Yesterday I tried to get over an 8,000 ft. pass on a dirt road with 6 inches of snow on the road. I lost traction on a switch back and opted to do a donut and head back down instead of getting stuck trying to turn around. I love the sidecar's turning radius when the rear wheel is spinning.
Among the tools in my rig, I carry a cable type come-along and a scissors jack for just such an occasion.
So now I'm heading home instead of pushing my luck, when I hear a loud and sudden grating sound coming from my rear wheel. I stopped and found that 2 out of 3 bolts holding the rear sub frame had fallen out and the subframe was now dragging on the road. Had I continued it would have pole vaulted me into the ditch, and wreck my rear wheel.
With the come-along I was able to pull the sub-frame back into position and put some spare bolts back into the sub-frame. The bolts were smaller than the lost ones so I left the come-along in place and drove back to town. In town I stopped to inspect the repair and found the new bolts to be gone as well. The only thing holding the sub-frame was the come-along. No more bolts and the hardware store is closed on Sunday. I gave the come-along another ratchet and drove the rest of the way home. I don't think I'll ever leave home without my come-along.
A couple of ratchet straps, a spool of tie wire and some large wrap ties also help replace bolts or hold a broken weld joint for awhile.
Lonnie
Me, I always thought the old log strapped under a broken wagon wheel was pretty neat of pioneers to do. Probably sounded and rode like heck over bumps, prarie sod and so forth, but it got them where they needed to go for repairs.
I don't have a come-along, 'cept for the one stored under my garage bench. It generally costs me less effort to keep a cell phone handy, but one never knows. I don't do the off-road stuff much at all, and even less of adventure riding in the snow, so I guess it is ok for me. Nice that you had one. Especially since gas stations were closed and such when you were out. I recently had such an experience when I ran out of gas on a holiday in which none of the small towns along my path were open. Cell phone helped me then though. Nice to see you made it home. Hope the come-along didn't mar up anything on the paint for you.
Hi Mark,
I like your attitude! No, not the come-along (although that's brilliant..), I just like the idea of having a rig at 8000 feet, on snow-covered dirt! The very sort of thing that cost me a marriage, but also generates some great memories!
Congratulations on your fix! I've got a couple of chain-binders, but I think I may need a come-along...
Lonnie, I also had the ratchet straps, zip ties and wire in my tool kit.
Pat, The come-along didn't mar the paint any more than my ordinary driving habits. My rig is more of a rat bike. I painted it the same color as the dirt that accumulates on it.
Barb, I didn't actually make it to 8,000 feet. It was more like 7,000 feet.
As for attitude, my wife thinks I'm crazy for taking that kind of risk. She just drove across Nevada, over to Santa Cruz to see relatives, and then down to San Diego to visit my relatives. That will be about 1,000 miles of California traffic and another 1,000 of desert driving. Who's taking the risk?
Yes building memories. If it weren't for this board, I wouldn't have any one to share them with.
I for my part see a good use for a 60-90 feet 20-30m rope and a set of pulleys since a river washed me into the deep and the day before got stuck in clay 3 years ago. (see roads to go: "Ride happy as a cow")
Other things I carry are as typically for Germans a tool set, spare neumatics, (hand pump only sometimes because we have a gas station every 10km max) bulbs, and lots of rubber straps and nylon pull downs.And rain coat.
While the French come along even in the desert with just a girlfriend in the back, 2 sleeping bags and a bottle of wine...
It's a quetion of philosophy.
Ain't it?
I was telling my brother in law of your experience and he reminded me that I had to do something similar with a tie down strap when I broke the rear subframe on my Valkyrie. We walked down to his garage and he presented me with one of these;
The handle folds in half and it fits nicely in a 3"X8"X10" case.
http://www.deuer.com/html/page2.htm
Mike, That's a very nice package. Small enough to not have any excuse to not bring it. Although I tend to bring more than I actually need in my giant over sized saddle bag(sidecar) any way.
