I wouldn't have believed it, and still don't.

[Graham.J]

No pics I'm afraid, I was a little pre-occupied and left main camera at home (really annoyed about that too).

While out for my daily drive in my 300tdi Defender 90, I came across an articulated lorry trying to exit a gravel car park, but making no progress. There is a gully before the road which said truck's front wheels were stuck in. The rear wheels were digging themselves deeper into the gravel from the attempts to free the estimated 40 tonne rig.

I pulled over to see if I could lend a hand. I had some rubber matting lining the back of the 90 which I pulled out and tried to use as sand ladders. Suffice to say, the truck's tyres and the stones ripped those to shreds.

Unfortunately the trucker had come from Germany, and didn't speak a word of English. My GCSE in German not standing me in very good stead as I was never taught what "if you detach the trailer from the truck, I'll try and pull you out." was. Luckily I could manage "Land Rover zug drei punkte fünf tonne" (Land Rover pull 3.5 tonne) in the hope I could rescue the stricken truck and he could have a better angle at recovering the trailer too.

The driver had put the legs of the trailer down prior to this, in the hope that he could detach it from the truck -- to no avail.

After hitching the 90 up to the front of the truck, I checked to see if the driver was okay and ready, only to see him lifting the legs up. With many onlookers, I hopped into the 90, took a deep gulp, selected 1st in low box and proceeded to take up the slack on the tow rope.

To my, and some spectators amazement, the 90 didn't break into a sweat, pulling the truck and trailer out successfully. I don't even think she got above a couple of thousand rpm.

I hope I've kept some Mercedes customers happy, ensuring their cars or parts (whatever he was carrying) were delivered on time.

So I raise a glass to Land Rover and their products. A chap in a Classic Range Rover put it well when he said "I've seen it, but I still don't believe it." I've done it, and I still don't quite believe it. Here's to Land Rover and their supremely capable vehicles.

[stone]

Nice one

[judgea]

True story: In appr. 1996, I was at a party in my '94 RR classic. Two vehicles got bogged/stuck in mud: An suv (I believe it was a Ford), and a Ford F150. I stayed in the background as a tractor was summoned to pull out the first veh. The tractor promptly got stuck also. I then stepped forward and volunteered my RR. I will never forget how some said "oh what a waste of time". The tractor was still attached to one vehicle--pulled them both out at the same time. Then pulled other vehicle. Everyone was stunned. They were like "you are the man" after that. Then my RR was the talk of everyone after that. I remember how my rpms couldn't have been much more than 3000; RR did it very easy without any hesitation or spinning--it was impressive.

[R6RY D]

i can well belive it, people slag off rangies and landies , but they are great. I have called upon my own my rangies special powers off road many times, and unless they are up to the windows in clay and not running , its never a problem

[Arif110]

Can I ask then - apart from the towing-attachment issues - would my 110 TD5 (unmodified)have been able to rescue a fully-laden Sainsbury's truck (articulated) - which was broken down and blocking a roundabout at rush-hour - on a slight incline?!

I thought to stop and offer help - but then imagined mangled, twisted halfshafts, and much egg on face - so didn't risk it!

For the next time - could I pull an artic full-stop - and then, if it's on an incline? Fully-laden, and not? Obviously at crawling, low-first speeds.


Thanks in advance!

[Graham.J]

judgea said:

True story: In appr. 1996, I was at a party in my '94 RR classic. Two vehicles got bogged/stuck in mud: An suv (I believe it was a Ford), and a Ford F150. I stayed in the background as a tractor was summoned to pull out the first veh. The tractor promptly got stuck also. I then stepped forward and volunteered my RR. I will never forget how some said "oh what a waste of time". The tractor was still attached to one vehicle--pulled them both out at the same time. Then pulled other vehicle. Everyone was stunned. They were like "you are the man" after that. Then my RR was the talk of everyone after that. I remember how my rpms couldn't have been much more than 3000; RR did it very easy without any hesitation or spinning--it was impressive.

Good man

I think Land/Range Rovers impress the most when you do get a situation where you don't really think things are possible...and they do them with very little effort.

I remember in my old 90 after buying some BFG Mud Terrains, a friend of mine who had the military style tyres on his 90 had driven into a gully with deep, thick, gloopy mud, and got stuck. My 90 drove in, hitched it up, pulled it out without struggling.

Ever since then (and a few other rescue incidents), I'll not be putting anything on my car other than BFG MTs.

[Graham.J]

Arif110 said:

Can I ask then - apart from the towing-attachment issues - would my 110 TD5 (unmodified)have been able to rescue a fully-laden Sainsbury's truck (articulated) - which was broken down and blocking a roundabout at rush-hour - on a slight incline?!

I thought to stop and offer help - but then imagined mangled, twisted halfshafts, and much egg on face - so didn't risk it!

For the next time - could I pull an artic full-stop - and then, if it's on an incline? Fully-laden, and not? Obviously at crawling, low-first speeds.


Thanks in advance!

To be honest, I probably wouldn't risk it. I was a little worried as to what would happen to my tow bar and halfshafts etc.

I think my saving grace was probably that 1) The truck driver was driving forwards as I was pulling so providing a helping hand and 2) The whole rig was facing downhill. I think the truck really just needed a bit of a tug to get its front wheels out of the gully and its rear wheels out of the ditches they'd dug.

If it was facing down the incline, you might be able to get the truck rolling, then just roll it out of the way. I'd not try it going up the incline though.

[Graham.J]

R6RY D said:

i can well belive it, people slag off rangies and landies , but they are great. I have called upon my own my rangies special powers off road many times, and unless they are up to the windows in clay and not running , its never a problem

I'm willing to say that I think Range Rovers are possibly more impressive than the Defenders. Because of their primary role (luxury barge) but their staggering off-road capability, I really don't think anything outside of the LR brand comes close.

[Arif110]

Hmmm - thanks. Well you've probably just saved me...twisted driveshafts and egg on face then...!

One indicator might also be looking at how hefty the prop shaft of an artic tractor unit is - bigger diameter than entire Salisbury axle housing.

[Fiskkeeper]

arent defenders rated to something daft like 12t towing with airbrakes by the military?

[BLUETHUNDER]

On the matter of towing.I regularly tow dead CVRT,s (Scorpion,Scimitars,Spartans and Sultans from my mates yard to his other yard which is a mile away.I also pull a dead FV432 around the yard which nearly grosses 15 ton,all with the help of my 101.

[YamR1V64motion]

you would think it more likely to do in a V8 Rangie of any description but a 300 TDI im impressed.....actully im not because the Defenders such an amazing vechicle