I hydraulic'd the engine. I can run them together or separately too. I have had both running at the same time already when I got lodged against a tree at Lincomb. Rigged correctly, they should share the load I would have thought, if pulling in the same direction. You could pull with one at a time I guess to wiggle a vehicle. As you say, never have too many options in the solutions box.

One point - synthetic rope - what a joy to work with over that horrible steel stuff.

LC
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HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!)

leon · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 20:12 Post subject:

4runner · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 16:50 Post subject:

excellent recovery story - what a shame there were no photos!, you would have enjoyed them too "after the event"

interesting about the spare wheel anchor - i will store that one in my head
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Andy Cook

2013 Hilux Invincible
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Crispin · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 18:02 Post subject:

Landcrusher · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 19:00 Post subject:

But the real trick is to get them to dig the hole! Oh yes, I am the ground anchor Jedi.

Obi Wan LC
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HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!)

suvsteve · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 21:39 Post subject:

the last time i got stuck was im pig surrey four mates from my car four four from the landy that triyed winching me and about five hours i think it was
they dug and winched but it was nice warm and dry in the drivers seat did i get out oh hell no!! they wanted me to drive through it so they dig
but since then ive got round to making the rear diff lock work so that should help next time Twisted Evil

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regards steve

you have only one life, enjoy.