4x4 Offroad Vehicle for Treasure Hunting Trips
From my own treasure hunting experiences, I can say that many productive "hot" detecting sites wouldn't be that easy to get to. In many cases, there would be only one path leading to the location, and you don't have a choice but to try your luck getting through.
Sometimes it's a passable abandoned dirt road or trail, sometimes...
...It's a Mud Pool!
If you take a regular car as your expedition vehicle on the metal detecting trip to the remote area, you're taking a high chance of getting yourself into real trouble.
Some treasure hunters can get away with regular cars and minivans like Bob from Virginia does with his Voyager getting through the wet fields in Ukraine
But it'd be wiser to have a Jeep, 4x4 SUV or 4-wheel drive pickup truck to get to some lucrative sites without getting stuck for sure.
In some extreme situations, even though one has a proper off-road vehicle, Jeep or 4x4 pick-up truck, it wouldn't mean one would be on a safe side and wouldn't get oneself into unpleasant situation.
Try To Get Out of This One!
One should be prepared for such challenges by equipping the off-road vehicle with an electrical or hydraulic winch that could be the only saviour.
The electric operated winch would give you more advantage because if the engine stalls in a difficult situation and won't restart, the batteries, would usually have enough juice left to winch out of the tough spot. You would then be on better ground to work on the problem.
Besides a tool kit, maps, and some basic emergency items, the three most
important things to have when traveling the back country trails and roads
are:
1) Frame-mounted tow hooks, at least one in front and one in back. A Class III receiver hitch mounted in back counts.
2) A recovery strap at least 2" x 30' long, the kind with loops on the end, not hooks. The ones with hooks are for towing, not recovery (getting unstuck).
3) A Hi-Lift jack with attendant hardware.
The Hi-Lift Jack and accessories can be used as a hand winch. It can lift the vehicle as well as hand winch it out. If another vehicle comes along, or you are traveling with a buddy vehicle, the recovery strap comes into play. One should never use a chain, underrated rope, or worn strap.
One shouldn't wrap a strap or other recovery tool around the stock bumper, steering components, springs, spring hangers, or axles. A frame-mounted tow hook should be used.
Or one can use a short sling and tuck it up around the frame, avoiding wires and hoses, then connect it to the recovery strap with an adequate "D" shackle. The strap would absorb the impact, allowing the yank motion. Also one should never use ball hitches - they can go through radiators and crack a cylinder head!
Unlike my treasure hunting buddies in Russia, I don't have a fully loaded 4x4 off-road powerful "toy." I've been taking my chances with 4x4 Chevy S-10 pickup truck. So far, I've had one "close call" but managed to get out of trouble by means of flat stones I took from a stone wall nearby. Usually I use common sense and avoid unnecessary risks.
My Work Horse - 4WD Chevy S-10 Pickup Truck
But, like any serious treasure hunter, I wish I had a real "monster" which I could take anywhere carefree! Sometimes it's not a good detector, your excellent treasure hunting skills, or a well-done research that bring you remarkable results, it's a proper off-road vehicle that can fly through the mud!
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