Have you ever had to McGuyver your way out of the backcountry?

MOMMA · Mar 29, 2018

Hi all.
I'm writing an article about what to pack on your ATV/Side x Side... Have any of you ever had to McGuyver your way out of the bush, by being inventive with the materials at hand? On another note, what do you consider your go to's for items that you always take with you?

Have a great day!

Trish

HOTLAP · Mar 29, 2018

Had to use a bungie to hold a tie rod end onto the ball part when it came apart deep in the woods.

RXN · Mar 29, 2018

One of our guys had a cracked boot. So his clutches were getting wet and belt was slipping.
I had some blue rubber chemical gloves. We cut one up. And bandaided that boot. Clutches stayed dry for the rest of that trip.

whoDEANie · Mar 29, 2018

HOTLAP said:
Had to use a bungie to hold a tie rod end onto the ball part when it came apart deep in the woods.

I always carry a spool of stiff wire or binder twine for situation like that. Zip ties are also a must.

Ratchet straps can also be invaluable for holding a machine together - quad box, plastics, etc. Can also be used to help reseat a tire back onto the bead. I usually carry two.

Tree saver (2' strap) to protect trees from winch line and winch line from trees.

Tow strap or sling when needing to tow someone or extend length of winch line.

Collapsible shovel for digging or wedging in the ground when there's nothing to winch to.

Spare belt and tools to change it.

Small socket set, multi bit screw driver, vice grips

Spare tie rod and tie rod end (cheep insurance).

Large crescent wrench - good for large bolts and lug nuts, use as a persuader, or use to pry/bend things back into place

Electric tire pump, plugs, and valve stems

First aide kit, water, snacks, lighter, flashlight, duct tape, spare fuses, collapsible saw, bungee cords, bear mace mounted somewhere that's protected yet quickly accessible

Satellite communicator (SPOT or In-Reach)

Snatch block (I giggle every time I write that - yes, I'm like a child)

Toilette Paper!

That's a lot of stuff to pack for sure but has all been used at one time or another. To keep it organized, make it easier to pack/unpack, and to keep it clean/intact, I store it all in tupperware with locking lids.

MOMMA · Mar 29, 2018

whoDEANie said:
I always carry a spool of stiff wire or binder twine for situation like that. Zip ties are also a must.

Ratchet straps can also be invaluable for holding a machine together - quad box, plastics, etc. Can also be used to help reseat a tire back onto the bead. I usually carry two.

Tree saver (2' strap) to protect trees from winch line and winch line from trees.

Tow strap or sling when needing to tow someone or extend length of winch line.

Collapsible shovel for digging or wedging in the ground when there's nothing to winch to.

Spare belt and tools to change it.

Small socket set, multi bit screw driver, vice grips

Spare tie rod and tie rod end (cheep insurance).

Large crescent wrench - good for large bolts and lug nuts, use as a persuader, or use to pry/bend things back into place

Electric tire pump, plugs, and valve stems

First aide kit, water, snacks, lighter, flashlight, duct tape, spare fuses, collapsible saw, bungee cords, bear mace mounted somewhere that's protected yet quickly accessible

Satellite communicator (SPOT or In-Reach)

Snatch block (I giggle every time I write that - yes, I'm like a child)

Toilette Paper!

That's a lot of stuff to pack for sure but has all been used at one time or another. To keep it organized, make it easier to pack/unpack, and to keep it clean/intact, I store it all in tupperware with locking lids.

This is awesome!!!! I agree with the Snatch Block thing too. I have a video posted up someplace about my experiences as a parts girl with Snatch Blocks and Petcocks... I still laugh hysterically when someone comes in the shop asking for them.

TylerG · Mar 29, 2018

MOMMA said:
This is awesome!!!! I agree with the Snatch Block thing too. I have a video posted up someplace about my experiences as a parts girl with Snatch Blocks and Petcocks... I still laugh hysterically when someone comes in the shop asking for them.

boy you should move into heavy equipment parts..... we even sell horse cocks

nast70 · Mar 29, 2018

HOTLAP said:
Had to use a bungie to hold a tie rod end onto the ball part when it came apart deep in the woods.

Happened to us last summer in Cadomin. Used baling wire and a wrench to rebuild the tie rod and hold the ball joint in place. Made it all the way back. We crawled up a tree and strapped the snatch block and used the quads winch to pull it up off the ground and out of the rut. worked like a charm.
Kudos to the guys at the Can-Am dealership in Edson who didn't wash their hands or bust our balls too much after handling a part for an Arctic Cat

Another trip a machine was having electrical problems. simple tester was used to trace the problem to a wire in the harness that was rubbing. Isolated it and bandaged it up with electrical tape. Still works to this day.

Always have your basic tools, a compact air compressor and tire patch kit. The golden rule is 'If you have it, you won't need it', knock on wood!

solarguy · Mar 29, 2018

whoDEANie said:
I always carry a spool of stiff wire or binder twine for situation like that. Zip ties are also a must.

Ratchet straps can also be invaluable for holding a machine together - quad box, plastics, etc. Can also be used to help reseat a tire back onto the bead. I usually carry two.

Tree saver (2' strap) to protect trees from winch line and winch line from trees.

Tow strap or sling when needing to tow someone or extend length of winch line.

Collapsible shovel for digging or wedging in the ground when there's nothing to winch to.

Spare belt and tools to change it.

Small socket set, multi bit screw driver, vice grips

Spare tie rod and tie rod end (cheep insurance).

Large crescent wrench - good for large bolts and lug nuts, use as a persuader, or use to pry/bend things back into place

Electric tire pump, plugs, and valve stems

First aide kit, water, snacks, lighter, flashlight, duct tape, spare fuses, collapsible saw, bungee cords, bear mace mounted somewhere that's protected yet quickly accessible

Satellite communicator (SPOT or In-Reach)

Snatch block (I giggle every time I write that - yes, I'm like a child)

Toilette Paper!

That's a lot of stuff to pack for sure but has all been used at one time or another. To keep it organized, make it easier to pack/unpack, and to keep it clean/intact, I store it all in tupperware with locking lids.

Staples are a lot of the above, never leave home without duct tape, tie wire, zip ties and electrical tape. Many repairs can be done with these.

busted2x · Mar 29, 2018

If you deal with Würth, a roll of their vulcanizing silicone tape is invaluable. And zip ties for sure. And gear clamps. Have used the wurth tape to fix a torn in half rad hose, filled with water from the camel pack and we were good to go. Held up with no leaks for day and a half of riding. Hose clamps and a stick can fix an a arm or tie rod in a pickle, and a small tire iron.

MOMMA · Mar 29, 2018

busted2x said:
If you deal with Würth, a roll of their vulcanizing silicone tape is invaluable. And zip ties for sure. And gear clamps. Have used the wurth tape to fix a torn in half rad hose, filled with water from the camel pack and we were good to go. Held up with no leaks for day and a half of riding. Hose clamps and a stick can fix an a arm or tie rod in a pickle, and a small tire iron.

we do deal with Wurth at our shop. Thank you so much for this info!

You guys are awesome. If anyone has pictures of your McGuyver moments and wouldn't mind me sharing in the article I'd be super thankful. Pictures around 1mb are perfect for the print magazine. tdrinkle@yahoo.ca is my email addy!

Tyler.. there is no way I could survive someone coming in and asking for that. It was bad enough the Pet Cock (my reply to the customer, was oh.. I didn't think you could train them)

Lund · Mar 29, 2018

MOMMA said:
Hi all.
I'm writing an article about what to pack on your ATV/Side x Side... Have any of you ever had to McGuyver your way out of the bush, by being inventive with the materials at hand? On another note, what do you consider your go to's for items that you always take with you?

Have a great day!

Trish

I have a few McGuyver stories that can date way back but one of my favorite to talk about is one that took place about 15yrs ago on a fishing trip before i had my jet boat.
We were on a 14 day trip and this took place on the first day second leg of the trip. We had 4 aluminum boats loaded with gear and powered by 50hp out boards.
It was late in the day around 4pm, we had done 12miles on the first lake and gone up river at the end about 5miles to enter into a second lake. About half way on the second lake the motor on one of the boats made some hammering noises and locked up. I wasn't operating the boat but my buddy boat owner said it seized up and it would no longer pull over to start.
So we tied up a line and pulled it in to our home base for the 14 days.
By then it was dark but the next morning i was up with my coffee and decided to check over the motor. This is what i found LOL.
Buddy had taken the flywheel off the week before and forgot to torque the flywheel down. So the nut came off and the flywheel sheared the key way clean off the crank.
The only damage to the stator was the charge coil for charging battery and operating lights the ignition coils were good, undamaged.
So we fixed it, i found a spike, large nail and using a hatchet and hammer cut it to length. Then using a leatherman file made a new key for the key way.
Actually the hard part of filing i gave that to my buddy for being a dumbass LOL. It took him almost 2 days to file the key but once done i reassembled the flywheel and the motor was up and running again and he used it for the rest of the trip and got him home too LOL

RXN · Mar 29, 2018

This wasn't on quads. But on sleds.
We were riding the Judy Creek pipeline around 2007. My throttle cable snapped. And rather then be towed out. I tied the spare rip cord to the carb linkage. Ran it through the hood and up to my handle bars.
Pull cord to go sort of deal.
Two flaws. 1 the rope was too long and 2 every time I let go the sled would die.

So to fix both flaws I stupidly wrapped the rope around my right hand. Tight enough that with my hand rested on the handle bars I would hold an idle.

This worked great until we had to cross lease road. I was standing both feet on the right side running board. And when the sled came off the snow into the mud. I fell off.

But because my hand was tied to the rope which was tied to my throttle linkage. My machine was now rudderless and wide open with me dragging along beside it. The rope had tightened aroumd my hand. So I couldn't let go.
Thankfully it was a short ride.
The sled smoked an approach on the otherwise of the ditch. Went air born. My shoulder slammed into the approach. My glove ripped off so the rope wasn't attached to me anymore.

Was a hell of a ride.
I won't be doing that again. I'll take the tow out next time.

Lund · Mar 29, 2018

Another great McGuyver story i have took place while sledding. Turtle Mtn, not a place to break down because that usually means a chopper to get out.
Buddy..not same one LOL.
Around mid day while riding his handle bars snapped in half, like literally. So what now, call for chopper rescue..nope.
Buddy finds a approximately 1" diameter green tree, curves it all up and we bolted it to the riser column. Transferred the throttle controls and brake assembly over to the wood handle bars and viola. He rode it the rest of the day and back to the truck.
He claimed it is the weirdest feeling when your bars have flex in them while riding but they never broke. Take that Polaris LOL.

So the point of my two stories is simple, you can never carry everything for all scenario's. The biggest asset you can have is common sense in applying available resources, keeping a cool head and an understanding of how things work, mechanically, electrically.
In the boat story my buddy just about lost it, his trip was ruined according to him but with cool heads wisdom prevailed. I understood the systems and the mechanic's of it, so after some guidance he got it fixed.

In the sled story, my buddy understood all he needed was a handle bar, so make one from a tree.

In both situation's, nothing more then a Leatherman was used and a saw for the tree and an axe for the big nail, lots of elbow grease but most of all being resourceful.

freeflorider · Mar 29, 2018

I owned a turbo nitro once, so I just got use to bring one of everything. Tool bag dam near weight about as much as the sled, now I only bring a reduced bag of tools and it’s great to have em in a pinch.
guess it depends on how and where you ride.

MOMMA · Mar 30, 2018

Parts corner with Trish lol. I found that video with the Snatchblocks and Petcocks

Ronaha · Mar 30, 2018

Can of ether, never lost a bead myself but seen many others.saves trying to bead a tire back on with a 12 volt air compressor

Lund · Mar 30, 2018

MOMMA said:
Parts corner with Trish lol. I found that video with the Snatchblocks and Petcocks
https://youtu.be/blEn67Ly3EU

LOL, your lucky.
What if a guy comes in and say's "i need a new LOVE JOY COUPLING"......do you say OK, i can do that, if your a HD part's girl you might have too say that LOL.
I guess you could just slap him across the face and send him on his way hahaha
https://www.google.ca/search?q=love...vqrpTaAhUV42MKHa7VDlEQsAQIRA&biw=1280&bih=930

MOMMA · Mar 30, 2018

Lund said:
LOL, your lucky.
What if a guy comes in and say's "i need a new LOVE JOY COUPLING"......do you say OK, i can do that, if your a HD part's girl you might have too say that LOL.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=love...vqrpTaAhUV42MKHa7VDlEQsAQIRA&biw=1280&bih=930

Oh Jeeze.. I don't think I could keep a straight face with that one!!! "Sir... this is not THAT kind of shop. May I suggest The Love Connection in Cranbrook?"

Ronaha · Mar 30, 2018

Try to imagine yourself stuck out there all night, you'd probably want a small tarp too, also make sure your byetter half looks more delicious for bears.

LBZ · Mar 30, 2018

I've been with other guys broke down many a time in the bush.

Haywired a pair of pliers to hold a swingarm together on a honda 450 Fourtrax when it broke on one side

Used a beer can wrapped around holes in exhaust and connections many times on dirt bikes and atv's

Did a rear wheel bearing on a rhino on the side of the trail. Buddy had them with him, just never put them in before we went out.

A couple razr 800 axles. Buddy broke them and couldn't climb the hill out to get home. That one required a hotshot for a couple things.

Fixed a few sxs flats (carry ether)

Have you ever had to McGuyver your way out of the backcountry?

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