Scotch Blocks

[Terrymo]

I’ve seen a tow truck use these to stop sliding while trying to winch on slick mud. The chain or straps stop the vehicle from over running the chock and forces it to dig down for better traction. I’m sure you’ve seen a Jeep with nowhere to anchor itself attempting to winch recover a stuck vehicle and just sliding toward it. Anyway looks like they would take up a fair amount of space, could bend the frame, and would have limited use, but I’m bored, so what are your thoughts? Not the best pics but you get the point

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[cj7ox]

I've not used them, but I like them in concept. I don't think there's much in the way of risk to the frame, as the straps just keep the chock blocks from being able to slide, and keep the vehicle from being able to climb over them. I'm not recovery professional, though, so take that opinion with a grain of salt. ;-)

 

[DonH63]

Probably no worse, and potentially better than, running a line to another vehicle, tree, or whatever to anchor the winching vehicle. If possible, to me a better idea would be to use a pully or snatch block to run the other end of the line to a second anchor point to cut the load on the winching vehicle in half. But I like the idea of a set of wheel chocks as a quick and easy solution -- if they work in whatever mess I'm sitting in whilst trying to winch. My main question is if they are big enough to dig down enough in a soft dirt road or whatever to actually hold the Jeep in place.

A quick search only turned up a couple of large steel ones, and they are $600+ for a pair, pricey! May need to find a friend with a welder.

Then there are these: https://baileystowinginc.com/product/baileys-scotch-block/ for $1485/pair (!)

I have an old Pull Pal I quit carrying when running with other Jeeples but kept just in case I need a back up anchor when there are no trees around. I can attest that getting it to dig into rocky ground can be a PITA.

https://www.pullpal.com/

 

[Terrymo]

Probably no worse, and potentially better than, running a line to another vehicle, tree, or whatever to anchor the winching vehicle. If possible, to me a better idea would be to use a pully or snatch block to run the other end of the line to a second anchor point to cut the load on the winching vehicle in half. But I like the idea of a set of wheel chocks as a quick and easy solution -- if they work in whatever mess I'm sitting in whilst trying to winch. My main question is if they are big enough to dig down enough in a soft dirt road or whatever to actually hold the Jeep in place.

A quick search only turned up a couple of large steel ones, and they are $600+ for a pair, pricey! May need to find a friend with a welder.

Then there are these: https://baileystowinginc.com/product/baileys-scotch-block/ for $1485/pair (!)

I have an old Pull Pal I quit carrying when running with other Jeeples but kept just in case I need a back up anchor when there are no trees around. I can attest that getting it to dig into rocky ground can be a PITA.

https://www.pullpal.com/

I wondered that too. Would they just plow forward and only slow you down slightly. If the front lip was taller and it dug down deeper maybe. Obviously not suitable for all conditions you find yourself in, but I found them interesting. One upside is it seems like once you’re done, if you back up slowly, the straps would easily unbury blocks.

 

[DonH63]

Also wonder how slick they get with moisture/mud on them. Seems like adding some ridges or something to keep the tires from sliding would help, which is what many of the plastic blocks have. This is when I wish I knew welding and had a welder to gen up something.

 

[AskBin]

i feel like this would be easy to test, winch to a tree on some slick grass and see if you can load the winch more with or without these before sliding.

at the very least i can see these being a gamechanger winching people back onto, and from an icy road. especially when i cant run a line across traffic to a tree somewhere else.

 

[Terrymo]

i feel like this would be easy to test, winch to a tree on some slick grass and see if you can load the winch more with or without these before sliding.

at the very least i can see these being a gamechanger winching people back onto, and from an icy road. especially when i cant run a line across traffic to a tree somewhere else.

There are people in one of the local Jeep clubs who respond to any request for help for recovery offroad no charge. The last 3 were full size trucks who were dug in on slick mud in a wide open area with no anchor points and would require a couple hundred feet or more of winch line. Thats what made me start thinking about how these would work in that case, maybe carrying a couple of 100’ winch line extensions makes more sense

 

[BDinTX]

I watched this video a while back, looks like the same guy, might be different from where you pulled that image. Based on what he shows, it looks like they're pretty effective. I just don't need more even more recovery gear to haul around.

What Are Scotch Blocks

 

[Terrymo]

I watched this video a while back, looks like the same guy, might be different from where you pulled that image. Based on what he shows, it looks like they're pretty effective. I just don't need more even more recovery gear to haul around.

What Are Scotch Blocks

Short of having a roof rack, the idea of storing them, especially covered in mud, could be a deal breaker Especially since they may be a one trick pony depending on where you wheel,

 

[BDinTX]

ya exactly, I regularly leave my traction boards behind because I don't want even more dirt and junk getting in the cab. It makes sense for somebody that goes offroad specifically to do a recovery though.

 

[AskBin]

There are people in one of the local Jeep clubs who respond to any request for help for recovery offroad no charge.

pretty nice of em, i usually just cruise around when snowstorms hit and help whoever hasent already called for roadside assistance. Any links to ones they like/prefer?

 

[Terrymo]

pretty nice of em, i usually just cruise around when snowstorms hit and help whoever hasent already called for roadside assistance. Any links to ones they like/prefer?

Sorry I’m not sure what you mean about links. Nobody I wheel with have these scotch blocks, it’s just something I saw and was curious about In SoCal there are Facebook Groups where anyone that posts a need for help will usually have several people willing to respond in a short amount of time with no money expected.

 

[Odyssey USA]

I watched this video a while back, looks like the same guy, might be different from where you pulled that image. Based on what he shows, it looks like they're pretty effective. I just don't need more even more recovery gear to haul around.

What Are Scotch Blocks

He made some good points on the diff. I wonder if using the E brake would help those parts but seems it would still be on the axle bearings with the brake on. Ultimately though, it’s a good idea for resistance to drifting from the starting point under load. I’m not sure I’d want to lug those around though.

 

[AskBin]

Sorry I’m not sure what you mean about links. Nobody I wheel with have these scotch blocks, it’s just something I saw and was curious about In SoCal there are Facebook Groups where anyone that posts a need for help will usually have several people willing to respond in a short amount of time with no money expected.

oh dident know if that group had links to stores that sell any blocks they were a fan of

 

[Terrymo]

oh dident know if that group had links to stores that sell any blocks they were a fan of

Not that I know of. The few that I found by googling scotch blocks were pretty pricey.

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