Strizzo
PowerDork
7/26/20 9:37 p.m.
irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:
Dieselboss15 said:
i have watched a ton of his videos and they are pretty exciting. very cool. dad alwways likes to watch the winch recoveries but i says they are boring lol
It's funny, becaues Matt's buddy who sometimes joins him in recoveries has his own channel for his towing company, and almost everything is winch recovery. And those videos are really boring.
I'm a member of a local off-road recovery group. based on the live stream comments, most people think winch recoveries are boring, but they're much safer than tying off to a tie down point and horking away.
I recovered a 2wd f150 once that didn't have any tow points, so we had to hook a tree saver to a front control arm for the winch recovery. about halfway through getting the truck out, some guy in a huge lifted dodge 3500 dually on mud tires rolls back in and is pissed because he had gone to get his straps. what do you think would have happened to that control arm if he had tied off to it and started yanking?
I know matt doesn't like winches because he's out there to make money and straps and kinetic ropes get things done quick, but my preference is slow and safe, but i've used straps plenty of times too.
The one I had at work got several 60ft artic buses and an ambulance or two unstuck in snowstorms with a big yellow tow strap. They were great little trucks.
Winching is boring and forever taking, but man it works.
Spent about 2 hours getting this guy out, when he delivered our shipping container. The little 4x4 Kubota just spun its tires, and the big 90 HP John Deere just about buried itself.
My cheap, used, Warn HS9500i that I "rebuilt," saved the day. Of course Muffin the Wrangler had to be anchored to stumps or tractors, she doesn't have enough lead on her ass.
The truck driver kept turning his wheels, opposite the direction of the pull, despite directing him otherwise, making things that much more work.
We still have ruts.
This guy has been around before the first guy.. He's got a 1 ton plus chevy dually offroad wrecker.. He spends his time in Dresser WI at the offroard park there.. plenty of borken things.
These videos have been entertaining as hell - a friend turned me on to the channel about a week ago. I'm not an XJ fanboi (they're cramped inside) but I really admire how well his Cherokee is holding up to all the use and abuse! Small and light enough to get anywhere, and strong enough to pull things out with the right technique. The snatch ropes (or whatever they're called) are pretty cool to watch.
There have been a few videos where he arrives and realizes he can just drive the "stuck" vehicle out, a case of driver talent over all else and the vehicle owner being nervous or inexperienced. Those are more interesting to me.
I'm also fascinated by the people who think their AWD Cadillac sedan or whatever can make it through deep sand.
Snowdoggie said:
frenchyd said:
In reply to Toyman01 (Moderately Supportive Dude) :
Hmmm I wouldn't think a Jaguar XJ would make a good recovery vehicle. Was it a XJ6? XJ12? Or XJS? Smiley face.
I still want to put a 12 cylinder XJS motor in my Jeep Cherokee XJ. 
Width wise you'll have no problem. They are only 22 inches wide at the exhaust manifold. Height wise they are only 25 inches tall from oil pan to top of the motor.
The length though might be a problem. 35 inches long. But if you remove two of the 4 grooves on the crank pulley you can save an inch.
Transmission wise it has the GM Turbo 400 the bell housing is unique like the Cad & Buick each got their own bell housings. The tail shaft should be common though so if you can find a tail shaft from something with 4WD behind a Turbo 400 you should be able to make it work.
In reply to frenchyd :
The 4.0 Jeep engine is 32". It might be a tight squeeze.
NOHOME
MegaDork
7/27/20 12:54 p.m.
Also been watching and enjoying because at the core he "Problem Solves" some interesting situations.
I am equally impressed at how some of his clients manage to get their rental cars as deep into the E36 M3uations they get into.
As to the business model? Considering overhead, staff attending and travel time to reach some of the clients, there is no way it can be reasonable. I recall once as we took a rental SUV over a trail in Colorado at the Sand Dunes national park, there was a big sign that said "Tow recovery from this point on, minimum $400.... and it was a pretty mild trail.
These long recoveries certainly aren't cheap. Dispatch fee just to get them on the road, plus hourly fees... I got a $2000 tow bill from a standard wrecker company just being stuck in a snowy driveway 1000 feet from pavement, so you can bet some of these get pricey. Though if I had someone like Matt to call in my situation I wouldn't have had to pay such a large bill because it would have been quick and simple for someone with so much offroad experience.
I'm more intrigued by a V12 XJ than I expected to be.
Recently discovered this channel. +1 on entertaining.
NOHOME said:
As to the business model? Considering overhead, staff attending and travel time to reach some of the clients, there is no way it can be reasonable. I recall once as we took a rental SUV over a trail in Colorado at the Sand Dunes national park, there was a big sign that said "Tow recovery from this point on, minimum $400.... and it was a pretty mild trail.
I wonder if AAA or rental car insurance would cover it. From the sound of it at least some of his calls seem to come from dispatch companies.
Strizzo said:
irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:
Dieselboss15 said:
i have watched a ton of his videos and they are pretty exciting. very cool. dad alwways likes to watch the winch recoveries but i says they are boring lol
It's funny, becaues Matt's buddy who sometimes joins him in recoveries has his own channel for his towing company, and almost everything is winch recovery. And those videos are really boring.
I'm a member of a local off-road recovery group. based on the live stream comments, most people think winch recoveries are boring, but they're much safer than tying off to a tie down point and horking away.
I recovered a 2wd f150 once that didn't have any tow points, so we had to hook a tree saver to a front control arm for the winch recovery. about halfway through getting the truck out, some guy in a huge lifted dodge 3500 dually on mud tires rolls back in and is pissed because he had gone to get his straps. what do you think would have happened to that control arm if he had tied off to it and started yanking?
I know matt doesn't like winches because he's out there to make money and straps and kinetic ropes get things done quick, but my preference is slow and safe, but i've used straps plenty of times too.
Don't get me wrong I am not arguing the merits winching (in fact I just ordered a winch today).. I'm just saying it's not very interesting to watch on video..
With the exception of the 2001? which I understand may have had some issues with the engine on a few examples, the redesigned ‘97 and up is just about the most stone cold reliable car they ever built. They just will not quit. They are Hiluxesque if I may invent a word. Slow (the automatics are faster), thirsty, cramped, and boring - I’d sure like another.
In my 160k miles of ownership experience, the power window regulator needed “fixed” which I managed myself without even buying anything-the motor was fine. Oh, and I had to put a new AC compressor on it. That’s it.
newrider3 said:
These long recoveries certainly aren't cheap. Dispatch fee just to get them on the road, plus hourly fees... I got a $2000 tow bill from a standard wrecker company just being stuck in a snowy driveway 1000 feet from pavement, so you can bet some of these get pricey. Though if I had someone like Matt to call in my situation I wouldn't have had to pay such a large bill because it would have been quick and simple for someone with so much offroad experience.
I was up in the mountains South of Mono lake riding dirt bikes when we came to a beautiful meadow with big signs saying "All vehicles stay off." Right in the middle of the meadow was an asswipe stuck in the mud with his 4x4. The rangers had already gotten there. I asked if they were going to winch him out? "Nah, that would tear up the meadow further. This is a job for a helicopter." $12,000 in 1980 dollars. Serves the bastard right.
DWNSHFT said:
OK, seriously? All this talk and nobody mentioned his trailer ramps? Like, that he doesn't bother with the pesky things? That was so awesome is LOL'd for both the loading and unloading (shown in the second video above). That is gettin' it done like a boss!
A lot of Jeep guys and other off-roaders don’t fool with ramps.
MrFancypants said:
Look for his "build" video. Virtually everything holding that XJ off the ground is custom.
Seems like there is no way these can be $5000 jeeps when you factor all that in, right?
Toyman01 (Moderately Supportive Dude) said:
In reply to frenchyd :
The 4.0 Jeep engine is 32". It might be a tight squeeze.
Maybe an older Jeep Wagoneer would work. A V12 Ferrari engine will fit.
https://www.drivingline.com/articles/bill-harrahs-jerrari-married-jeep-go-anywhere-with-ferrari-ferocity/
Like that? Here a totally different GRM YouTube algorithm tip:
https://www.youtube.com/user/AugustJames2006
(quality tree cutting that I can watch for hours)
ProDarwin said:
MrFancypants said:
Look for his "build" video. Virtually everything holding that XJ off the ground is custom.
Seems like there is no way these can be $5000 jeeps when you factor all that in, right?
Junk yard GM axles. Home build long arm kits and used coil springs. If you aren't buying new parts and labor is free you can do a lot with $5k.
Toyman01 (Moderately Supportive Dude) said:
ProDarwin said:
MrFancypants said:
Look for his "build" video. Virtually everything holding that XJ off the ground is custom.
Seems like there is no way these can be $5000 jeeps when you factor all that in, right?
Junk yard GM axles. Home build long arm kits and used coil springs. If you aren't buying new parts and labor is free you can do a lot with $5k.
That's what I mean. I have never seen a business where labor is free. His time to go pull junkyard GM axles and build long arm kits and install it all is significant.
But maybe I'm overestimating that cost and he can have a mechanic friend do it pretty inexpensively or something.
In reply to ProDarwin :
He is a old school off roader. He is currently building a 4wd Corvair wagon. He builds Derby cars as well. It's what he does for fun. At a guess it is one of his trail rigs he has moved into off road recovery.
