Got stuck in Moab for 3 hours because I skipped checking my tow strap

Last month I was out on Poison Spider Mesa near Moab and took a line that looked easy. My buddy's Jeep got high centered on a rock ledge and we realized my tow strap was still sitting in my garage. Had to call a guy with a winch who was passing by and he charged me 40 bucks just to pull us off. Now I double check my recovery gear before I even leave the driveway. Anyone else forget something basic and pay the price on the trail?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

tessa3684mo ago

A spare tire is the one I see people forget most often. Make a checklist on your phone and run through it before you leave. Also test your straps every now and then, they get UV damage sitting in the garage. A broken strap on the trail is worse than no strap at all because it gives you false confidence. For 40 bucks that guy probably saved you a whole afternoon of digging and cursing. Write down your recovery list on a note and tape it to your sun visor so you can't miss it.

4

keithharris4mo ago

My buddy forgot his spare on a trip to Moab last year and we spent 3 hours trying to patch a sidewall gash with a tire plug kit. Tape on the visor is just gonna get faded and ignored after a month. I'd rather rely on muscle memory and a quick mental scan at the trailhead than a sticky note that'll peel off in the heat. Straps are cheap enough to replace every season anyway, buying new ones once a year is less hassle than testing old ones and finding a crack mid-pull. And the guy who sold you that strap for 40 bucks probably overcharged you for something you could have found at Walmart for 25.

3