That is the other half of running a successful business. Soft skills. Interpersonal skills. Combined your technical skills (off road driving, recovery) with soft skills (personal, communication) and you have a winning recipe for a business!
Indeed, Matt’s the best. But I still scratch my head wondering why people take basic front wheel drive cars in these rocky, sandy, and snowy conditions. I’d rather look like a half idiot getting stuck in a proper 4-wheel drive vehicle than a complete idiot getting stuck in a VW Beetle.
Yeah, that's one of the best things about watching his videos. He never makes anyone feel bad or ever is negative. Totally respectable dude, especially in situations where I personally would have been like "Really?!?!?!?"
I don’t know if I would be able to resist, and certainly couldn’t keep from laughing. Maybe he’s editing all that out, but I don’t think so. Besides, he’s seen it all at this point, many times.
Yeah honestly it'd be real easy to paint some of these people in a real bad light... Talk about how stupid they were doing this or that. The fact you'll hear none of that out of Matt himself is mighty professional, and mighty respectable of him. Thanks for bringing that up. Seems like a great dude.
Carguychannel Almost certainly. I used to work with my dad on his plumbing/HVAC/electrical business (seriously, he had a master’s license in all 3). We were helping to remodel an old house. The owners were there. I was griping about how old and junky the place was as I drug a tool box through the crawl space. Let’s just say I was calibrated :)
Matt ive been a union equipment operator all my life from coast to coast... You come accross as a level headed, extremely honest, (which is a rare thing in towing) morally intact hard working caring individual as humble as they come. Iam glad to see someone like you doing well you got heart brother... Id work for you anytime... Carry on my good man
I think also out here you can't be morally ambiguous or corrupt. The distances, terrain, and climate is far too harsh and very easily turn deadly. Winters are cold and muddy, summers are extremely hot and sandy.
I'm so glad he answered how much it cost. There's a reason he answered the way he did. If you're stuck always call somebody that isn't afraid to answer on tape how much it cost .
@@journeyman553 I don't blame him for answering the way he did. I'm watching this video for the first time 2 years after it was made. With inflation and gas prices going the way they are, his pricing is likely changing. I bet his rates are 20% more now than when the video was published.
Matt - you're awesome, dude! Your positive, encouraging, and non-judgmental attitude make your videos a pleasure to watch for my whole family. I love how when you do your recoveries I've seen you, as a first step, ask the driver if they're doing OK -- especially the people who have been out there stuck for hours. Your care for their mental well being is so kind and good natured. I've told several friends about your videos, describing you as the Bob Ross of off road towing. Keep up the great work, positively impacting people's lives (and getting them unstuck too)!
I love old gentlemen like Ed. He reminds me much of my grandfather. A lot of valuable wisdom, a great person, loves others more than himself. Always gently spoken and well mannered a gentle gentleman, so to speak.
First, I want to give everybody at Winder Towing a big 👍. A couple of observations after watching about a half dozen of Matt's videos: 1. A business that depends upon its vehicles to bring in revenue using older Jeep Cherokees should show many viewers how minimally expensive and maximally capable old Jeeps can be (this is coming from a guy who is not a particular fan of Jeeps.) 2. Given the nature of the work and the approach shown to recovering vehicles stuck in sticky situations, I have no doubt that whatever specific prices Winder Towing has for a given situation are as reasonable as can be. Thanks for posting these videos; I think you're doing a great job of keeping the public informed on how to prepare for off-roading in southern Utah.
Exactly, You dont necc have to have the best of the best of top equipment/vehicles to get the job done, Fabbing metal(s) & DIY helps also.My Family had a welding business and nearly everything was handmade except for handtools etc.
Also, to be honest, they expect their rigs to die or break on them. Jeeps as well as old (1980s) Toyotas are extremely simple to fix - and if it's dead, well, it's only a few thousand to fix it or less than 10K get another one set up and ready do go. You use the tool that works but also that you won't break your bank if it dies on you.
We started watching your videos with our kids because your whole crew is so wholesome, positive, and cohesive. You are a great leader with a great team. Thanks, and keep up the great work!
Some people just don't understand how much wisdom the older persons in our communities carry. Also having older persons around younger people who understand them is great for there longevity. We all love Ed and his presence here is appreciated.
Your comment is literally more informative than this entire 16 min video! Don't get me wrong I love Matt's channel and I understand why he has to be dodgy on cost; but even a rough "price range" would've been nice... such as "don't expect to be anything less than $300, but the most demanding job we've done were in the thousands". Even being vague is still better than being a click-bait... lol
A couple people liked putting their 2 cents into your comment, neglecting that you were just being informative. No shit its cost money to run this business and people do expect their time is worth money. You stated the price, you stated the location and you described the circumstances.
"What are they doing out there? They must be up to no good." I often go to places way out in the middle of nowhere. If my truck broke down, I would probably not be found for days. But I enjoy the challenge and the country. I carry food and water and tools and spare parts. My 1989 Isuzu Trooper takes me just about anywhere. I really love this show and the great people, Matt and his crew. You guys are so amazing. And you never make a client feel bad for going somewhere they should not go with what they are driving, even though I have to shake my head sometimes about people's choices. And I think the banana is a pretty impressive rig. Thank you for sharing all your adventures!
Why do I explore backroads? Cuz they are there and often there's amazing places to photograph! Disclaimer: I just have a small SUV and risk aversion, so I avoid challenging roads. But I grew up in the west and understand how fast the back country can humble someone.
The fact that somebody would assume someone in the middle of nowhere it's automatically up to no good, says a lot more about the person doing the accusing than the person out in the middle of nowhere, lol. That, or they just live a very sheltered life and never go off the beaten path.
This is one of the best unintentional Off Road channels in America. Also , thats powdered sugar sand, no joke. I got stuck there last year, put it in 4WD, aired down and barely made it out.
Matt is clearly an intelligent guy. Well spoken, thoughtful, considerate, and an expert in his field. Those that have no or even worse, enough sand driving experience to be dangerous, have no idea how challenging it can be. I've been driving sand for a long time; beach, desert, river... They're all different, and they change based on temperature and moisture content. Sometimes with an experienced eye, you can predict what a given patch of sand will be like, sometimes you are surprised, and only lightning quick (and smooth) reflexes save you, sometimes you sink upto the doors. I still get stuck sometimes, and sometimes someone shows me a new trick that I might have heard about but have never seen. Sometimes it's me that does the teaching. Every day is a school day. I'm 100% sure that Matt knows this, it's just a shame that the "experts" have no idea of how challenging sand can be - or how to make a living out of rescuing people. Awesome channel Matt - I'm a big fan
I love how you guys asked Ed. That will be priceless footage to look back at later in life. Keep up the good work and thanks for sticking up for California folks.
Matt never gives anyone a hard time or makes them feel bad about getting stuck, always gives people the benefit of the doubt, always assumes the best about people, and for so many other reasons is easily the most likeable person (that I'm subscribed to) on TH-cam. This channel is also the first thing I've ever seen that made me want to visit Utah. I had no idea how amazing the views are. I'll have to visit sometime, when the weather is easy.
"you're right, it is barely getting the job done, but that puts it ahead of everything else I've tried" I absolutely love that quote. You need to go around and speak to newly degreed engineers about this concept 😁
The best thing is going to be something older like an original Land Rover, or Unimog. But those are outrageously expensive to find parts for as well as to obtain.
1st excuse my english. I'm European, and almost got stuck off road with my rental car. I'll explain you why. We went to California with friends and rented a car to got from San Francisco to Las Vegas, visiting all the national parcs along the trip. It was in 2005, GPS were expensive so we had just a classic road map. One of the tourist spot that we wanted to visit (some kind of old western village) requiered us to take a road labeled on the map as an "Earth Road". For us Europeans, if the road is on a road map then you can take it with any type of car, so that was not clear for us what kind of road it was. That earth road was actually a dirt road, easy to drive on with our rented car. The day after we were on our way to a campground and we spotted on the road map a hudge shortcut... Another "earth road"... Just like yesterday we were thinking... First miles of the road were perfect, a dirt road, easy. Then we came on a hill where the road was in bad conditions (very narrow, lots of sand and rocks) . I was driving and I said I could handle it, the road will be better after that hill... I was super wrong... We managed to drive on the top of the hill but the road after was terrible and it was now impossible to turn around and go back... Our luck was that the bottom of the car was protected with a metal plate (our European cars have a plastic cover at best) and we were 3 young guys with 3 gallons of water in the trunk. We were walking on the road, inspecting every turn before engaging the car, moving the big rocks, filling up the holes, managing to move the car like 50 meters every minutes... And it was like 40°C... It took us the entire day and we arrived at the campground during the night. If that happens again now, with my wife and kid then I'm done... Call for a tow... That story may sound dumb to an american guy but you have to imagine that Europe is very different... I've realized that when a bear crossed in front of us... We almost shit ourselves and all the american guys were like "happens all the time..."
Given your route, sounds like the first stop was Bodie, CA--a "ghost town" from the mining days (Ed's childhood, maybe? /s). That's a graded hard packed dirt road if my memory serves. I worked at a camp about an hour south of there (and on the opposite side of the area's main highway) that had to get the rocks dug out of the "road" up every year... at least one Saturn sedan left the contents of its crankcase just downhill from the camp due to a rock impact, and at least one more turned around before getting to that point. Most other vehicles--particularly if they have ground clearance--are just fine up and down that one but it takes some practice. And hoping the camp crew (and county) got around to the road work that year. I've heard of even US government vehicles following the GPS... in the Rocky Mountains... and being surprised by the 4WD coming down the jeep trail that their GPS swore was a road and they were paused to figure out where the "road" was. As for cost: I'm with the rest on this, exact cost isn't going to be an issue if it's fair, and the towman always knows best. It ain't the tools the customers are payin' for. It's the knowhow that comes with the tools that they're paying for. As the apocryphal engineering story goes: $1 to hit the panel, $9999 to know exactly where to hit it. Though I do have to ask... if the customer ends up being rude (or otherwise insufferable), do their bills tend to end up being slightly higher for some reason?
Sounds like you did a better job for yourself than most americans would have done. The American west is all about adventure, like doing things you shouldn't have done, cause when you come out the other side you earn a great experience
Thanks for clarifying those issues. At 74 years old and having driven a tow truck in Minnesota years ago, I appreciate you guys. Mostly jump starts in winter. But now, vehicles have come SO FAR ! Great batteries (12 volt, not 6), heated steering wheels, 4 WD, etc
I had a check engine light on in a 1997 Chevy Tahoe & a mechanic said he could fix it for free, He walked out to the drivers side an put a round black sticker over the light- and said it’s good to go now!👍
@@zeeoracle Yes, OBDI ports have been around since the 1980s. But their information was very basic when it came to trouble shooting. I still have an original OBD monitor. It only displays numbers that are cross-referenced to an index. I do not get to use an original OBD monitor much. Those vehicles are running out due to evil government programmers to junk these old cars.
Matt & Crew, Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos. As parents, it's hard to get your kids to slow down sometimes. It seems like they are always running. But when I know my boys are coming, I just start an episode of Matt's Off Road Recovery. When they walk through the door, they'll actually stop and sit down. We watch you guys do your thing while we talk about the important things in their lives. So thanks for making it so this old dad can spend a few hours of quality time with my boys on a regular basis. Keep up the great work!
I caught that too, and chuckled. Small stuff like that makes me want to meet Matt in person.....at a restaurant.....not 30 miles out in a gully full of blow sand. lol.
Man it was a stroke of Genius having Ed answering the questions. I absolutely loved it please do it again. I've got the first question how did you and Matt meet you tell your version and then have Ed tell his, please do this again, it put a grin on my face ever since I viewed it , so when I thought of it all during the day it would put a grin on my face. You two are lucky to have each other as friends
I could only imagine how much it is. A buddy of mine got stuck out in Galveston Bay and had to get recovered. He was a few miles out and it ended up costing him $2600 to get towed in. Love y’alls videos including the weather report.
Yep, gett'n a crew out 'n all the equipment and time can be costly....Yer in business for a reason, to make a living but you have to maintain all that equipment too 'n pay your employees.....It's not cheap gett'n stuck 'n need'n a tow....Sometimes Matt has 'ta drive many miles 'ta recover a rod someone woofed off a cliff....then there's the time and effort to recover.the vehicle....Cha-Ching.....Matt has a hard job many times 'n work like this don't come cheap....
"I decided it (the video) would be better in my natural habitat, which is behind the wheel of my Jeep, with the soft amber glow of the check engine light on my face..."
Matt, I started watching your videos around 4-5 months ago when I finally got my first 4WD truck (I've driven 2WD trucks up to this point. Starting down in Nevada when I lived there and now up in Oregon.) I have to say I really appreciate your demeanor. You are always kind to every customer, you aren't cocky, you don't act like you are the god of recovery. You keep yourself humble and considerate. As a novice just getting into doing a little bit of off roading it makes the community feel more welcoming knowing that people like you are a part of it. It inspires me to always be on the lookout for people who need help, and not to be embarrassed when I've needed it myself. So I hope you don't take it to heart when people criticize recoveries. Hindsight is always 20-20. Nobody is going to see the best solution every time. It's just the reality of being a public face, there will always be people picking at the details. You always do what you can to make the recovery happen though, and you always take care of the people and I think that's what's important. Overall you and the gang are awesome. Thanks for the great attitude, and for sharing these experiences with the world.
Dude you sound so modest and yet knowledgeable. I like the fact that you do not talk smack about your customers, after all a good businessman understands that the customer pays for their living. 👍
Better answer: We've been told by our Dads check engine lights need addressing immediately, except now we have OBD ports that tells us exactly wha't wrong and can ignore the light as needed. Ed is the boss.
Yes like those dumb catalytic, or 02 dumb emission crap sensors that they run on vehicles nowadays because dumb places like California regulate them. 🙄 just like what they’re doing to semi trucks nowadays. So irritating. Just adding more garbage that can go wrong to a vehicle.
5:32 and this is why so many people respect you man! "It's far more economical for the customer" putting others before yourself goes a long way in the business world. Love it!
I just wanted to say that I appreciate your videos for a couple reasons. You guys obviously like each other and get along very well, and treat the customers with respect. Not only that, they are entertaining AND educational, not that I ever hope to get stuck 🙂. But best of all, I appreciate how you keep the language clean. It's refreshing, and I for one sincerely appreciate it.
I like your attitude Matt. Pragmatic and tolerant. You seem like a great guy to deal with, and this add value to your channel. Let the person that never did anything stupid and got stuck trow the first stone... Anyway, anybody that drive off-road, no matter the equipment, know that getting stuck is part of the game. Usually, the more capable is your vehicle, the deeper you get stuck! :-) I really wonder why so many people dislike this video??? Keep your good work, and tanks for sharing.
My buddy pulled an f150 off of a beach with a stock Cherokee... much to the dismay of the MASSIVE tow truck that was stuck on the way down there. Tow driver said "good luck, he's down there... I'm not gonna be able to come down and pull you out either!" After the f150 they both went uphill a bit and let the wrecker anchor off of them to pull himself out. Tow guy gave my buddy a hundred bucks!
I watch your channel because you are all very nice to each other and to your customers. Its refreshing to see people who are both conscientious about work and not judgemental of others.
Matt you do a great job my Family owned a towing service when I was a teenager I started driving a wrecker when I was 15 and only had a beginners permit off road of coarse and your crew is very good when your crew and the customers car comes out without damage it is a good call or good service ignore the naysayers keep doing what you do and be safe thanks for the content
Coming from someone who has made a stupid (and expensive) mistake offroad, I appreciate Matt's understanding of different backgrounds, and that anyone can make mistakes. What a respectful fellow.
Yeah man. That's how you learn. Even pros male mistakes. I have actually made it through some crazy lines, and looked back; and I though, man, I shouldn't have done that. Lol
When I used to live in North Eastern Nevada (over 25 years), I helped tow out several people several times a year. Usually it was snow related. And several times over the years, I received help getting out of a jam myself. The bottom line is that in very rural areas, people are generally down-to-earth good folks that lend a helping hand when needed.
"they rent a car, they see something on the internet that they want to go find, they type it into their gps and they drive their car until they get stuck....._*that's*_ what they're doing out there, they're tourists"
Simple comment (compliment?) from Australia. I enjoy watching things mechanical, but you are the ONLY channel I am subscribed to and always one of the first 2 channels I check every day. Your content varies enormously. You all enjoy whatever you are doing. Almost every rescue is different. You come across as a virtual family. If you make a mistake, you admit to it. You encourage the girls to do anything they are comfortable doing and prove to them that gender must not be a divider. I look forward to the day that we see Lizzy running a recovery. She does things that I would not try and at 73 I have done a lot. Continue doing what you are good at, and chewie on anyone who disagrees. Live long and prosper.
Yeah I had to downvote it for that. I really was curious what the hourly rate was at the time of filming and the typical time it takes to recover. Click bait title. Yuck.
Yea would have liked to know some worst case scenarios. They drive pretty far out and take some pretty extreme jobs. I figure some of these must cost thousands of dollars. But they sound pretty inexpensive since they only tried to charge the Mom with the razr stuck in a fence $40 for a trip charge. You can't even get a ride to the airport in a Kia for $40.
This has become my favorite utube channel, and I don’t know why, because I’ve never been off-roading. Matt you seem like a very good person. And your prices must be fair, because I never see any of your clients crying at the end of your videos. Keep up the great work & videos.
As a Tennessean, I can assure you that if I'm going to get stuck in a cross-over suv in the desert I'm going to be damn sure it's got California plates on it. 😂😂😂😂
@@brodyleephotography2177 Yeah, coming to a red light, I pressed on the brake pedal & it went to the floor. Brake line was rusted out from the roadsalt. Live & Learn
I love Ed. He reminds me of my dad. Hard working, full of info, and willing to share his wisdom and knowledge. I’d like to meet him someday. Now that I’m living in Idaho, I hope I can do that. I keep chains, tow straps, and ratchet straps in the back of my truck all the time. I have a bunch of harbor freight ratchet straps too that I’ll give to people when I see they don’t have a load secured properly. I’ve stopped on a roadside to help secure loads. Thank you Matt for sharing your experiences, your family, your amazing crew, and all the other channels who’ve created this absolutely beautiful community.
Matt, I enjoy your videos and the fact that you are providing excellent off road recovery services. Your extended family is wonderful too. Keep it up! (I’m in California and we roam the Mojave and lot’s more.)
GREAT JOB answering the questions Matt (Ed too). Who the Hell do they "think" they are to question how you do your job & run your business?!! Give them the proverbial "finger" from now on!! And keep up the good work & videos!
Not sure if he mentioned specific numbers; the recovery rate is $150 per hour but they sometimes charge less and their flat tow rate is $350 but that number is also subject to negotiation
@Concerned Citizen $350 for 'a tow' may be too much to charge -- if the tow vehicle is only a few minutes away and you're being towed only a few miles on city streets. But it's not too much to charge if the tow operator has to drive an hour or more to get to the stuck vehicle and risk getting their own vehicle stuck. Years ago, my transmission went out in the middle of the night, half-way up a canyon road. The nearest repair shop was more than 45 miles away. The tow vehicle went over 100 miles in its round trip. That tow -- all on paved roads -- cost me well over $350. I wished I didn't have to pay it, but I never begrudged the tow company. They earned their money that night.
Thank you. I think I learned more in the first 10 minutes of this video than the previous 20 videos! I was stuck once. We were in a 1985 Jeep Cherokee in Wyoming quicksand. Not to put down the Jeep, I have had 3 and they have been great. More than just telling a recovery story, your videos teach everyone. Thank you again.
I walked past my Jeep 2 days ago with a Pepper steak I grilled on the BBQ and the check engine light came on. I then poured a Whisky on the Hood and it went off. Most people just dont understand Jeeps wisdom.
Love the Q&A... I was so curious about Ed...and now I know. I just found the channel on the weekend and have been binge watching ever since. Keep up the great work!
Awesome as always. I'm from California, and I've helped both local and out-of-state vehicles out of winter snow drifts over the Sierras. The faster we can help each other, the better the traffic flows. Know your limits, if something doesn't seem right, don't drive into an area in which you may encounter issues.
Sierras get more snow than UT and CA within 100 miles goes from lowest point in hemisphere to pretty much highest peak. Everything from low desert, high desert, forests, granite peaks, coastal areas, big trees, etc. Tons of people offroad with all kinds of Jeep and offroading clubs across the state. Some snowflakes just love blurting out stereotypes without ever having visited the state. Well said with helping each other out and staying safe, life is too short for hate.
I'm in the central valley of California. I used to go on a 4 wheel drive run (25 years ago) down by Coalinga. The run was in March and could get muddy. Some guy tried to drive into camp with a motor home towing a jeep. Camp was really muddy and he got buried. People were trying to help and he just kept making things worse. It took hours to get him out. I guess he was just frustrated but he was not very grateful to the folks that got him out. That year's run was very eventful. So thank you for all that you do to recover people. I hope that I never need your services. But if I ever need professional recovery assistance in the back country, I hope they have the experience of your team.
My fix for the check engine light is black tape. Has been a very good remedy for me. Mine has been on for 10+ years. Thank You all for the wonderful videos. You all are amazing. ❤
I was big fan of Car Talk. I listened to it on NPR for many years. A piece of black electrical tape was Tom and Ray’s solution to the Check Engine light also.
He's running a business. He can't just tell everyone what he charges, plus, I bet in that line of work, it's hard to put a specific dollar value on it, since there are so many variables.
Geoff Rosenstein Doesn’t have to be super specific but a ball park would be nice to know. Not sure if he’s said but does insurance cover any of that? There’s stuff he could say that doesn’t give away much. Plus anyone who did get towed by the guy could in return tell his competition which from the looks of it is no one.
Thanks Matt! I'm from CA. While there is plenty wrong with this state, I have 4wd on my truck and if I'm going to get stuck, you best be sure it's because I was really trying! Utah is beautiful, btw and definitely worthy of a roadtrip one of these days.
Been kinda binge watching and usually don’t comment but the whole “why didn’t you do it this way” got my britches in a bunch!! I’m the moment you do what comes to mind to get it done plain and simple!! We ALL at some point go “ oh well I could have done this or that” there is a ton of ways to get the same result so who cares how it gets done as long as it gets done right!?!? Well that’s enough love the channel my man!! 👍👍
I grew up in the mountains of WV and been stuck many times or been on recovery crew many times I just enjoy watching the different recoveries that you go through. I thought that a good comment to the people questioning you as to why didn't you do this is, everyone has coulda, woulda, shoulda, done and this hindsight is 20/20. 🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 Looking forward to more of your recovery videos. God Bless.
A "check engine light" can often be fixed with black electrical tape. Cab drivers do it all the time. Lot of arm chair tow people. If they were more knowledgeable, skilled, physically able and had the equipment they'd be in business making their own videos.
Some check engine lights can be "fixed with electrical tape". 1 mile into a 500 mile vacation and the check engine light pops on. The situation needs to be assessed before electrical tape fix commences.
I believe ya boss man. Y’all do amazing work and string it together for us to enjoy. Y’all deserve a tv show without all the hassle it comes with. Just the money
I'm so happy I stumbled across this channel. I love Ed, he brings a lot to the videos. And Matt, you seem like a genuine nice guy. This is good, clean and happy content.
Yeah and that's not including mileage either. If it's offroad, it's also likely out of town. Friend of mine got charged $900 just to get dragged out of a snow ditch that was 5 yards from being free, even though it was on pavement. It's because it was a good 30 minutes out of town. People's estimates here of line $500-$600 is hilarious. Try $1000-$2000. Which is fine, there's nothing wrong with those costs. It's a long way for Matt to drive, and putting a lot of stress on his vehicles.
Got quoted at 500$ for a pull out of some bad mud, opted to keep digging with my buddies and recovered with one Ram and a Tacoma pulling my F150. Total cost? 12 pack and three shovels with some amazing friends
You know what they say about hindsight, and a lot of people especially the ones NOT in the recovery business know a better way. lol I enjoy watching both you and Casey on off road recoveries. You both articulate well what you want to say (thank goodness for editing) and seem to do that well not only for us, but for your customers. Keep up the great videos.
It would better to have a holy spirit filled Ed with many working angels n lots of holy light of love n truth n not a severely demon devil possessed Ed full of evil spiritual darkness
Hey Matt. Great job answering questions in a positive way even when you might want to say something sarcastic. My experience on my you tube channel is when you start down the negativity road when responding to your comment section you bring the "TROLLS" out in force. They will make your comment section miserable where everyone starts turning on each other. Stay clean and respectful and answer only what you want. I have learned as a viewer to never make negative comments ever toward anyone. It just makes life easier. Keep making the videos we enjoy them!!!
Yup. Growing up sometimes we would push the vehicle to get it started or try to get it unstuck. Sometimes trying to dig out the tire(s) from the hole too. Ha! I’m new to watching & I started watching more. So entertaining & even learn. I’ll keep ya’ll in my contacts. 🙂
When I was younger if a road looked iffy I would get out and walk ahead to check it out for a back out / turn around option which kept me 95% out of trouble when 4 wheeling. I learned my lesson about Utah's soft shoulders with an 18 wheeler in the early 90s after sinking it in the soft shoulder after departing Tooele Army Depo.
I’d have to say Matt’s prices for recovery would be fair. If he was cleaning up shop he wouldn’t be selling hats and making TH-cam videos. He would be retired on a beach with Ed lol. Keep up the good work Matt. Love the videos.
Bought 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 for $800 cuz check engine light was on serpentine belt kept slipping off.. bad pulley on water pump replaced the water pump and it fixed everything.. check engine light was still on cuz bad sensor in brake fluid reservoir so I ignored it.. fuckin radiator fan relay went out.. bye bye aluminum engine.. i was coming over a pass and when I got to the top I smelt radiator fluid.. the needle didn't come out of the red for over 20 min.. i went to open the hood and couldn't even touch it cuz it was so hot.. heat was radiating off the hood at midnight i could see it.. so now I always double check my check engine lights.. great car wish I would have fixed that brake reservoir sensor..
@@dr_tate The issue is not the check engine light but the fact that you drove in the red for 20 min! NEVER continue to drive an overheated engine, pull over immediately.
@@ADBBuildi meant the needle didn't come out of the red until 20 min after i noticed and pulled over. If i saw the needle moving into the red or felt like the car was getting hot i would have pulled over immediately. I was so proud of this almost prefect car I got for only $800. Was very bummed out about this one.. I'm a Car guy and I'm usually keeping an eye on my gauges but not this time. That morning I drove it to work from Anaheim,CA to Long Beach,Ca which took about 30 min.. then After work I was going From Long Beach,CA to Victorville,CA and it didn't even act funny until I got to the top of the Cajon Pass and that's when I smelled the Rad fluid.. It had Taken an Hour and 20 min or so to get from Long Beach to the top of the Cajon Pass because the traffic going to Las Vegas was so bad.. so no bad signs in the morning or on the 80 min drive after work so my dumb brain just said "don't need to pay attention anymore it's good let's go!!" On the way up the Cajon Pass the car went into the red even though the whole way there it was fine but I should have kept a better eye on the gauges. I killed my killer deal.. so no not the check engine lights fault. We're going to have to put this one on the operator..
@@ADBBuild not until after i was done writing is when i realized it seemed like I drove the car until it was in the red and then I gunned it for 20 more minutes.. so I'm my other response my the 1st couple sentences came last.. made me laugh though..
This Q&A is such a great idea! It's been kinda hard to watch the great videos and fully enjoy them with burning questions driving me nuts, even kind of making me anxious and crap, and you did such a great job here answering probably everything I really wanted to know. Now I feel I can kick back without too much curiosity or 'anxiety' etc getting in the way and just enjoy the awesome countryside and watch you do your thing. Thanks a lot!
LOL...bought my new to me Avalanche with 22" 'Dubs" on it. Ripped it up and down the beach for 4 months before putting 17" wheels and 33" tires on there. What a useless combo on a 4wd vehicle. Bad news was, I rusted/pitted out my "Dubs" by exposing them to salt water everyday, without realizing they were $500 each, not including rubber! Could have sold them on day one for ~ $1,500 but by the time I pitted them out, I only got $500! FAWK!!!
There was once a Finn who invited three other Finns to his summer cabin. They heated the sauna and started roasting sausages and drinking beer. Suddenly the sauna caught fire and everybody was freaking out. One called the fire brigade while three carried water from the lake, bucket by bucket, and managed to put the fire out. An hour later the firemen showed up, and the fire marshal said: You put the fire out the wrong way.
I like Matt because he never makes the client look stupid. Anyone can get in a pickle, not just tourists from California. Thank you Matt.
That is the other half of running a successful business. Soft skills. Interpersonal skills. Combined your technical skills (off road driving, recovery) with soft skills (personal, communication) and you have a winning recipe for a business!
Indeed, Matt’s the best. But I still scratch my head wondering why people take basic front wheel drive cars in these rocky, sandy, and snowy conditions. I’d rather look like a half idiot getting stuck in a proper 4-wheel drive vehicle than a complete idiot getting stuck in a VW Beetle.
Yeah, that's one of the best things about watching his videos. He never makes anyone feel bad or ever is negative. Totally respectable dude, especially in situations where I personally would have been like "Really?!?!?!?"
I don’t know if I would be able to resist, and certainly couldn’t keep from laughing. Maybe he’s editing all that out, but I don’t think so. Besides, he’s seen it all at this point, many times.
@@kingkong1040 agreed!
Unlike TH-cam commenters who badmouth the customers constantly. Matt doesn’t, and in fact defends them. It’s the anti-reality-show show.
Yeah honestly it'd be real easy to paint some of these people in a real bad light... Talk about how stupid they were doing this or that.
The fact you'll hear none of that out of Matt himself is mighty professional, and mighty respectable of him. Thanks for bringing that up. Seems like a great dude.
@allen iverson Matt is a gentleman and treats others as he would like to be treated.
It could also be bad for business to bash your customers on TH-cam...
Carguychannel Almost certainly. I used to work with my dad on his plumbing/HVAC/electrical business (seriously, he had a master’s license in all 3). We were helping to remodel an old house. The owners were there. I was griping about how old and junky the place was as I drug a tool box through the crawl space. Let’s just say I was calibrated :)
i loved his answer to "why do the people get stuck out there" great insight, and not blaming them for not knowing. Great way of thinking
The check engine light in a Jeep just means the engine is running.
It's a Jeep thing
The trick is to have a Jeep that didn't come with an engine light.
Hah! I was thinking that very thing only cause my car lets me know the engines running too 😂
Which in itself is a miracle. I've owned 5 or 6. or they owned me .
I have a 95 YJ w/o a check engine light on. It must be an anomaly.
Matt ive been a union equipment operator all my life from coast to coast... You come accross as a level headed, extremely honest, (which is a rare thing in towing) morally intact hard working caring individual as humble as they come. Iam glad to see someone like you doing well you got heart brother... Id work for you anytime... Carry on my good man
I couldn't have said it better.....
I think also out here you can't be morally ambiguous or corrupt. The distances, terrain, and climate is far too harsh and very easily turn deadly. Winters are cold and muddy, summers are extremely hot and sandy.
😮@@africanpenguin3282
Love how even-keeled Matt is. Never mocks his customers for bad decisions. Never seems to get too flustered. I wish him and the crew all the best.
Why would he "mock" the dumb asses PUBLICLY that are PAYING him hundreds or thousands of dollars to bail them out of trouble?
Probably because he's made the same stupid mistakes at some point in his life 🤣🤣🤣
@@ISupportIsraelForever nah, it’s the money.
I'm so glad he answered how much it cost. There's a reason he answered the way he did. If you're stuck always call somebody that isn't afraid to answer on tape how much it cost .
@@journeyman553 I don't blame him for answering the way he did. I'm watching this video for the first time 2 years after it was made. With inflation and gas prices going the way they are, his pricing is likely changing. I bet his rates are 20% more now than when the video was published.
Matt - you're awesome, dude! Your positive, encouraging, and non-judgmental attitude make your videos a pleasure to watch for my whole family. I love how when you do your recoveries I've seen you, as a first step, ask the driver if they're doing OK -- especially the people who have been out there stuck for hours. Your care for their mental well being is so kind and good natured. I've told several friends about your videos, describing you as the Bob Ross of off road towing. Keep up the great work, positively impacting people's lives (and getting them unstuck too)!
After watching these videos there is at least one solid thing I know, Matt and the team are solid genuine dudes. Keep it up boys.
I love old gentlemen like Ed. He reminds me much of my grandfather. A lot of valuable wisdom, a great person, loves others more than himself. Always gently spoken and well mannered a gentle gentleman, so to speak.
You're a 100% genuine person bro. Glad there's ppl like you on this earth.
His voice change when talking about Ed spoke volumes. He loves his Ed. Matt is a great guy!
First, I want to give everybody at Winder Towing a big 👍.
A couple of observations after watching about a half dozen of Matt's videos:
1. A business that depends upon its vehicles to bring in revenue using older Jeep Cherokees should show many viewers how minimally expensive and maximally capable old Jeeps can be (this is coming from a guy who is not a particular fan of Jeeps.)
2. Given the nature of the work and the approach shown to recovering vehicles stuck in sticky situations, I have no doubt that whatever specific prices Winder Towing has for a given situation are as reasonable as can be.
Thanks for posting these videos; I think you're doing a great job of keeping the public informed on how to prepare for off-roading in southern Utah.
Exactly, You dont necc have to have the best of the best of top equipment/vehicles to get the job done, Fabbing metal(s) & DIY helps also.My Family had a welding business and nearly everything was handmade except for handtools etc.
Also, to be honest, they expect their rigs to die or break on them. Jeeps as well as old (1980s) Toyotas are extremely simple to fix - and if it's dead, well, it's only a few thousand to fix it or less than 10K get another one set up and ready do go. You use the tool that works but also that you won't break your bank if it dies on you.
We started watching your videos with our kids because your whole crew is so wholesome, positive, and cohesive. You are a great leader with a great team. Thanks, and keep up the great work!
You are correct sir....
Ed's a good dude. He adds a fantastic dynamic to the show and the team. I want Ed's job in my retirement.
Some people just don't understand how much wisdom the older persons in our communities carry. Also having older persons around younger people who understand them is great for there longevity. We all love Ed and his presence here is appreciated.
I got a tow by him once, it was $295 out on sand hollow fairly easy tow/pull out
Your comment is literally more informative than this entire 16 min video! Don't get me wrong I love Matt's channel and I understand why he has to be dodgy on cost; but even a rough "price range" would've been nice... such as "don't expect to be anything less than $300, but the most demanding job we've done were in the thousands". Even being vague is still better than being a click-bait... lol
Sounds about right
Is your time worth Money? Sounds pretty reasonable for someone who got stuck in the middle of nowhere in the sand in the first place...just sayin".
A couple people liked putting their 2 cents into your comment, neglecting that you were just being informative. No shit its cost money to run this business and people do expect their time is worth money. You stated the price, you stated the location and you described the circumstances.
He's not making anything close towing, compared to what he's making here on TH-cam. Guaranteed.
"What are they doing out there? They must be up to no good." I often go to places way out in the middle of nowhere. If my truck broke down, I would probably not be found for days. But I enjoy the challenge and the country. I carry food and water and tools and spare parts. My 1989 Isuzu Trooper takes me just about anywhere. I really love this show and the great people, Matt and his crew. You guys are so amazing. And you never make a client feel bad for going somewhere they should not go with what they are driving, even though I have to shake my head sometimes about people's choices. And I think the banana is a pretty impressive rig. Thank you for sharing all your adventures!
Why do I explore backroads? Cuz they are there and often there's amazing places to photograph! Disclaimer: I just have a small SUV and risk aversion, so I avoid challenging roads. But I grew up in the west and understand how fast the back country can humble someone.
The fact that somebody would assume someone in the middle of nowhere it's automatically up to no good, says a lot more about the person doing the accusing than the person out in the middle of nowhere, lol. That, or they just live a very sheltered life and never go off the beaten path.
This is one of the best unintentional Off Road channels in America.
Also , thats powdered sugar sand, no joke. I got stuck there last year, put it in 4WD, aired down and barely made it out.
dazaspc yeah, you Aussies seem to have sand driving down. Beautiful country and beaches you have there.
Matt is clearly an intelligent guy. Well spoken, thoughtful, considerate, and an expert in his field. Those that have no or even worse, enough sand driving experience to be dangerous, have no idea how challenging it can be. I've been driving sand for a long time; beach, desert, river... They're all different, and they change based on temperature and moisture content. Sometimes with an experienced eye, you can predict what a given patch of sand will be like, sometimes you are surprised, and only lightning quick (and smooth) reflexes save you, sometimes you sink upto the doors. I still get stuck sometimes, and sometimes someone shows me a new trick that I might have heard about but have never seen. Sometimes it's me that does the teaching. Every day is a school day.
I'm 100% sure that Matt knows this, it's just a shame that the "experts" have no idea of how challenging sand can be - or how to make a living out of rescuing people.
Awesome channel Matt - I'm a big fan
I love how you guys asked Ed. That will be priceless footage to look back at later in life. Keep up the good work and thanks for sticking up for California folks.
Matt never gives anyone a hard time or makes them feel bad about getting stuck, always gives people the benefit of the doubt, always assumes the best about people, and for so many other reasons is easily the most likeable person (that I'm subscribed to) on TH-cam. This channel is also the first thing I've ever seen that made me want to visit Utah. I had no idea how amazing the views are. I'll have to visit sometime, when the weather is easy.
Yeah, Matt has a heart of gold.....and surrounds himself with like minded folks......
"you're right, it is barely getting the job done, but that puts it ahead of everything else I've tried" I absolutely love that quote. You need to go around and speak to newly degreed engineers about this concept 😁
The best thing is going to be something older like an original Land Rover, or Unimog. But those are outrageously expensive to find parts for as well as to obtain.
I like you for not being judgemental, thats rare to find these days
karma SJ , Exactly thought the same - the world would be short of problems if everybody would be like Matt
1st excuse my english.
I'm European, and almost got stuck off road with my rental car. I'll explain you why.
We went to California with friends and rented a car to got from San Francisco to Las Vegas, visiting all the national parcs along the trip.
It was in 2005, GPS were expensive so we had just a classic road map.
One of the tourist spot that we wanted to visit (some kind of old western village) requiered us to take a road labeled on the map as an "Earth Road". For us Europeans, if the road is on a road map then you can take it with any type of car, so that was not clear for us what kind of road it was. That earth road was actually a dirt road, easy to drive on with our rented car.
The day after we were on our way to a campground and we spotted on the road map a hudge shortcut... Another "earth road"... Just like yesterday we were thinking...
First miles of the road were perfect, a dirt road, easy. Then we came on a hill where the road was in bad conditions (very narrow, lots of sand and rocks) . I was driving and I said I could handle it, the road will be better after that hill... I was super wrong...
We managed to drive on the top of the hill but the road after was terrible and it was now impossible to turn around and go back...
Our luck was that the bottom of the car was protected with a metal plate (our European cars have a plastic cover at best) and we were 3 young guys with 3 gallons of water in the trunk. We were walking on the road, inspecting every turn before engaging the car, moving the big rocks, filling up the holes, managing to move the car like 50 meters every minutes... And it was like 40°C...
It took us the entire day and we arrived at the campground during the night.
If that happens again now, with my wife and kid then I'm done... Call for a tow...
That story may sound dumb to an american guy but you have to imagine that Europe is very different...
I've realized that when a bear crossed in front of us... We almost shit ourselves and all the american guys were like "happens all the time..."
Given your route, sounds like the first stop was Bodie, CA--a "ghost town" from the mining days (Ed's childhood, maybe? /s). That's a graded hard packed dirt road if my memory serves. I worked at a camp about an hour south of there (and on the opposite side of the area's main highway) that had to get the rocks dug out of the "road" up every year... at least one Saturn sedan left the contents of its crankcase just downhill from the camp due to a rock impact, and at least one more turned around before getting to that point. Most other vehicles--particularly if they have ground clearance--are just fine up and down that one but it takes some practice. And hoping the camp crew (and county) got around to the road work that year.
I've heard of even US government vehicles following the GPS... in the Rocky Mountains... and being surprised by the 4WD coming down the jeep trail that their GPS swore was a road and they were paused to figure out where the "road" was.
As for cost: I'm with the rest on this, exact cost isn't going to be an issue if it's fair, and the towman always knows best. It ain't the tools the customers are payin' for. It's the knowhow that comes with the tools that they're paying for. As the apocryphal engineering story goes: $1 to hit the panel, $9999 to know exactly where to hit it. Though I do have to ask... if the customer ends up being rude (or otherwise insufferable), do their bills tend to end up being slightly higher for some reason?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Come to Colorado. We drive those for fun.
Sounds like you did a better job for yourself than most americans would have done. The American west is all about adventure, like doing things you shouldn't have done, cause when you come out the other side you earn a great experience
We've all been there and done that.
Good video, thanks for including Ed's perspective. And for caring for him and keeping him active... Honor to you.
Thanks for clarifying those issues. At 74 years old and having driven a tow truck in Minnesota years ago, I appreciate you guys. Mostly jump starts in winter. But now, vehicles have come SO FAR ! Great batteries (12 volt, not 6), heated steering wheels, 4 WD, etc
Easy there. We've gotten to the point where 4x4's are cars w all sorts of electronic BS ----- like anti-slip that won't let you spin your tires. Ugh.
Check engine light comes on. Pops hood, "yep it's still there". Shuts hood.
I had a check engine light on in a 1997 Chevy Tahoe & a mechanic said he could fix it for free,
He walked out to the drivers side an put a round black sticker over the light- and said it’s good to go now!👍
I was literally about to make that joke. You beat me to it.
I hate the dreaded, "No Bus," error. I have to stop and get a meter to test to see if the ECM bus is still there.
Guys used to put tape over the little ‘shift up’ arrow lights, you could do that to the check engine light!
@@zeeoracle Yes, OBDI ports have been around since the 1980s. But their information was very basic when it came to trouble shooting. I still have an original OBD monitor. It only displays numbers that are cross-referenced to an index. I do not get to use an original OBD monitor much. Those vehicles are running out due to evil government programmers to junk these old cars.
I would be extremely worried if one day i got in my Jeep and the check engine light was off.
Joshua Garcia haha!
Trade it in then and buy another Cherokee (square body of course). ASAP.
Thats usually when they start on fire !
That would be the indicator of... dead battery?
@@GoingNoWhereFast boy howdy can I attest to that.
Matt & Crew, Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos. As parents, it's hard to get your kids to slow down sometimes. It seems like they are always running. But when I know my boys are coming, I just start an episode of Matt's Off Road Recovery. When they walk through the door, they'll actually stop and sit down. We watch you guys do your thing while we talk about the important things in their lives. So thanks for making it so this old dad can spend a few hours of quality time with my boys on a regular basis. Keep up the great work!
Matt's Off Road Recovery is not only entertaining, It's highly educational.....Good job Matt and crew
"Soft amber glow of the check engine light" Priceless, love it.
A piece of tape would fix that pesky light
Yup, black electricians tape works perfectly.
I caught that too, and chuckled. Small stuff like that makes me want to meet Matt in person.....at a restaurant.....not 30 miles out in a gully full of blow sand. lol.
Man it was a stroke of Genius having Ed answering the questions. I absolutely loved it please do it again. I've got the first question how did you and Matt meet you tell your version and then have Ed tell his, please do this again, it put a grin on my face ever since I viewed it , so when I thought of it all during the day it would put a grin on my face. You two are lucky to have each other as friends
I agree!!
I wish Matt had asked the dogs a question as well. One seem interested.
To treat others with dignity no matter who they are, is the hallmark of a dignified man.
I could only imagine how much it is. A buddy of mine got stuck out in Galveston Bay and had to get recovered. He was a few miles out and it ended up costing him $2600 to get towed in.
Love y’alls videos including the weather report.
Yep, gett'n a crew out 'n all the equipment and time can be costly....Yer in business for a reason, to make a living but you have to maintain all that equipment too 'n pay your employees.....It's not cheap gett'n stuck 'n need'n a tow....Sometimes Matt has 'ta drive many miles 'ta recover a rod someone woofed off a cliff....then there's the time and effort to recover.the vehicle....Cha-Ching.....Matt has a hard job many times 'n work like this don't come cheap....
Quick little square of electrical tape will cure that engine light
or if you get real ambitious, take the cluster apart and sharpie over it
I bet one of those little itty biddy drill bits would do the trick even better lol..
come to New York and be prepared to fix that light once a year for inspection or just keep getting tickets for being out of date.
I worked at a shop in early 90's, we would just take the bulb out
Sharpie doesn't peel off.
"I decided it (the video) would be better in my natural habitat, which is behind the wheel of my Jeep, with the soft amber glow of the check engine light on my face..."
Jeep cherokees came from the factory with check engine light on.
Matt, I started watching your videos around 4-5 months ago when I finally got my first 4WD truck (I've driven 2WD trucks up to this point. Starting down in Nevada when I lived there and now up in Oregon.) I have to say I really appreciate your demeanor. You are always kind to every customer, you aren't cocky, you don't act like you are the god of recovery. You keep yourself humble and considerate.
As a novice just getting into doing a little bit of off roading it makes the community feel more welcoming knowing that people like you are a part of it. It inspires me to always be on the lookout for people who need help, and not to be embarrassed when I've needed it myself.
So I hope you don't take it to heart when people criticize recoveries. Hindsight is always 20-20. Nobody is going to see the best solution every time. It's just the reality of being a public face, there will always be people picking at the details. You always do what you can to make the recovery happen though, and you always take care of the people and I think that's what's important.
Overall you and the gang are awesome. Thanks for the great attitude, and for sharing these experiences with the world.
Dude you sound so modest and yet knowledgeable. I like the fact that you do not talk smack about your customers, after all a good businessman understands that the customer pays for their living. 👍
Better answer: We've been told by our Dads check engine lights need addressing immediately, except now we have OBD ports that tells us exactly wha't wrong and can ignore the light as needed. Ed is the boss.
Yes like those dumb catalytic, or 02 dumb emission crap sensors that they run on vehicles nowadays because dumb places like California regulate them. 🙄 just like what they’re doing to semi trucks nowadays. So irritating. Just adding more garbage that can go wrong to a vehicle.
5:32 and this is why so many people respect you man! "It's far more economical for the customer" putting others before yourself goes a long way in the business world. Love it!
I just wanted to say that I appreciate your videos for a couple reasons. You guys obviously like each other and get along very well, and treat the customers with respect. Not only that, they are entertaining AND educational, not that I ever hope to get stuck 🙂. But best of all, I appreciate how you keep the language clean. It's refreshing, and I for one sincerely appreciate it.
I like your attitude Matt. Pragmatic and tolerant. You seem like a great guy to deal with, and this add value to your channel. Let the person that never did anything stupid and got stuck trow the first stone... Anyway, anybody that drive off-road, no matter the equipment, know that getting stuck is part of the game. Usually, the more capable is your vehicle, the deeper you get stuck! :-) I really wonder why so many people dislike this video??? Keep your good work, and tanks for sharing.
I just admire the fact you know your equipment & how to use it. I haven't seen any unsuccessful attempts so you are doing your job well!!!
My buddy pulled an f150 off of a beach with a stock Cherokee... much to the dismay of the MASSIVE tow truck that was stuck on the way down there. Tow driver said "good luck, he's down there... I'm not gonna be able to come down and pull you out either!"
After the f150 they both went uphill a bit and let the wrecker anchor off of them to pull himself out.
Tow guy gave my buddy a hundred bucks!
I watch your channel because you are all very nice to each other and to your customers. Its refreshing to see people who are both conscientious about work and not judgemental of others.
Matt you do a great job my Family owned a towing service when I was a teenager I started driving a wrecker when I was 15 and only had a beginners permit off road of coarse and your crew is very good when your crew and the customers car comes out without damage it is a good call or good service ignore the naysayers keep doing what you do and be safe thanks for the content
Coming from someone who has made a stupid (and expensive) mistake offroad, I appreciate Matt's understanding of different backgrounds, and that anyone can make mistakes. What a respectful fellow.
Yeah man. That's how you learn. Even pros male mistakes. I have actually made it through some crazy lines, and looked back; and I though, man, I shouldn't have done that. Lol
We love the dynamics of this channel. Like a wholesome family earning a honest living.
I want to see Matt Drunk 😀😀😀
When I used to live in North Eastern Nevada (over 25 years), I helped tow out several people several times a year. Usually it was snow related. And several times over the years, I received help getting out of a jam myself. The bottom line is that in very rural areas, people are generally down-to-earth good folks that lend a helping hand when needed.
"they rent a car, they see something on the internet that they want to go find, they type it into their gps and they drive their car until they get stuck....._*that's*_ what they're doing out there, they're tourists"
You must be the only commenter on TH-cam who correctly uses THERE, THEIR, and THEY'RE!😉
@TheInfinitequest z
we don't USA today @TheInfinitequest
Job security. If I was closer I’d love to to do a ride along.
@@dewaynemartin6437 I see he passed the grammar police inspection. Lol
Simple comment (compliment?) from Australia. I enjoy watching things mechanical, but you are the ONLY channel I am subscribed to and always one of the first 2 channels I check every day. Your content varies enormously. You all enjoy whatever you are doing. Almost every rescue is different. You come across as a virtual family. If you make a mistake, you admit to it. You encourage the girls to do anything they are comfortable doing and prove to them that gender must not be a divider. I look forward to the day that we see Lizzy running a recovery. She does things that I would not try and at 73 I have done a lot. Continue doing what you are good at, and chewie on anyone who disagrees. Live long and prosper.
Title of video: "How much does this cost?".
15 minutes into a 16 minute video we finally get his answer. "I'm not telling you".
Yeah I had to downvote it for that. I really was curious what the hourly rate was at the time of filming and the typical time it takes to recover. Click bait title. Yuck.
had to scroll way too far for this comment...
Yea would have liked to know some worst case scenarios. They drive pretty far out and take some pretty extreme jobs. I figure some of these must cost thousands of dollars. But they sound pretty inexpensive since they only tried to charge the Mom with the razr stuck in a fence $40 for a trip charge. You can't even get a ride to the airport in a Kia for $40.
Thanks for the heads up
@@anthonymoreno894 It's because there isn't a clear answer. It won't be cheap.. happy now? lol
This has become my favorite utube channel, and I don’t know why, because I’ve never been off-roading. Matt you seem like a very good person. And your prices must be fair, because I never see any of your clients crying at the end of your videos. Keep up the great work & videos.
Electrical tape is the propper fix for check engine lights 😂
Sorry, I posted my comment then go to read the other comments and you’re the very next one and saying almost the same thing. Lol
@@shawnsutube no sorry necessary, happens to all of us 😙🎶
Proper application would be double layer to prevent Burn through or C.E.L. Glow
Beat me to it!
Nope, sharpie
Thanks for telling who Ed is. I love watching his response to questions and situations. Reminds me of a friend I had. Miss him every day.
As a Tennessean, I can assure you that if I'm going to get stuck in a cross-over suv in the desert I'm going to be damn sure it's got California plates on it. 😂😂😂😂
I’m from California and im not renting a car if it doesn’t have California plates. Salt and snow leave vehicles unreliable.
@David Erickson ???
@@AFMR0420 Dunno where you heard that myth, but okay.
@@brodyleephotography2177 he's right about the salt
@@brodyleephotography2177 Yeah, coming to a red light, I pressed on the brake pedal & it went to the floor. Brake line was rusted out from the roadsalt. Live & Learn
I love Ed. He reminds me of my dad. Hard working, full of info, and willing to share his wisdom and knowledge. I’d like to meet him someday. Now that I’m living in Idaho, I hope I can do that.
I keep chains, tow straps, and ratchet straps in the back of my truck all the time. I have a bunch of harbor freight ratchet straps too that I’ll give to people when I see they don’t have a load secured properly. I’ve stopped on a roadside to help secure loads.
Thank you Matt for sharing your experiences, your family, your amazing crew, and all the other channels who’ve created this absolutely beautiful community.
Matt, I enjoy your videos and the fact that you are providing excellent off road recovery services. Your extended family is wonderful too. Keep it up! (I’m in California and we roam the Mojave and lot’s more.)
GREAT JOB answering the questions Matt (Ed too). Who the Hell do they "think" they are to question how you do your job & run your business?!! Give them the proverbial "finger" from now on!! And keep up the good work & videos!
Not sure if he mentioned specific numbers; the recovery rate is $150 per hour but they sometimes charge less and their flat tow rate is $350 but that number is also subject to negotiation
thickthighsluv cash talks ;)
Lloyd Bonafide wrong, these guys are not running a meter. Hes OG
And does the customer need to pay for the time Matt needs to get there and then back to the shop as well?
@Concerned Citizen $350 for 'a tow' may be too much to charge -- if the tow vehicle is only a few minutes away and you're being towed only a few miles on city streets. But it's not too much to charge if the tow operator has to drive an hour or more to get to the stuck vehicle and risk getting their own vehicle stuck. Years ago, my transmission went out in the middle of the night, half-way up a canyon road. The nearest repair shop was more than 45 miles away. The tow vehicle went over 100 miles in its round trip. That tow -- all on paved roads -- cost me well over $350. I wished I didn't have to pay it, but I never begrudged the tow company. They earned their money that night.
I needed a car towed to the car shop that was in my driveway and was charged $55
Thank you. I think I learned more in the first 10 minutes of this video than the previous 20 videos! I was stuck once. We were in a 1985 Jeep Cherokee in Wyoming quicksand. Not to put down the Jeep, I have had 3 and they have been great. More than just telling a recovery story, your videos teach everyone. Thank you again.
I love it when Ed gives his opinion on things..I wish I had a old man like him around to learn from.
My check engine light has been on in my '05 Wrangler since 2012. I checked - the engine was still there. No worries.
HighLonesomeRob And when you need to replace or add oil just pour it right on the top of it.
I walked past my Jeep 2 days ago with a Pepper steak I grilled on the BBQ and the check engine light came on. I then poured a Whisky on the Hood and it went off. Most people just dont understand Jeeps wisdom.
Thank you lol still laughing
HighLonesomeRob my anti theft device is the 6 speed manual and the starter is out! Haha
Man I really do love Ol Ed. Always enjoy his words of wisdom.
Can we go ahead and make it known that we need a “Compilation of Edism’s”?
I've been watching yall. I think this is the oldest video I've watched, its a good one. You guys have come along ways to be better at what your doin.
Thanks Matt, for answering these questions and showing your perspective. I enjoy your rescue videos and, now, your philosophy.
I sure do really love armchair and Monday morning quarterbacks! How can we survive without them?
Great job Matt thanks for sharing
Love the Q&A... I was so curious about Ed...and now I know. I just found the channel on the weekend and have been binge watching ever since. Keep up the great work!
Awesome as always. I'm from California, and I've helped both local and out-of-state vehicles out of winter snow drifts over the Sierras. The faster we can help each other, the better the traffic flows. Know your limits, if something doesn't seem right, don't drive into an area in which you may encounter issues.
Sierras get more snow than UT and CA within 100 miles goes from lowest point in hemisphere to pretty much highest peak. Everything from low desert, high desert, forests, granite peaks, coastal areas, big trees, etc. Tons of people offroad with all kinds of Jeep and offroading clubs across the state. Some snowflakes just love blurting out stereotypes without ever having visited the state. Well said with helping each other out and staying safe, life is too short for hate.
I did my very first tow today! Watching all your videos gave me useful tips and most importantly confidence. Thanks Matt!
The check engine light has been on in my TJ for 175,000 miles. I've been thinking about fixing it recently.
"The soft amber glow of the check engine light" lol, thats how he gets such good lighting to record when hes driving
Its where the light tan comes from.lol
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
I'm in the central valley of California. I used to go on a 4 wheel drive run (25 years ago) down by Coalinga. The run was in March and could get muddy. Some guy tried to drive into camp with a motor home towing a jeep. Camp was really muddy and he got buried. People were trying to help and he just kept making things worse. It took hours to get him out. I guess he was just frustrated but he was not very grateful to the folks that got him out. That year's run was very eventful. So thank you for all that you do to recover people. I hope that I never need your services. But if I ever need professional recovery assistance in the back country, I hope they have the experience of your team.
if your not getting stuck in your 4x4, your not having as much fun as you could be... 😋👍
Even a 2wd. 😈
You're
@@AB0VETHALAW If you're too busy correcting people's spelling and grammar, you're not having as much fun as you should be!!! LOL!!!!🤷♂️
Yeah until something breaks. Don't ask how I know.
That’s a fact!
The Kramer. Excellent taste in art Matt.
CLICKBAIT title that never gets answered
Thanks for saving us 16 minutes.
because discriminating pricing lol chevy $?000 mercedes $?0000
14:52 He explains why...
Just found this guy. Now I'm gonna go find a different one. Thanks.
@@naterally1 Have to, just as mechanics do repairs entirely different between the Mercedes and a hooptie, it's a question of liability.
My fix for the check engine light is black tape. Has been a very good remedy for me. Mine has been on for 10+ years.
Thank You all for the wonderful videos. You all are amazing. ❤
I was big fan of Car Talk. I listened to it on NPR for many years. A piece of black electrical tape was Tom and Ray’s solution to the Check Engine light also.
"...the soft amber glow of the 'check engine' light on my face." Love it.
Glad I watched this whole thing to find he ain’t telling anyone
You gotta get stuck to find out
Crossfire Detroit apparently
He's running a business. He can't just tell everyone what he charges, plus, I bet in that line of work, it's hard to put a specific dollar value on it, since there are so many variables.
Geoff Rosenstein Doesn’t have to be super specific but a ball park would be nice to know. Not sure if he’s said but does insurance cover any of that? There’s stuff he could say that doesn’t give away much. Plus anyone who did get towed by the guy could in return tell his competition which from the looks of it is no one.
awesomeguynamedjon at that rate I’d leave the rig
Easy, I’m from Tennessee. We don’t rent cars, we have yards full of them!! 😂😂
right, ive got four 90s fords that are all 4 wheel drive in my yard
Jeremy Haha!
Too funny , too true
Thanks Matt! I'm from CA. While there is plenty wrong with this state, I have 4wd on my truck and if I'm going to get stuck, you best be sure it's because I was really trying! Utah is beautiful, btw and definitely worthy of a roadtrip one of these days.
Been kinda binge watching and usually don’t comment but the whole “why didn’t you do it this way” got my britches in a bunch!! I’m the moment you do what comes to mind to get it done plain and simple!! We ALL at some point go “ oh well I could have done this or that” there is a ton of ways to get the same result so who cares how it gets done as long as it gets done right!?!? Well that’s enough love the channel my man!! 👍👍
There's more than one way to skin a cat: but these guys do it pretty well.
I grew up in the mountains of WV and been stuck many times or been on recovery crew many times I just enjoy watching the different recoveries that you go through. I thought that a good comment to the people questioning you as to why didn't you do this is, everyone has coulda, woulda, shoulda, done and this hindsight is 20/20.
🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 Looking forward to more of your recovery videos. God Bless.
A "check engine light" can often be fixed with black electrical tape. Cab drivers do it all the time.
Lot of arm chair tow people. If they were more knowledgeable, skilled, physically able and had the equipment they'd be in business making their own videos.
Some check engine lights can be "fixed with electrical tape". 1 mile into a 500 mile vacation and the check engine light pops on. The situation needs to be assessed before electrical tape fix commences.
A Jeep friend of mine turned me onto this page. Matt and his crew are my new favorite show to watch. I love all the content.
I believe ya boss man. Y’all do amazing work and string it together for us to enjoy. Y’all deserve a tv show without all the hassle it comes with. Just the money
I'm so happy I stumbled across this channel. I love Ed, he brings a lot to the videos. And Matt, you seem like a genuine nice guy. This is good, clean and happy content.
yep must be mormons? or mormons rubbed off on them
Keyl
I'd also like to add in my area the cost of a wrecker to do an off-road recovery starts at $1000 if their tires need to touch dirt.
Yeah and that's not including mileage either. If it's offroad, it's also likely out of town. Friend of mine got charged $900 just to get dragged out of a snow ditch that was 5 yards from being free, even though it was on pavement. It's because it was a good 30 minutes out of town.
People's estimates here of line $500-$600 is hilarious. Try $1000-$2000.
Which is fine, there's nothing wrong with those costs. It's a long way for Matt to drive, and putting a lot of stress on his vehicles.
Frosty Snowman Quite literally highway robbery
@@johncuervo3019 lmao right. I get insurance get 3 free tows a year.
Everything.on.wheels 519 what state are you in?
Got quoted at 500$ for a pull out of some bad mud, opted to keep digging with my buddies and recovered with one Ram and a Tacoma pulling my F150. Total cost? 12 pack and three shovels with some amazing friends
You know what they say about hindsight, and a lot of people especially the ones NOT in the recovery business know a better way. lol I enjoy watching both you and Casey on off road recoveries. You both articulate well what you want to say (thank goodness for editing) and seem to do that well not only for us, but for your customers. Keep up the great videos.
Everybody in life needs an Ed, glad you found yours :)
It would better to have a holy spirit filled Ed with many working angels n lots of holy light of love n truth n not a severely demon devil possessed Ed full of evil spiritual darkness
the editing when matt is explaining the tourist thing. omg this is gold!
Hey Matt. Great job answering questions in a positive way even when you might want to say something sarcastic. My experience on my you tube channel is when you start down the negativity road when responding to your comment section you bring the "TROLLS" out in force. They will make your comment section miserable where everyone starts turning on each other. Stay clean and respectful and answer only what you want. I have learned as a viewer to never make negative comments ever toward anyone. It just makes life easier. Keep making the videos we enjoy them!!!
Yup. Growing up sometimes we would push the vehicle to get it started or try to get it unstuck. Sometimes trying to dig out the tire(s) from the hole too. Ha! I’m new to watching & I started watching more. So entertaining & even learn. I’ll keep ya’ll in my contacts. 🙂
When I was younger if a road looked iffy I would get out and walk ahead to check it out for a back out / turn around option which kept me 95% out of trouble when 4 wheeling. I learned my lesson about Utah's soft shoulders with an 18 wheeler in the early 90s after sinking it in the soft shoulder after departing Tooele Army Depo.
I do the same, if it looks questionable, I get my but out and walk it
I get the wife out to walk it. If she can get through I ain't got a worry. Saves me having to walk back to the Jeep and, it keeps my feet clean.
@@sgvincent100 thanks Mate. You better believe it.
I reckon she would have my back in a scrap, if it ever came down to it.
Looks good in a dress too.
I’d have to say Matt’s prices for recovery would be fair. If he was cleaning up shop he wouldn’t be selling hats and making TH-cam videos. He would be retired on a beach with Ed lol. Keep up the good work Matt. Love the videos.
i get the feeling he really likes his job. lucky man.
"almost always the check engine light doesn't mean anything"
BMW engineers: (sweating intensely)
Bought 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 for $800 cuz check engine light was on serpentine belt kept slipping off.. bad pulley on water pump replaced the water pump and it fixed everything.. check engine light was still on cuz bad sensor in brake fluid reservoir so I ignored it.. fuckin radiator fan relay went out.. bye bye aluminum engine.. i was coming over a pass and when I got to the top I smelt radiator fluid.. the needle didn't come out of the red for over 20 min.. i went to open the hood and couldn't even touch it cuz it was so hot.. heat was radiating off the hood at midnight i could see it.. so now I always double check my check engine lights.. great car wish I would have fixed that brake reservoir sensor..
@@dr_tate The issue is not the check engine light but the fact that you drove in the red for 20 min! NEVER continue to drive an overheated engine, pull over immediately.
@@ADBBuildi meant the needle didn't come out of the red until 20 min after i noticed and pulled over. If i saw the needle moving into the red or felt like the car was getting hot i would have pulled over immediately. I was so proud of this almost prefect car I got for only $800. Was very bummed out about this one.. I'm a Car guy and I'm usually keeping an eye on my gauges but not this time. That morning I drove it to work from Anaheim,CA to Long Beach,Ca which took about 30 min.. then After work I was going From Long Beach,CA to Victorville,CA and it didn't even act funny until I got to the top of the Cajon Pass and that's when I smelled the Rad fluid.. It had Taken an Hour and 20 min or so to get from Long Beach to the top of the Cajon Pass because the traffic going to Las Vegas was so bad.. so no bad signs in the morning or on the 80 min drive after work so my dumb brain just said "don't need to pay attention anymore it's good let's go!!" On the way up the Cajon Pass the car went into the red even though the whole way there it was fine but I should have kept a better eye on the gauges. I killed my killer deal.. so no not the check engine lights fault. We're going to have to put this one on the operator..
@@ADBBuild not until after i was done writing is when i realized it seemed like I drove the car until it was in the red and then I gunned it for 20 more minutes.. so I'm my other response my the 1st couple sentences came last.. made me laugh though..
They should replace it with a $ light.
This Q&A is such a great idea! It's been kinda hard to watch the great videos and fully enjoy them with burning questions driving me nuts, even kind of making me anxious and crap, and you did such a great job here answering probably everything I really wanted to know. Now I feel I can kick back without too much curiosity or 'anxiety' etc getting in the way and just enjoy the awesome countryside and watch you do your thing. Thanks a lot!
So you're telling me 22-inch broforces with 3" inches of sidewall and stretched don't help in the sand!!!
.... 😱 like what 😱
I think they've seen enough of those getting stuck in their lands. Otherwice they wouldn't mention it.
LOL...bought my new to me Avalanche with 22" 'Dubs" on it. Ripped it up and down the beach for 4 months before putting 17" wheels and 33" tires on there. What a useless combo on a 4wd vehicle. Bad news was, I rusted/pitted out my "Dubs" by exposing them to salt water everyday, without realizing they were $500 each, not including rubber! Could have sold them on day one for ~ $1,500 but by the time I pitted them out, I only got $500! FAWK!!!
There was once a Finn who invited three other Finns to his summer cabin. They heated the sauna and started roasting sausages and drinking beer. Suddenly the sauna caught fire and everybody was freaking out. One called the fire brigade while three carried water from the lake, bucket by bucket, and managed to put the fire out. An hour later the firemen showed up, and the fire marshal said: You put the fire out the wrong way.
"Your check engine light is on." They must have never owned a Jeep. If the check engine light goes out, that's when you should get nervous.
Like when a helo stops leaking hydraulic fluid, that’s when you worry.
Like the old movie quote-“Hell, the only time you worry about a soldier is when he stops bitching!” What was that, Nick Nolte in The Thin Red Line?
I unplugged mine. Cheaper that way.
It's amazing what you have built with this channel, Matt and team! You're all great people and sure do treat people right.