"Bandit" (2bandit)
12/16/2013 at 16:16 • Filed to: snow
4
30|
"Bandit" (2bandit)
12/16/2013 at 16:16 • Filed to: snow | 4
| 30 |
Today I was driving home from school when I remembered I had to return a tool I borrowed from my grandfather. My grandfather lives out in the country and amazingly the road to his house had been plowed... yesterday. Over night another few inches of snow fell on the layers of ice underneath. As I was turning a corner I found myself needing a bit of oppo, just as I gave a bit the wheels magically found some traction and the car veered off the road. My front wheels were only about 2' off the pavement. Far enough that it didn't look bad, but far enough that the RWD Blazer couldn't drag itself out.
As I was trying all the methods I knew to get my car unstuck (rocking, floor mats, etc) one of my teachers drove by and offered me a ride. I rode to my grandfathers house where we jumped in his BMW X5. Just as we finished hooking my truck to the X5, two rednecks drove by. Luckily I knew one of them and they offered to help pull me out. Not wanting to risk damaging my grandfathers BMW (as it was never really intended to tow things), I took them up on the offer.
They got out some massive tow straps and hooked my blazer up to their lifted, 350 powered, straight piped, camo seat covered, rusty, 90s chevy pickup. Stupidly the RWD blazer doesn't have tow points, so I hooked the straps to the front roll bar. Three strong tugs later and my truck was out.
What's the moral of the story you ask? Don't buy a RWD blazer, keep a shovel in your back seat, don't mock people who offer tow your ass out of a snow bank, sometimes it is okay to take rides from strangers, the BMW X5 was never meant to tow things since it doesn't really have tow hooks, S10 based blazers love to magically find grip, and learn how to drive in the snow!
Side note: The ironic thing about this ordeal? I drove my Trans Am in 6" snow a ton last winter and not once did I get stuck.
Biased Plies
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 16:25 |
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The BMW will have a tow hook in a tool kit in the trunk somewhere. The place to screw it in will have a little cover to remove in the front bumper. You'd probably be surprised by the X5's pulling ability (assuming its got x-drive and doesn't have bald tires).
Klaus Schmoll
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 16:30 |
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*Makes mental note to throw snow chains in trunk*
Do they even offer them for wheels the size of these on your Blazer?
Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 16:34 |
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Always carry some in the trunk. It's saved gotten me out of a few snow banks over the years. That, and a good shovel will pretty much do the trick unless you get your car completely shoved into a snow bank.
FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Klaus Schmoll
12/16/2013 at 16:36 |
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They make chains for every size wheel out there. Even seen a semi all chained up?
When I go skiing in the mountains I take chains for my 35" mud tires even though my locking difs will get me out of 80% of such situations. Never had to use them yet... fingers crossed this year.
CAR_IS_MI
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 16:47 |
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That's the thing you learn about rednecks. Sure, from a distance they look unconventional, and they hoot and holler all day long, some even smell funny, but when you need help, that same rust beat up rat truck on tractor tires that once seemed so unconventional to you, is now the best sight in the world.
dinobot666
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 16:48 |
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You need some Camaro wheels on that Blazer. Pronto.
While I'm not a redneck by definition, I do enjoy driving around during snowstorms to pull people out, mostly because I really like driving in terrible weather.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 16:53 |
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Never buy RWD blazer.
My first two trucks were 4x4 blazers. the first a 2 door, the second a 4 door. I've driven those 2 trucks through more snow... like 10-12 inches unplowed, never an issue.
Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
> Biased Plies
12/16/2013 at 17:02 |
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does the towing ability also apply to other BMW X-drives? my father owns a e90 330xi, but I've never seen it tow anything
Takuro Spirit
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 17:11 |
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Dude, never ever ever use the sway bar again.
You could have at least broken the links/mounts and at most ripped them out of the frame.
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Biased Plies
> Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/16/2013 at 17:27 |
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Well I wasn't talking about towing but you should be able to pull someone out of a snowbank or help them get unstuck in the 330. It's no full size truck but neither is a Subaru. Being a BMW doesn't make it prissy and useless, most people just don't use those capabilities.
Flat Six
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 17:40 |
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I've been saved by rednecks in a truck when I got stuck on the beach. Many of our ancestors were rednecks. It's good to take a moment out of our day and remember their redneck achievements.
Rock Bottom
> Biased Plies
12/16/2013 at 18:58 |
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Bandit
> Biased Plies
12/16/2013 at 19:52 |
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Yeah, I had the bolt thing already screwed into place by the time the rednecks showed up.
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Bandit
> dinobot666
12/16/2013 at 19:52 |
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I want to throw on a spare set of my gold pontiac snowflakes.
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Bandit
> Takuro Spirit
12/16/2013 at 19:53 |
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There is nowhere else on the truck to attach a chain. There are no recovery hooks on my base model.
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Bandit
> Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
12/16/2013 at 19:54 |
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I've already taken care of that.
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Takuro Spirit
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 20:32 |
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There's gotta be a spot on the frame SOMEWHERE under there.
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Bandit
> Takuro Spirit
12/16/2013 at 20:38 |
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There's a hole on the front jack point, but the hole is too tiny to get a hook or chain around though.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 20:43 |
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Get the welder out when you get home. I shudder thinking about using a piece of the suspension for recovery.
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Bandit
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/16/2013 at 20:46 |
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I am really thinking about building some recovery hooks tomorrow.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 22:18 |
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You totally should. They sell ones to be welded on if you don't have a plasma or oxy torch to cut some yourself.
http://www.truckntow.com/p-11373-weld-o…
Conversely you could just get a trailer hitch (front or back), if you think you'll ever use it. They are only like 100 bucks for body on frame trucks.
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Bandit
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/16/2013 at 22:20 |
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I have an arc welder and I am a teachers aide in my schools metal shop.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 22:30 |
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Sounds like you are all set. Post some pictures when your get it all welded up!
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Bandit
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/16/2013 at 22:51 |
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I will! I just hope I can convince my shop teacher to give me a bit over a foot of rebar.
SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 23:52 |
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Aside from it not being 4wd, how do you like the Blazer? It's on my admittedly way too long list of vehicles to look at come income tax season. Granted, I'd only really be looking for the ZR-5 (I think?) with the factory lift, but is the rest of it any good?
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Bandit
12/16/2013 at 23:58 |
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If not any construction site will give you lots of 1 ft sections for free. You could also think about making it out of doubled up 3/16 or 1/4" plate.
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dinobot666
> Bandit
12/17/2013 at 08:44 |
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That would do nicely.
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Bandit
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/17/2013 at 13:56 |
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Just made the hooks. My schools shop teacher gave me two 15" long pieces of 1/2" rebar
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Bandit
> SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread
12/17/2013 at 14:03 |
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On one hand t's a 90s GM product... it squeeks, rattles,and feels rather cheap. It feels like you are steering a boat (not a lotus) and the seats suck. On the other hand, it feels like it will run forever. They are pretty simple to work on (engine wise it's just a SBC with 2 cylinders missing), get decent gas mileage (compared to my 10mpg Trans Am), and don't pretend to be anything they aren't. I got mine for $2000 with 141,000 on the clock. The only work the thing needed that I couldn't do is new ball joints. My truck need an oil change, new trans fluid/filter, and coolant but that's all wear items and regular maintenance.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Bandit
12/17/2013 at 14:10 |
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did you make hooks or loops like these?
