James Stevenson

Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 15:22:24 EST

From: "james stevenson" <j_s_stevenson@hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: Winch etiquette, was ultimate deal winch..

>I'll still winch others but I won't strap my truck to anything.I

>don't like the idea of putting my truck between an immovable object

>and an irresistible force!

I do this a lot and it all comes down to proper rigging of the winch gear. I

have to move a lot of fallen trees. Often I have to cut them into 4 foot

sections to move them. It is also the norm to have a greasy trail as well.

This is where tha ARB winch bar comes into its own. Instead of strapping to

the rear hitch I can secure to the ARB winch bar via drag chains, putting

none of the stress into the frame. When rigging anything I always rig a

safty for the mounts. For example I never trust a shackle point on a bar

(unless its an ARB bar). These points have a nasty habbit of snapping off. I

always use a drag chain or a tree trunk protector to the cabe or extension

strap to a second location (safty point) on the rig.

I find most often while people have a winch thay dont carry enough gear to

use it. Personally my box of tricks for the winch is large by most peoples

standards. However I have had plenty of times when I could have used more

gear. I carry as a min, 4 extenstion straps, 4 tree trunk protectors, 3

snatch blocks, aprox 20 shackles, 4 3m drag chains and many other bits an

pieces.

Winch gear is dangerous. Anyone that has seen a cable let go will know what

I mean. As a general rule at the end of a day after using the winch I

inspect the cable and all the shackles and straps. Every time a shackle or

strap is used I mark them as such. If the cable has a signs of the slightest

crush or kink in the cable I replace it. Even if it doesnt I relpace it

after 30 pulls. Same goes for shackles and straps. I dont trow the straps

unless they have a sign of fraying, just mark them as used (felt tip pen)

and leave tham as spares in the winch box. Shackles I do the same except I

dip them in paint to mark them as used.

How big is my winch box Its a 70Ltr Tub (15Gal). That has the winch gear

only. I Have 2 more of these tubs one for other recovery operations which

has stuff like the air bag, all my air tools, sockets and screw drivers,

spanners, small spares like bolts split pins ect, seals ect. The last tub

contains the big spares like bearings, gaskets, uni's, hoses and belts,

spare winch cables, filters (air fuel and oil), rebuild kits (both axles,

injection system, steering, tcase, gearbox and clutch kit) The stering parts

are linited to draglink ends, ball joints and rebild kit for the steering

box. This takes up a lot of space all 3 box occupy the depth and witdth of

the bed and from the tailgate bact to the wheel arch. Generally I have 2 box

at the back and the sapres box up ner the back window. Pride of place in the

middle is occupied by a more important box, the 80L Engel fridge. I never go

anywher without thesr 4 boxes.

These days I limit the extent of my help. I got siand and tired a long time

ago of providing support for stupidity. Generally I forst access the

trouble. I never give out my spares in remote areas. That puts me at risk.

In these situation I offer all the water they need and contact the relative

authoritirs va HF radio or Sat phone. If they have the spares and not the

know how I help them fix it. I no linger do the work for them as they learn

0 from that. I sit back with a beer and walk then trough it. If its a

recovery operation I do it again on the bais of treat to people. I will

recover any vehicle that poses a danger on the trail. I wont ever tow it out

unless they are fully prepared themselves (that can mean over 100's of km

tow), just make sure thay all wont die in the bush and contact others. Sorry

if that sounds harsh to some but OZ is a harsh land where breakdown can cost

lives if you are not prepared. I always make sure anyone has enough to

survive and thier situation does no pose aditional risk to others. I never

increase the risk to myself or those with me by giving out my spares to the

unprepared. They can pay the price (finantial) of the authorities rescueing

them its the only way this type of person will lean thay are no longer in

the city where thay can call the auto club.

James Stevenson ICQ-19130256

Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 22:39:49 -0700

From: "~Dale~" <DPS444@bigvalley.net>

Subject: Re: Winch etiquette, was ultimate deal winch..

Very well written James! Thats allot of gear, it fits in the bed of your

d-cab?

end

=========================================================================

SeaBass/82 toy 38"s/5.71s/Lockrights F&R/LB-20"Bob/Co2 Air,Warn 6000lb

Winch(new!) &

Slo-Motion dual box soon!http://www.traildogg.homepage.com/profile.html

Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 11:15:27 -0500

From: "M. Dee Smith V" <deesmith@hiwaay.net>

Subject: Re: James Stevenson??

I will have to say that I have Not "seen" pictures of anything Mr. Stevenson

has built. Keep in mind that I have not yet visited Australia. ;-)

I remember reading several of his posts that you have referenced to,

and yes they do sound ambitious although not impossible.

I seem to remember hearing that Mr. Stevenson was involved in a very

bad wreck which left him in the hospital.

Many of us would like to see pictures of his work. I am interested in seeing

pictures of the "custom" 4WD trucks that Mr. Stevenson has allegedly built.

Best Regards,

M.D. Smith, V deesmith@hiwaay.net TLCA #7039

Huntsville, Alabama USA

From: Darren Floen <dfloen@tbaytel.net>

To: Toyota List <toy4x4@moab.off-road.com>

Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2000 12:48 AM

Subject: James Stevenson??

> I hope this isn't way out of line,and i hope i don't sound like a jerk

> for saying it,but is James Stevenson a fake or what?I've had numerous

> emails and conversations on this topic.Anyone who has been on the list

> for the last few years knows that James has posted some pretty wild

> stuff,as well as some pretty unbeleivable crap that i can't beleive

> anyone would take seriously.

> This guy claims to have built these totally wild trucks,Tonka Tuff 2 and

> 3.I have saved,over the years,several of his posts.These always seem to

> contradict each other as the monthes go by...

> Does anyone have ANY pics of any of his work?

> Years ago he spoke of making a custom transfer case,that he made with

> CAD/CAM/CNC equipment.Then a few months back he is looking for a simple

> disk brake setup to be used as a parking brake...????

> As sofisticated as his shop is said(by him)to be,could he not make this

> himself?Who is BSing who?

> This guy sent me on a wild goose chase looking for parts for another

> project he claimed to be an expert in,but his info turned out to be

> totally wrong.....and my money was wasted.I don't want this to happen

> again,to other listers.

> To give James some credit,he does have a wild imagination,and this is

> how ideas are born.

> Has anyone seen anything he has built or is it all Bull?This is all i

> want to know....(i think its all bull)

> --

> Darren Floen

> Thunderbay,Ontario

> 85 Toyota 4x4 Xtracab 4.3 TBI TH350

> 6" Custom lift,RS 9012's,Detroit+True Track

> 5.29's,Crossover steering,35" Boggers,glass bed

> "Lotsa dents and scratches"

> 79 Dodge 'Lil Red Express Truck

> Pro Street/Strip,500" Big Block

> back halved,ladders n' coilovers

> 33x19.5 MT's.....Not done yet

> "Ex Street Stormer,Boulevard Bully"

Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 11:00:08 -0700

From: Roger Brown <rogerb@pisco.engr.sgi.com>