By Brian Pawlak - Dirt Devils' Safety Dude

Lets talk about rocks. Big rocks can be fun if you’ve got the clearance and big enough tires. Lockers and low gears don’t hurt either, but whether the above description fits you or not, we sometimes have to stack a rock or two to get a vehicle over an obstacle. Depending on your experience, you may know most of the following, or even more.

When moving rocks it’s best to use leather work-gloves. This avoids cuts and broken fingernails, (I know cuts don’t bother some of you, but you don’t want to get blood on the steering wheel you polished before you hit the trail!). I used to keep my gloves in a box in the back of my Cherokee, and they were seldom used. I still store them there, but put them in the side pocket of the driver side door on the trail. They see more use that way, especially if I remember to put them in my back pocket when I walk up the trail to see who is stuck on what.

When picking up a rock, use your leg muscles and keep your back straight up and down to prevent straining your back muscles. If you can’t move it this way, get help or leave it where it is. If you and your helper decide to roll a rock, watch out for each other's feet. If the rock is round enough and could roll downhill, keep people and vehicles below out of harms way before moving the rock.

If rocks are being stacked under a vehicle, or being removed from under the vehicle, keep your hands and all body parts out from between the rock and the vehicle. This goes for the rock and the ground too. The vehicle is usually being held up by a jack which could slip. Rocks being put under or moved out from under the vehicle shouldn't hit the jack holding up the vehicle.

You can use rocks to block the wheels of a vehicle on a hill or any slight grade when it is jacked. Have the driver apply the brakes to keep the vehicle from moving. The emergency brake doesn’t keep the front wheels from rolling if the back wheels are in the air. And that Hi-Lift jack on your back bumper will make a nice big dent in the tailgate if the vehicle rolls forward.

If rocks are stacked under a tire, they may be spit out from under the tire when the driver tries to move the vehicle. Stay out of the path of flying rocks! This much acceleration isn’t necessary but often happens.

An occasional contact between your shock mount or differential and a rock is part of the sport we are in. Let's not limit body damage to our vehicle's body only. I hope your encounters with rocks, big or small are fun adventures enjoyed from the seat of your 4X4.

Be Safe!

See you on the trail.