4x4 Rollover Safety - Roll, Recover, Repeat

Since we couldn't simply flop the Jeep back on the wheels due to rocks on both sides, we had the driver start the vehicle and drive down the rock face.

It's important to leave a bit of slack in the winch line -- but not too much or you risk a second rollover. Here the vehicle is slung left and then right again when the rear tire drops off a ledge as it negotiates its way off the obstacle. If the strap had not still been in place, the vehicle might have flopped on its side again.

When winching the vehicle, it's important to employ safe winching practices. Here, Editor-in-Chief Kevin McNulty shows the wrong place to stand during a winching maneuver.

Standing clear of the front of the winching vehicle and the winch motor and winding cable is a much safer place to be during winching. Should the cable break or the winching vehicle lunge forward, you'll be out of harm's way and will still be able to control the situation. It's also a good idea to have someone sitting in the driver seat with his foot on the brake. You can also place rocks in front of the tires for added safety.

With the vehicle righted, it's time to assess vehicle damage before packing up the gear and continuing down the trail. The only damage we experienced was a dented hood; however, we also checked fluid levels and made sure nothing had fallen into the fan.

Even if the vehicle is righted and checks out OK, you still need to make sure you clean up any mess you made before continuing down the trail. Spilled oil and fluids will damage the soil and should not be left behind. You should attempt to catch spilling fluids in a container as they occur, but if one isn't available at least throw down a piece of cardboard, a rag, or anything to keep oil or other fluids from penetrating the dirt or sand. You should shovel up the dirt and oil once the rolled vehicle is righted and the scene is clear and safe.