Do you help people are stuck in snow banks?

[JayHu]

I helped a lady who stuck her truck in a snowbank today. She told me after I got her out that many, many cars just drove right past without even slowing down.
Which begs the question:

Do you help people who have stuck their cars in snowbanks or ditches?
and..
What equipment do you carry to help get yourself and/or others out of snowbanks.

Personally I just have a really good quality rope, though I'm looking for a shovel that will fit in my truck somehow (Ranger)

 

[Bignate603]

I don't have any equipment to help really, but I do stop. Most people can't even rock their car out of anything. You just tap the gas to get it rocking back and forth, and feel it's natural frequency it wants to rock at. Keep giving it gas on the forward direction of the rock and you'll get it out.

 

[notfred]

uh.... I don't even think we've had frost so far this year.

 

[Tripleshot]

What is snow?

 

[cavdraco]

of couse it depends on if I can get to them or not

Cav

 

[Armitage]

I'll often stop to make sure they're ok, and give them a ride if needed. I used to help pull them out (always carry a tow strap, sand, shovel in my truck in the winter), but I rarely do anymore due to the liability issues. That and modern cars are just so much tinfoil ... where do you hook a tow-strap on to them. taht you won't damge the car I did pull my neighbors daughter out of a ditch a few months ago (no, it wasn't winter, don't ask). She has some late model chevy ... corsica maybe? I finally hooked it onto a bit of the rear suspension, but I'm glad I didn't have to pull hard.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: ergeorge
I'll often stop to make sure they're ok, and give them a ride if needed. I used to help pull them out (always carry a tow strap, sand, shovel in my truck in the winter), but I rarely do anymore due to the liability issues. That and modern cars are just so much tinfoil ... where do you hook a tow-strap on to them. taht you won't damge the car I did pull my neighbors daughter out of a ditch a few months ago (no, it wasn't winter, don't ask). She has some late model chevy ... corsica maybe? I finally hooked it onto a bit of the rear suspension, but I'm glad I didn't have to pull hard.

Good point. You can't use the bumper anymore. Hell, on my caddilac the hitch was built into the bumper. Solid metal. On my crown vic it used a bumper jack. You don't see those anymore because the bumper isn't made to have the car lifted by it.

 

[Evadman]

Yes. If it is a personal vehicle I would pull them out.

Equpiemt I carried at all times in my dodge:
2 transport grade hardened tow chains (20' long each)
one 15k lb recovery strap
one 60k lb recovery strap
one 2k lb hand winch (never used it)
Misc hardware including a snatch block, extra hooks and chain menders.
Tree saver strap (never used it)
Snow shovel
Sand
a bunch of cheap work gloves.
Tool kit.

Equipment I always carry in my Zuk:
1 transport grade tow chain
one 15k recovery strap
Misc hardware including hooks and chain menders
Work gloves
Tool kit

When I went out when it was snowing in either vehicle, I would toss in a few boards, a snowshovel, hand warmers, good gloves, and sand if I did not already have it.

I did it for fun, and because I am a nice guy. When it snows I actualy have a route that I patrol to pull people out ( there are certain spots where EVERY snowstorm some idiot slides off the road.) When I see someone, I ask if they need help. If the answer is yes, I offer to pull them out, but I am not responsable for any damage caused by me, my truck or my equpment. I warn them that the chain can break and maim them or their car. If they understand and agree, they get pulled out. I do not ask for money, but I usually get offered anyway, and I take it. (average offering seems to be $20) I had one guy 2 years ago give me a hundred bucks because he said AAA said it would be 3+ hrs for a truck

If it is a comercial vehicle (meaning large) and It hink I can pull it out, I offer to do it, but only if he agrees and pays me. If i can not get him out, I do not take any money. (only happened once, and it was a Schaumburg plow truck. )

Tips / hints, etc:
If the person is an ass, he/she gets left there.
If they get annoying, they get left there.
If they can not follow directions, they get left there (very very important they can follow instructions.)
If it is an extramly expensive car, it gets left there. Just because I do not want to get sued if I destroy a porshe or somehting (never came up yet)
If they offer you money, take it.
If they offer services, do not forget to take them up on it (I have a guy who owes me a deal on a car. he works at a dealership. I still have his card )
Carry tools to extract yourself (hand winch in this case. they are $50 for a 2k or $75 for a 4k model from Home Depot)
Have a good pair of work gloves (split leather seems to work well in the snow)

That should be about all.

 

[Sketcher]

Usually I'd say yes, but really it depends - -On whether or not the person in the ditch/bank is the same idiot who figured they could blaze past me at highway speed because they're in a SUV or any other vehicle with "Off Road" or 4x4 badging.

They might go faster, but they all stop the same

-Actually, one guy driving a jeep grand rode my bumper for a while in a heavy snow fall. He flashed his lights repeatedly and finally I pulled over and let him pass. He honked his horn as he passed and sped down the road. About a mile down the road a subtle corner turned out to be too much for the jeep and he ended up in the ditch.

=deciding to go the extra/extra mile I figured I'd stop and help the guy anyway (who knows, mabye his wife was in labor, some kind of dire circumstance - whatever..). I put the Dodge RAM I was driving in 4 wheel lock and hooked up my chain to the front tow hook and pulled it down toward the jeep. The guy got out yelling and swearing and when he saw me with the chain, and then recognized the truck and that he'd passed me not long ago he swore at me and told me he wouldn't be in the ditch if it weren't for my slow ass drivng. I didn't say anything, I just went back to the truck, threw the chain in back and drove off while he was yelling at me for not helping him out

 

[Zebo]

Of course. I carry chain, a winch, hi-lift, emergency kit (with morphine and stiches even LOL) and just about everything everman listed. It's the right thing to do plus I enjoy helping people.

 

[Hammer]

all the time

 

[JayHu]

wow.. you guys are nice people.
I guess maybe there is a little hope yet. I just figured when she said everyone was driving by and not stopping that if I ever got stuck I'd have to count on myself to get out.
I usually always stop and atleast try to help.

 

[KokomoGST]

Luckily most people are smart enough to not get stuck or typically call for assistance on their cells in my area.
We may see a big amount of snow sometimes but I've never personally seen someone actually stuck in a snow bank... occassionally I do see cars pulled over waiting for the plows to clear the road again.

It's nice to hear how prepared some people are.

 

[Armitage]

Wow Evadman, you're a one-man towing operation!
I do throw a come-along and extra chain in the truck if its actually snowing.
I guess I just don't trust human nature as much as you do though ... seems like to much liability to me.
Regardless of what they say verbally, if there is an accident and somebody is seriosly injured or expensive damage is done, you could be in some serious sh|t. Even if the person doesn't want to, it could be out of their hands once lawyers & insurance companies get involved.

 

[skyking]

chain in back and drove off while he was yelling at me for not helping him out

LOL!!!
I had a guy in a FWD pass me, with the little courtesy beep on the horn. I realized it was not a beep of protest, but it was one icy morning, and i thought 25 was plenty fast. It would get me many yards off the pavement if I lost control, LOL!
I travel up the road a mile or so, and here he is against the guardrail on the freeway onramp. Seriously dented right side, pissed off.
I could not restrain myself. As I passed, I gave him the same little courtesy beep!!
Edit: BTW, he was not stuck at all, just stupid

 

[Swag1138]

I usually just pull over, get out of the car, point, laugh, get back in the car, and drive away.

 

[Scootin159]

If it's safe for me to stop, and I won't be getting my own car stuck if I did (making the whole thing worse), I normally do. My car would be no help at all getting them out, but I'd be someone else to push.

 

[Glitchny]

if i tried to help someone out with my VW fox, i would probally end up being mroe of a hinderance

 

[ultimatebob]

Nope! I live in a rich suburb, so most people around here have either AAA or road-side assistance for their Lexus's and BMW's

 

[Kaervak]

If I had a truck I would. Kinda hard to tow someone out of a snowbank with a FWD 2200LBS Saturn.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: ergeorge
Wow Evadman, you're a one-man towing operation!
I do throw a come-along and extra chain in the truck if its actually snowing.
I guess I just don't trust human nature as much as you do though ... seems like to much liability to me.
Regardless of what they say verbally, if there is an accident and somebody is seriosly injured or expensive damage is done, you could be in some serious sh|t. Even if the person doesn't want to, it could be out of their hands once lawyers & insurance companies get involved.

So true. everyone is too sue happy in todays society. I have only damaged one vehicle out of all the vehicles I have pulled out. It was a minivan, and the driver did not follow my directions. he drove over the tow strap, and it wrapped around his driverside half shift and broke it. I yelled at him, and removed the strap ( I ended up shortening it. it was one of the 15k straps) . Then I asked him if he wanted a ride home since his van was not going anywhere. I gave him a ride home, and that was that.

There are laws called "samatian laws" that shield people like us somewhat. I am not a lawer, and I have never had anything serious happen, so anything is possable. Do this stuff at your own risk. If you use your head, and know a decent amount about cars, then you should be fine. every car has hard points for towing. They are usually in the rear. My brothers thunderbird had tow loops under the rear bumper. avery car has a semblance of frame under the engine. as long as the car is in a ditch, and you can get under it you can get the hook into a hole in that frame. I have streached the rules once or twice. Earlier in the year I pulled out a blazer by hooking a chain around one of the spring packs. normaly I would not do this, but there was ntohing else I could get to, and the blazer was not super stuck. It was also a straight back pull. If it had been to the side, the tow truck would have been called since I would have just ripped the pack right off.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: ergeorge
Wow Evadman, you're a one-man towing operation!
I do throw a come-along and extra chain in the truck if its actually snowing.
I guess I just don't trust human nature as much as you do though ... seems like to much liability to me.
Regardless of what they say verbally, if there is an accident and somebody is seriosly injured or expensive damage is done, you could be in some serious sh|t. Even if the person doesn't want to, it could be out of their hands once lawyers & insurance companies get involved.

So true. everyone is too sue happy in todays society. I have only damaged one vehicle out of all the vehicles I have pulled out. It was a minivan, and the driver did not follow my directions. he drove over the tow strap, and it wrapped around his driverside half shift and broke it. I yelled at him, and removed the strap ( I ended up shortening it. it was one of the 15k straps) . Then I asked him if he wanted a ride home since his van was not going anywhere. I gave him a ride home, and that was that.

There are laws called "samatian laws" that shield people like us somewhat. I am not a lawer, and I have never had anything serious happen, so anything is possable. Do this stuff at your own risk. If you use your head, and know a decent amount about cars, then you should be fine. every car has hard points for towing. They are usually in the rear. My brothers thunderbird had tow loops under the rear bumper. avery car has a semblance of frame under the engine. as long as the car is in a ditch, and you can get under it you can get the hook into a hole in that frame. I have streached the rules once or twice. Earlier in the year I pulled out a blazer by hooking a chain around one of the spring packs. normaly I would not do this, but there was ntohing else I could get to, and the blazer was not super stuck. It was also a straight back pull. If it had been to the side, the tow truck would have been called since I would have just ripped the pack right off.

I'd like to do it more ... it's fun and it feels good to help people out of a jam like that. Maybe I'll lighten up a bit if the people seem decent.

Anyway, that corsica had nothing that looked even remotely solid under the back end. I just hooked into a bracket the held the rear wheels onto the suspension on each side and put the center of the strap over the hitch ball. Wouldn't have done that if it was a hard pull, or other then straight back though.