Nonimouse

Stick with the Continental Cross-contact. AT wise the best on the market at the moment is the Falken WIldpeak AT, but that's over the top for what you require. Also, go on am off road driving course

When teaching off tarmac driving the thoughts on inclinometers in vehicles is thus: "If the manufacturers (or common sense) say a maximum incline of, for example, 1 in 2 (45 degrees) then that is calculated for a standard vehicle on a smooth surface, not moving, with OEM tyres, no lift, no additional weight in the vehicle etc." In competition, unless it is a single make event, where the drivers are weighed and ballasted and the vehicles are identical and the course is smoothed back to EXACTLY the same before each vehicle drives it, asking for inclinometer reading from one specific vehicle that is unique in specification, would be pointless and wouldn't stand up in court The MSA allows the use of a hand held clinometer, such as Suunto or Nikon, to gauge the approximate steepness, from out of the vehicle, allowing for the on foot inspection to investigate hollow, bumps, large stones etc.

I use a handheld Suunto gradient meter

That's on TIMU at the moment. My price is 77p

I'd do it under the 4x4Days TPL and under my PI insurance as Professional Off Road Driving Instructor. There would also be an acceptance form for the attendees to sign. As it's not a competition, it's relatively simple to label it as an event.

Interesting. My first go to would have been earths, then battery cranking My 200 will start first time in -16, with glow-plugs. It has started on 9.4 volts on a warm day after two years in a shed. Yet yesterday at +5 it took three goes to start it. Weird

You and Angus can talk boaty things, he's the senior coast guard officer for the area. Likes nice boats

Straying even further form the OP, Angus and I are looking to run a winching/recovery day over at Binegar. Probably in March. It will be a refresher/ new starter/ interesting techniques not in the books/try kit day. There will be a cost, simply for land and insurance, but it shouldn't be too much

Jason Brokenshire JB Auto's, he's a mobile mechanic and a land rover enthusiast

I'm less than impressed by any of the 'Rings' . Unless it's a perfect set up the rope will come out of the groove for a pastime. It's utterly useless for changing direction of pull, for the same reason. If the set up loses tension, say for exmple, yopu are using wheel assist, then, again, the rope jumps. Hence the reason I'm looking at Brennan's piece of kit. I will admit to be ing a Luddite. I dislike change for the sake of change. Why re-invent the wheel? Just make it better quality. These last few years have seen a real jump in companies re-inventing recovery equipment, simply to sell to the shiny brigade

I've been watch Casey Ladelle giving these a go. I'm struggling to see the need. Brendan Metcalf is sending me over one of his kits to hold a rope in the groove on a normal ring....

Yup. FX4 What was the 4 bolt quick ratio from?

I'm happy to lend it out once we've finished playing. Although Angus might break it, he's good at that. I honestly can't get my head around the need, although Bob's suggestion of a paperweight is a good idea. I could polish it up some more

Why not simply use the winch to wind in the surplus cable, or alternatively either move the vehicle further back, or use a pulley block. I also thought it looked like a climbing belay, but couldn't understand why....

It's a shiny expensive thing. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I'm much of the Chocolate Fireguard opinion. I test stuff with a knowledgeable friend (Angus Norrish, for those in the know)

in justification of the long list, I do recovery at various events and competitions, as well as timber extraction from interesting places and 'recovery' for local farmers when 'The Popcorn Limiter Folk' decide to drive droves on the moor I do have a hi-lift, it stays in the garage unless I am doing some training. I also carry 3x 1.5kg fire extinguishers (tested every year by the guy that does the Glastonbury Festival fire extinguishers). I have some waffles (used as shelving in the workshop). I'm using the shortening chains more and more now, as decent recovery points are becoming less and less common, even on competition vehicles. On the Lands End Trial I warn the competitors via social media two weeks before the event, that if they don't have decent recovery points then I will be using a chain to create one, what ever the damage. Soft shackles just cant take tight radius or sharp edges; added to which the scrutineers are getting lazy.... I also carry stuff like a spider brace and a couple of decent pry bars, window breaker, seat belt cutter etc. I also carry a brew kit, with plenty of hot water and some extra clothes, towels etc. No way I'm going to get soaked, that's the drivers job, but if it's cold, then I don't want him/her/they getting hypothermic (although I carry kit for that) Every six months I get the kit laid out and work through what I've used and what I haven't. I also make notes on what I could have used (like the spider brace). I also like testing 'new' stuff on the market. I get sent a bit and I collect a bit. I've got a Safe-Xtract X lock coming soon. Looks to be an total waste of money, but the Muricans swear by them.

I've been trying to find a six bolt to the London Taxi spec. Admittedly not trying to hard. I had one on the 100" and the 1.5 turns lock to lock was very useful

Mix of hard and soft shackles form 1.5 to 6.5 tonnes. One of my soft shackles is 10 tonnes SWL, but I don't trust soft shackles to that extent 1x conventional snatch block (Black Rat 20,000lb swl) Kinetic Rope 1.5" from Yankum Ropes Kinetic Rope from Goodwinch Kinetic Strop ARB Static Strop - 11m 8tonne SWL 2x 18tonne SWL shortening chains Some endless loops from 1 tonne SWL to 5 tonnes SWL CM35 12mm winch rope with spliced eye (105') 2x 10mm 100' extensions set of Brothers 5tonne SWL Winch Blanket 1x Land Rover Discovery hydraulic Jack 1x 8 tonne hydraulic bottle jack and attachments 1x Toyota screw jack Shovel Goodwinch G10, Upgraded to re-machined drum supports, with roller bearings, Bow motor, and some other secret bits. Stall is almost double original Comms, lights, head torches etc First aid kit with some extras (and the knowledge on how to use it) comfort pack (toilet paper, chocolate, sanitary towels etc) Some other bits and bobs like ratchet straps etc depending on the recovery job

Pictures are never easy as it runs 0100 to 0600 But yes, he did a sterling job

I buy them second hand, swap out the seals/o rings and they last forever. Except with Jizer, that never works for long, so I use a Jizer sprayer

Great event. Huge thanks to Darth Dicky for running the start by himself, of the whole night!

I'd go down to the garden centre (Sanders) and pick up a hoselock sprayer

It got put into hibernation when I stopped running stuff Be easy to go back to it

Most recovery is about standing by the drivers window explaining which way to turn the wheel

I have no issues with Portals. They provide a better gear set and in the hands of experience a damn site less spin out. I mentioned 35's as a control tyre because they create holes that are just about manageable by smaller tyred vehicles. Fridge is right about scrutineering members though. All you do is upset people, because essentially you are questioning their build, which equates to the size of their manhood. One of the reasons I really enjoy marshalling at Binegar is that rules are very limited. Don't drive like a tw*t. If you do, you will most likely be needing a new vehicle. I enjoy recovery more than most people, apart from Ralph, which also helps. I'll spend the next few weeks talking to some people and see what I can sort out. I don't have any contacts north of the M4 line, so I'll leave that area to others.