Member - ross m (WA) replied:

A crane would be the surest and safest but I think a block and tackle attached to the side to stop it rolling down the slope and a winch rope at the front to pull it forward would have done it

Member - Timbo replied:

Yes, that was my first question - why didn't you stay to enjoy some snags?! :-)

A couple of years back I assisted in the recovery of a 100-Series 'Cruiser in a very similar situation - the driver was descending a wet clay hill when the car slipped sideways off a conservation mound - thankfully it got hung up before it went too far! It was never seemed quite as precarious as the situation you've described!

It's impossible to get a real feel for the situation from just one photo, but after reading your description as well, I would consider the following action:

First, I would try to secure the vehicle so that it was less precarious - this might mean using my large nylon rope attached as high up on the vehicle as possible at front and rear (might be upper part of bull bar and the tray) and tied to solid anchors on the opposite side of the road (hopefully there are some available!).

Second, from the description you have given, it would seem the safest way to recover the vehicle would be similar to the reverse of what it did to get into the fix. I would attach my hand winch to the rear of the vehicle and try to pull it back along the log that it slid down initially. NOTE: even if I had an electric winch on the front of my car, I would not attach it directly to the 'Cruiser in case it rolled - there is a risk of also dragging the recovering vehicle down the embankment too. If a vehicle mounted winch was all you had, you could use a snatch block on the winch cable - the snatch block would be attached to an anchor on the 'up side' of the road directly across from the rear of the 'Cruiser and the recovering vehicle would be on the road - preferably behind the 'Cruiser.

Once the 'Cruiser was pulled back onto the road, I would retie the nylon rope as tight as I could (to prevent the 'Cruiser sliding down the log again) and then would suggest a gentle pull/tow from behind to get it back on terra firma (back over the log to where it was before the driver attempted the manoeuvre around/over the fallen tree).

In summary, I agree that it seems better to pull the 'Cruiser sideways back onto the road, but I think it is necessary to first secure at least the end that you are not winching as effectively as possible (as you've suggested: pulling on one end could cause the other end to swing/drop). I don't see any reason to cut away the tree until the 'Cruiser is out of the way, just use the winch to reverse the manoeuvre that got it into the situation.

Member - Tony (ACT) replied:

It always looks different when you are on the spot. If the vehicle can not go forward, it maybe possible to recover it backwards.

Using his own winch to hold the front, a winch from the rear via a snatch block up the bank. Looks like a tray back, if he has a head board, a stap on there to hold him from sliding down the log any further.

His front wheels went over so they should come back.

Member - Captain (WA) replied:

Hi Robin,

Its hard to tell from a single photo and the angle taken, but I agree that securing to the fallen tree should be incorporated. I would have tried securing a chain (or a 2nd winch cable via a snatch block) around the fallen tree and to the chassis near the rear wheel. This would be used to stop the vehicle rolling when using another winch to pull it forward. In the photo, it appears that a short chain would allow the vehicle to come forward but also stop the rollover.

I have helped recover a vehicle in a similar situation, but did not have the complication of the log. The vehicle was completely off the road with a slope similar to yours and in danger of rolling. We had two vehicle with winches, used one connected to the rear wheel suspension to stop it rolling (positioned roughly how your log is) while my vehicle winched it forward. The advantage we had was the vehicle was a small Nissan Pulsar and that we had plenty of room on the road to position vehicles as required - all went smoothly.

Other times I have used to chains to prevent a rollover while winching off camber and back to safe ground. Each situation is different and depending on what equipment you have available, it will help dictate the best way to recover.

Do you know how it all went in the end? And for the bigger question, how did the H2 go???

Cheers

Captain

Robin Miller replied:

Hi Guys

Just a note considering the replies.

It wasn't possible to get on the other side of the vehicle to pull backwards at all

Member - John (Vic) replied:

Ring the insurance company and increase the sum insured value then give it a push over the edge and claim the insurance :-)

Member - mazcan replied:

hi
is it any wonder that forrest tracks are being closed to 4wd access on a ever continuing basis across australia
and the 4wd fraternity keep trying to convince the authorities that we are a responsible group of people and 4wders

this totally avoidable situation should never have occurred

does the driver of this toyota not know that when a tree is across the track that a chain saw is needed to clear it or a safe alternative route needs to be found or maybe go back !!!!
and/or enough sense to change the foward approach plans
this will now cause another knee jerk reaction from the tree huggers and will result in more tracks closures
when will common sense prevail

Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) replied:

Hi Robin,
What's a "troppy" ??

Now the Landcruiser Cab Chassis in question would need first to be secured from sliding further down the greasy slope. To that end we'd need to secure it from the drivers side rear to something stout up the hill.

That now opens up the most powerful recovery tool available, time to have a think about what's available in the kit bag and what we can do with it. Then we think thoroughly about the repercussions of each action.

For example, if we had a chain saw we may be able to make a log bridge from the left rear wheel to terra firma. This choice isn't obvious from the photo so it may or may not exist.

The possibility of a hand winch off the side and skull drag the back end back up the surface it slipped down may work. We may be able to take up the tension on the side winch and then us a Hi Lift or something to lift the rear a little as we winch thus reducing the side on friction.

We may be able to side winch and build that log bridge I mentioned earlier thus allowing the vehicle to almost drive out.

Or once we get the rear wheels onto more firma and less terra the vehicles own winch could be brought into play to pull it forward as we ease off on the side pull.

There's a hundred permutations for getting that ute out of there but really, you'd need to be there.

My first priority would be a side pull on it to stop the back wheels from sliding further down the greasy pole!

My second priority would be a good long hard apparaisal of the equipment at hand and the situation.

I'd be very reluctant to hook another vehicle to it in the currently unstable situation as we may end up with two of them at the bottom of the hill neatly joined by a winch cable or similar!

Geoff

Rangiephil replied:

I had a similar situation once in the Watagans.
We were driving in convoy on a 8 metre or so causeway with a 1metre pipe through it. Floods caused water from the end of the pipe to erode the bank on the downstream side.
One car drove to the left of the track and was left sitting on its RH floor/chassis with RH wheels off the ground and and entire LH over the bank.

We secured the car to a tree on the other side of the road with a snatch, then dug a platform into the bank under the car and placed an airjack there and inflated it, so that the car then rested it RH wheels on the track and the air bag.

We then pulled off a tree on the RH through a snatch block to the winch on the front on my car, after anchoring my car to one behind.

Once we had pulled as far as possible , so that the LH wheels were hard up against the bank, we dug a ramp at the front, and did a front pull from my car, still with a snatch holding the car from slipping sideways. The airbag is good to use in this situation as it will roll over and allow movement without collapsing.

I believe an air bag is very useful in these situations. Maybe one could have been useful there.
Regard sPhilip A

Member - Lionel A (WA) replied:

Pull out anything weighty from the passengers side, bunch of blokes on the drivers side step then snatch the living daylights out of it.


Cheers......Lionel.

Camoco replied:

I am not offering to assist with the recovery options, nut just to say .... Thanks Robin.
It is situations like this that get us thinking.
Maybe we could avoid the same occurring to us by remembering this thread.
It also makes you think about the safety aspects and assistance that could be available when we think we may be alone.
I hope the poor vehicle got out safely, but at least the passengers would be able to talk about it even if the vehicle was to have gone over the edge during recovery.

You seem to come across many situations and thanks for your input. At least one of us is having fun :).

Cheers Cam

Member - Tonyb (FNQ) replied:

Now if you had to tackle that yourself that would be the trick :-)

From the photo I would say you could try it with Two Snatch blocks. This also would give it a safe anchor point

You would need a tree on the RHS of the track out front of the vehicle and another tree side rear of the vehicle. Fit a snatch block to each tree.

Run the cable forward to the front side tree snatch block and back through the rear side tree snatch block. As this is only single cable distance may be a factor.

Use your drag Chain and secure the rear and attach to the winch clip.

Use your tow rope for security and tie the rear to another tree just in case.

Now start winching the vehicle will pull forward and at the same time pull its rear back towards the road.

Adjust trees and anchor points until you get your pride and joy back on the road and then say - I will never do that again and carry a Chain saw :-)

Cheers Tony

burnsy replied:

Had a very similar thing happen to me a few years ago in a troopy.
1: I secured the vehicle by putting a snatch strap through the back windows around the top & back to a Tirfor winch on a tree
. 2: now the car cannot roll or slide down the mountain side.
3: I was lucky enough to have a front winch so I ran it through a pulley block to the tow bar & dragged the troopy sideways back onto the road while taking the slack with the tirfor.
Had to do some shovel work to keep the front & back moving smoothly.
4: didn't do much for my winch rope though.
Took about 45 minutes.
Mike

Crackles replied:

Run cable from vehicle behind through a snatch block on the fallen tree (if secure) to a drag chain looped around the middle of the chassis & side of the tow bar.
Run the winch out on Cruiser to a tree up on the embankment. (Double block)
Now it's secure & relatively safe I'd lighten the load in the car, pack timbers under as required, dig a shallow trench for the right rear tyre to follow then winch out quietly.
Certainly a close shave :-)
Cheers Craig.................

Gramps replied:

Now with those snags, did he have white bread or that wholemeal rubbish ???

archar replied:

hey guys,
i was actuly there when they recoved this vehicle(3 hour wait lucky we had some cold cans of lemonaide!) there was not tow truck just the bloke from the servo from jammison in his ol 45 serires tray with a winch and he ran a tackle block off the base of the fallen tree too the car and we ran a large rope to the rear end(although it didnt really need it) if anyone knows how to put up a video clip can post the recovery! long wait but it gave us a story to tell!