Solo Surveying
I have posted on the old board that recently I have hired a few guys after being
solo for the last seven years.
Today, I gave them all the day off with pay, but I got a little bored this morning and hooked up the ATV and went out to a new job to start the recon part.
We have got a lot of blessed rainfall in the last 5 days and there is a creek to cross to get to the back portion of this property.
I spent about 2 hours trying to find a place to safely cross this creek(raging river)(either by ATV or by foot) and the best place I could find still worried me.
Being by myself and having many years of experience of barely surviving some stupid decisions, I chickened out and decided I need to have someone present at my drowning. lol
Having taken many risks by myself in the past, this one brought me down to earth a great deal.
Solo means solo, nobody to help you out when you stumble and fall. Be careful out there, check in with your spouse or others every hour, tell them where you are at and where you expect to be in the next hour, get a phone that has the best coverage in your area and anything use the dang thing.
Randy
Randy, I know what you mean. When I was younger and completely solo I was fearless (read inexperienced and naive) about where and what I would do in the field. Now Kevin (my husband) does most of my field work and I am relegated to the worrying role. If I can't get him on his cell phone for some reason, the worrying begins and can escalate pretty quickly.
Its not worth it to risk life and limb a 10 dollar and hour guy will go miles with a robot and a PLS , stay safe.
Well,
after all looks as time well spent,
safety should be your first thought,
chr
Four-wheeler on a Trailer?
> Solo means solo, nobody to help you out when you stumble and fall. Be careful out there, check in with your spouse or others every hour, tell them where you are at and where you expect to be in the next hour, get a phone that has the best coverage in your area and anything use the dang thing.
Randy, I don't know whether you carry your ATV on a trailer or in the bed of the truck, but if the latter, it's probably worth mentioning the accident that a friend had a bit more than a year ago loading his ATV into the truck bed. The thing slipped off the ramp and broke his leg in multiple places. This was in the middle of a ranch with no one around. Fortunately, he was able to drive out of there, but was severely injured and out of action for months. Something to think about.
Four-wheeler on a Trailer?
I haul my side by side on a tilt trailer so don't use ramps any more. It seems that most of the ramp mishaps are caused by a failure to use 4 wheel drive when loading or unloading. If the front end is not engaged when it is on the pickup bed or trailer then that front end is free to roll and allow the rear wheels to pull the ramp off if not securely held, then down you go, pull one ramp off and it will upset you more enthusiastically.
jud
When I went to work for another company a while ago, one of my tasks was to compile a safety plan to help lower insurance costs. I refused. I told them I would contact the correct people and get an estimate what they would charge to design a safety program to keep our employees safe, and at the same time reduce their liability. I knew I wasn't qualified to do it alone, and while cost savings are important, they are purely a byproduct.
Four-wheeler on a Trailer?
Ramps come with a safety strap that attaches to the ramp and to the vehicle to keep it from becoming detached during loading.
I carry my ATV in a trailer with ramps and also in the bed of a truck. I always use a strap when loading into the truck.
Randy
ditto on a cell phone that has coverage for where you work and a reliable place to put it so it does not become separated from you in a spill.
You've got to know your limitations. (Johnny Cash)
While I agree in spirit, I can tell you that I'm not stopping to call anybody every hour. First, my wife would think I was nuts. Second, I wouldn't get anything done. If a gator is going to get me, it probably wouldn't make any difference anyway..
Four-wheeler on a Trailer?
After a few weeks of tip-trailer and ramp adventures, loading and unloading the 4wheeler and a snow mobile... it rapidly became apparent that it was a silly assed thing to do!
i soon bought an enclosed 16 foot V-nosed HaulMark trailer with a rear drop gate and side door. It's proven to be a greatly valuable tool. Security, weather tight, SAFETY, storage, and shelter on wheels - highly recommended.
dla
