Spotter - Tech Topic for June

After watching the video the Matt put together for a wheelin' trip to BMRA, this might me a good item to bring up, along with Safety on the trails.
 
Ok, I will start with Safety
  When you feel that your rig is about to turn over, DO NOT try to use your arm or leg to stop the rig.  Two items I know, 1st - it will not stop you and 2nd - it looks stupid and your friends laugh at you for doing it.
 
Using a Spotter
  Use only one spotter.
  Use a spotter that you trust.
  Listen to that one spotter and do what they say.
  Don't try to our guess what the spotter is saying.  If you do, you will get in a worse shape than what you were before you asked for the spotter.
 
Being a Spotter
  Know the skill of person you are spotting is possible
  Make sure you know about the rig setup
  Try to make sure the driver is listening to you
  Be patient with the driver.
 
 
Please add you comments, additions or suggestions
 
 

When navigating the Rock Garden, don't let Pat spot you unless you WANT to upgrade your steering.
 
 
 
 
LOL, just messing with you Pat!  That was MR5 and it was my fault.

If your leading the trail ride, don't let Steve walk check the creek. You'll spend 2 hours pulling the next guy out.

that is my pet peeve...(having more than 1 spotter)

I made up my mind a long time ago that I do not want a spotter unless Ive tried just about every route, then gotten out of the car, looked around and tried another route, and I still cant make it. Its never a good thing when you have an oopsie and then who's fault is it??? the spotter and the driver are at each others throats for the rest of the trip!

Ohh, I also think that you shouldnt spot someone unless they speciffically ask you!!

Just My OPINION

ORIGINAL: Jaybird

If your leading the trail ride, don't let Steve walk check the creek. You'll spend 2 hours pulling the next guy out.

HUH?!  Who....   ME?! 

Ive been told by several that Im a good spotter...  Depth checker, not so much!  I wasnt dubbed the "Submarine Commander" for a year or two for nuthin!!!

Now, onto spotting.  USE HAND SIGNALS!  You are no good if you cant be heard but you also have to remember to stay in view of the driver.  Can they still see your hands when lifting a tire or climbing over something?  Also, I agree on the ONE spotter theroy.  I firmly believe that is what caused Roger to roll all the way down airstrip.  I said STOP and everyone else said GO GO GO!!!  Ignore the heckelers on the sideline and focus your attention on your spotter.  ALWAYS remember your spotter can see what your against WAY better than you can since they are outside the rig.  If you dont trust that person they are going to do you NO good at all, find a spotter you can trust!!  If its a really difficult area and you have an idea where you want to go, get out and discuss your line selection with the spotter.  It is then his job to keep you on that line.  Spotting is fun, I love watching the rigs going over obstacles.  Every rig is a lil different and I like to watch em doing what they do!!  Practice your spotting hand signals and use the same ones EVERY time.  Over time you will be able to communicate with the driver without ever saying a word.  (I also tried to keep a handheld CB in the truck to spot folks that didnt know hand signals or to explain to someone what I was going to try without walking all the way to the rig and all the way back to the spotting location.)  Also remember to stay a safe distance from the rig incase of roll over and keep checking your back.  Walking backwards on a trail is a bad idea (ive done it more than I will admit while spotting) and nothing will ruin a good trip quicker than a twisted ankle.

after spotting the "Booger" jeep through the rock garden two years ago at megarun, and being asked to spot a few times i am 100% behind using a spotter. From personal experience either using a spotter or being a spotter, the driver's focus needs to be on listening to his/her rig and watching, like Pat said, the hand signals of his spotter. Depending on the scenario you may have a ton of people egging you on to use more gas or use a different route, but bottom line is use a spotter you trust and follow their signals. its hard to remember what the rock garden looks like from inside your rig, next thing you know your high centered or have a bent draglink, which could have been avoided with the use of a spotter. Done.

Pat Hammer's excellent spotting is what got my CJ2A Willys up the left side of Twister and 2nd place in the rock garden event at last year's (06) Mega Run!

I think you should have the spotter you had as your eyes on blind mans bluff, If you trust them enough to guide you through that you trust them enough for a trail

ya, so long as they dont tell you to slam on the brakes on a steep downhill!

we almost won!

I had good spotters and questionable spotters who jumped in my way whiched force me to hit the brakes.  I don't think I can spot too well but tell them where things out so i just call myself outside eyes.

I had a spotter at blinds man bluff and he ran me off the mountain.

even thow my truck is so big i need a spotter at each corner, i do believe in the 1 spotter theory...
and another big thing for me is that the spotter KNOWS HOW FAR YOUR WILLING TO PUSH IT
nothing worse then having a spotter guide you right into a tree, or tell you to "go bo go"
when you really dont want to damage your rig more than you absolutely have too.
and another one... the spotter doesnt have to be directly in front of the vehicle...
i undertand 15-20 feet, but when there within arms reach of the rig, it puts them in a bad spot 
they can help guide a foot or two off the trail, nothing like tearin up your bumper
and ruining your buddies weekend...

Slyder, you just wish you would have used the same spotter on the hill climb.  It is all about having fun.

spotter's .mmmmmmm   good...... very good...
 
it's never a good idea to try and get yourself in a good bind before asking for help.... it just slows things down, things break, and when the spotter steps up... he has to get you out of the mess you would not have been in if you would have asked.....
 
 also makes him look really bad if something goes wrong then...
 
also you MUST alway use just one spotter and one only..... and LISTEN to them.