{"id":1892,"date":"2018-04-20T11:06:35","date_gmt":"2018-04-20T18:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/?p=1892"},"modified":"2018-04-24T17:37:29","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T00:37:29","slug":"offer-a-helping-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/offer-a-helping-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"Offer a Helping Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tires are the number one problem on backroads and trails. – Photo by Denis Callimanis<\/p><\/div>\n

Something just didn’t seem right.<\/p>\n

We were westbound on the Red Rock Randsburg highway late\u00a0one Sunday\u00a0afternoon in July. Another hot day in the Mojave Desert \u201c about 100 degrees.<\/p>\n

Just as I crested the top of a hill, I could see a disabled vehicle on the right shoulder about a quarter mile down. That by itself is not unusual; you drive a lot, and you’re bound to encounter a disabled vehicle on occasion. I counted about a dozen vehicles drive past, and wondered, Won’t someone stop?<\/em><\/p>\n

As I approached, I glanced over. Mom was in the vehicle, and a couple kids were milling around in the ditch. All appeared to be OK. But I sensed that I should take a closer look.\u00a0We pulled over.<\/p>\n

We discovered that the car had conked out, their cell phone was out of range, and they didn’t have any water.<\/p>\n

After providing bottles of water, a couple buddies and I spent about 20 minutes trying to start the car. No luck. Considering the conditions, I drove the family to the nearest convenience store. There they could get food and water, and rest for a bit in the air conditioning. We loaned them a cell phone so they could call friends to pick them up at the store and make arrangements for the car.<\/p>\n

Car trouble can happen anywhere, as you know. A breakdown in an urban setting is usually just an inconvenience. Help is often just one phone call and a relatively short wait away.<\/p>\n

Off road, it’s a different matter. The cell phone could be out of range, and help is much farther away. Compounding the issue is that the family may not have packed properly for the trip. It’s a recipe for a disaster, and one that could be life threatening.<\/p>\n

Here is where compassionate, responsible four wheelers shine. A brief stop can make a big difference in someone’s life.<\/p>\n

In the end, the help we provided was simple \u201c water, a ride in the direction we were going anyway (but also the closest store), and the use of the cell phone. But of course, being guys, we always think we can fix the car! So that 20 minutes was on us.<\/p>\n

Your options for helping stranded vehicles<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a four-wheeler, you are taught \u201c and follow \u201c many important principles. Chief among those are:<\/p>\n