Helping in the snow
Discussion
rallycross said:
Sounds like you are in a bit of a unique spot where you are, I always help people who are stuck as I hope the same will happen to us next time we get stuck.
I once got stuck on 31st Dec on a hill road in the middle of nowhere (on way home) and I really thought I was in trouble, even though I had a shovel I couldnt get it out and was on my own.
The snow had been blown across the field and was exiting via a gated entrance so I'd suddenly hit 3 foot of snow across the road whereas everywhere else it was only a few inches. Was contemplating walking back to the nearest village (3 miles) when a load of hill walkers appeared from nowhere and helped me dig/push it out! What a bit of luck that was.
Yeah most of my neighbours are older or own 4X4, I just wish they would keep their journies out to the critical ones. They tend also not to be the most confident or competent drivers on snow (think rev the arse off it stylie), not helped by the builders leaving a skip on the hill so if it starts to go they are inclined to give up and roll back rather than keep going risk the back end sliding into the skip.I once got stuck on 31st Dec on a hill road in the middle of nowhere (on way home) and I really thought I was in trouble, even though I had a shovel I couldnt get it out and was on my own.
The snow had been blown across the field and was exiting via a gated entrance so I'd suddenly hit 3 foot of snow across the road whereas everywhere else it was only a few inches. Was contemplating walking back to the nearest village (3 miles) when a load of hill walkers appeared from nowhere and helped me dig/push it out! What a bit of luck that was.
ChrisRS said:
Eggman said:
mattdaniels said:
We bought a Land Rover this year with a winch. I can't wait to go and use it for something like this round by us.
Be very sure you know how to use that winch safely or you might end up having more of an adventure than you bargained for. In terms of the amount of caution required during use, I have electric winches mentally categorised in the same compartment as chainsaws and angle grinders (i.e. a moment's carelessness = potential for life changing injury). Unless you're aware of the circumstances that might lead to you becoming the victim of a traumatic amputation or even a degloving injury (these are particularly gruesome!), my advice would be to do a little reading first.
Edited by ChrisRS on Saturday 27th November 11:42
I think they run a course at Eastnor, we definitely want to learn as much as we can about using the kit for full blown 4x4 recovering and getting out of offroad difficulties. Meanwhile with ref. to the OP, based on instruction we've had so far I think we know enough to safely winch a neighbour off the drive rather than sit in our lounge hearing the wheels spinning.
Cogcog said:
Sitting here feeling guilty because I can hear a neighbour shovelling snow off the hill outside and another wheel spinning. But should I feel guilty?
I would normally go out and help but last year it became my full time job and I got no work done ( I work from home). This year I have consciously decided to resist becoming an unpaid council employee for the week. I live on a cul-de-sac hill, just at the point where it gets steep enough for any snow and ice to stop people getting up the hill witgh resultant spinning wheels. I ended up pushing , shovelling and gritting all week and then find out that the people were just 'popping to see what the snow looks like on the golf couse' or 'going out to get away from the wife'.
FFS stay at home. You don't need to go out and I am not helping you do it, and neither is my OH who did her back in pushing a neighbours large vauxhall up the hill so he could pop to the golf club bar for a lunchtime sniffter.
I'm in a very similar situation to you, except my road isn't a dead end - and it's very steep. I spent ages out there last year helping people out for the sake of it - didn't expect anything in return but of the dozen or so cars I dug out only one driver even said thank you.I would normally go out and help but last year it became my full time job and I got no work done ( I work from home). This year I have consciously decided to resist becoming an unpaid council employee for the week. I live on a cul-de-sac hill, just at the point where it gets steep enough for any snow and ice to stop people getting up the hill witgh resultant spinning wheels. I ended up pushing , shovelling and gritting all week and then find out that the people were just 'popping to see what the snow looks like on the golf couse' or 'going out to get away from the wife'.
FFS stay at home. You don't need to go out and I am not helping you do it, and neither is my OH who did her back in pushing a neighbours large vauxhall up the hill so he could pop to the golf club bar for a lunchtime sniffter.
A few days into the ridiculous conditions someone driving like a cock slid down the hill, across the road and smashed into one of my parked cars on my driveway, and then had the temerity to get abusive with my family.
It was at that point I decided that everyone can go to hell - I'm helping NOBODY this year.
Doniger said:
Cogcog said:
Sitting here feeling guilty because I can hear a neighbour shovelling snow off the hill outside and another wheel spinning. But should I feel guilty?
I would normally go out and help but last year it became my full time job and I got no work done ( I work from home). This year I have consciously decided to resist becoming an unpaid council employee for the week. I live on a cul-de-sac hill, just at the point where it gets steep enough for any snow and ice to stop people getting up the hill witgh resultant spinning wheels. I ended up pushing , shovelling and gritting all week and then find out that the people were just 'popping to see what the snow looks like on the golf couse' or 'going out to get away from the wife'.
FFS stay at home. You don't need to go out and I am not helping you do it, and neither is my OH who did her back in pushing a neighbours large vauxhall up the hill so he could pop to the golf club bar for a lunchtime sniffter.
I'm in a very similar situation to you, except my road isn't a dead end - and it's very steep. I spent ages out there last year helping people out for the sake of it - didn't expect anything in return but of the dozen or so cars I dug out only one driver even said thank you.I would normally go out and help but last year it became my full time job and I got no work done ( I work from home). This year I have consciously decided to resist becoming an unpaid council employee for the week. I live on a cul-de-sac hill, just at the point where it gets steep enough for any snow and ice to stop people getting up the hill witgh resultant spinning wheels. I ended up pushing , shovelling and gritting all week and then find out that the people were just 'popping to see what the snow looks like on the golf couse' or 'going out to get away from the wife'.
FFS stay at home. You don't need to go out and I am not helping you do it, and neither is my OH who did her back in pushing a neighbours large vauxhall up the hill so he could pop to the golf club bar for a lunchtime sniffter.
A few days into the ridiculous conditions someone driving like a cock slid down the hill, across the road and smashed into one of my parked cars on my driveway, and then had the temerity to get abusive with my family.
It was at that point I decided that everyone can go to hell - I'm helping NOBODY this year.
Back in January, my girlfriend and i were walking home after pub quiz and it had just snowed a good 4 to 5 inches. There is a massive hill in town and a Zafira about 50m up the road, had stopped half way up the hill, the engine was running and the wheels slipping. We wander up to the car and we start pushing and it's going nowhere. It was at this point I actually looked inside the car. I tap on the window and tell the THREE adult female passengers inside the Zafira that it would be easier if they go out and helped. The response we got was "Are you trying to say we're fat?", No I'm saying it would be easier with 3 less people in the car 3 more people pushing. They did begrudgingly get out of the car and push and surpise, surpise the car got moving and the car made it to the top of the hill and the passenger re-embarked and were on their way again.
Some people can't even help themself, yet will happily watch somebody helping them struggle.
Some people can't even help themself, yet will happily watch somebody helping them struggle.
k themselves.Neighbour got stuck, went out and spent a good 10-15 minutes helping her get going up the hill. Once she hit a clear patch she kept driving and didn't even give a wave of thanks. "Well she was probably too worried about getting stuck again to think about thanking me" was my thought at the time.
I saw her many times after that, long after the snow had melted and she wouldn't even acknowledge my presence never mind a thank you.
I saw her many times after that, long after the snow had melted and she wouldn't even acknowledge my presence never mind a thank you.
Like some of you i have the same idea. I live near clee hill and at the end the lane there a hill down to the road and every year since i moved in cars and tractors always skid down onto the main road or into the hedge. So when i was 16 i got a bike and like most of you know bikes and ice dont mix so several times i came off partially due to inexperiance and the weather.
So i rung the highways agency and managed to pursued them off the dangers off me sliding down onto the main road on my bike so they agreed to provide the lane with grit bin. So that year i gritted and cleared the lane. I didnt expect thanks but it took the mick when i heard a neighbour claiming that they had the bin installed.
So the next year at the first sign of ice i checked the bin knowing that there was about three quarters left from last year but it had all gone and highways refusing to refill it i bought grit salt and did the lane out of my own pocket. But several days later two of my neighbours had loverly clear drives and found out that instead of helping clear the lane they had emptied the bin for them selfs so they could get off the drives and refused to share it or help anyone else. So this year i wash my hands of them especially when they get stuck in the hedge again or want a jump start.
So i rung the highways agency and managed to pursued them off the dangers off me sliding down onto the main road on my bike so they agreed to provide the lane with grit bin. So that year i gritted and cleared the lane. I didnt expect thanks but it took the mick when i heard a neighbour claiming that they had the bin installed.
So the next year at the first sign of ice i checked the bin knowing that there was about three quarters left from last year but it had all gone and highways refusing to refill it i bought grit salt and did the lane out of my own pocket. But several days later two of my neighbours had loverly clear drives and found out that instead of helping clear the lane they had emptied the bin for them selfs so they could get off the drives and refused to share it or help anyone else. So this year i wash my hands of them especially when they get stuck in the hedge again or want a jump start.
I tend to help people pushing because i hate getting stuck. Last year i went down a road i didnt know (sat nav) it turned out to have a bank down and back up the other side.....lets just say 8 hours later i was still sat there. Only got out because i had a walk to the nearest houses and managed to get a tow. Not a position i want to be in again.
Leeholty said:
I live near clee hill
Where about are you? I'm down in lovely sunny *cough* Tenbury. The Clee was great fun last year, our snowball fight didn't last long as it was too cold!I had to retrive a mate who got stuck last year, went and got the works 4x4 and drove off down the lane. Was rather irritated when despite his protests of "I wasn't spinning it" I drove it straight out without the truck.
This year hopefully my Landie will be back from her refurb before the snow starts properly. I have a 3T tow rope, if someone is stuck I will stop and see if they want assistance but any snotty attitude and they can stay in the ditch.
thinfourth2 said:
mattdaniels said:
We bought a Land Rover this year with a winch. I can't wait to go and use it for something like this round by us.
Be careful otherwise you may end up with a nice collection of bumpers as modern cars have nothing to attach a towrope to. Most have those nasty little screw in towing eyes but some have nothing. The wifes honda is like trying to tie onto a giant bar of soap so its off into the workshop this afternoon to have some towropes attached underneath and cable tied onto the bumpersMunter said:
Cogcog said:
I see that 'Golf Club' man has moved his car off his steep drive and left it at the bottom of the hill ready for a run at it.
Does your phone happen to capture video?... Yesterday he went home and took his wife's Kompressor which was slightly better in the snow and got him out. We have had another fall overnight, larger than yesterday so how he hopes to get ouit todaty when he couldn't yesterday God only knows.
neil_bolton said:
That always makes me laugh.(Where's my trolley jack?)
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