Vehicle Anchor

Is a truck a safe anchor?? Seems like it to me. There's a nearby crag (Dry Creek by Montrose CO) where you can drive right up to the rim of the canyon, and most routes are bolted but have no anchors. So how safe would it be to set up an anchor with my truck? I'm thinking park the truck perpendicular to the cliff so the wheels don't roll, maybe even block the wheels just to be sure nothing happens. Then make an anchor on the frame the same way you'd use a tree trunk. Is that sketchy? I definitely can't push the truck sideways by myself, so a toprope fall or the weight of rapping off that would be fine right? Or is this just something you shouldn't do because the truck isn't anchored into the ground... Seems to me like it wouldn't be any sketchier than a loosely rooted tree.

Best. Question. Ever.

I don't condone this but my previous employer once used a Suburban for rope access anchor when not much else was available.

I would hope you're not going to pull a truck off a cliff with the forces generated by a top rope fall lol. You can either put slings through the rims if you have wheels or hook up to the hitch. Anchoring to the frame is good too but might be a pain to get to sometimes. Put your e brake on/keep it in gear if it's a manual.

Sounds like a great idea
not

I've done it for some roof top solar work. Find two solid independent points. Just be aware of some sharp edges and hot spots. Also, I clipped my keys to the anchor to avoid a senior moment.

I've used my jeep's tow hitch as an anchor point before. I ran the rope up and over my roof so I could teach my girlfriend how to rappel at home. Fun Friday night.

I've done it. Your two biggest issues are:
1. driving off the cliff by accident
2. someone stealing your anchor

Otherwise, yeah... park perpendicular to the crag in case your brake fails. Nobody wants a truck to the head.

Nick N wrote:... Seems to me like it wouldn't be any sketchier than a loosely rooted tree.

That's a pretty low bar you're setting there - I'd guess anchoring off your truck would be significantly less sketchy than a loosely rooted tree. But why is this even necessary? If there are multiple bolted climbs at this cliff, but no bolted anchors, I'd imagine it must be because there are other anchor options available.

Is this really an issue - why bother to ask? Consider the weight (and sliding resistance) of a truck or even a car, and size of the tie-in points (steel beams) compared to two small bolts or a couple aluminum biners. The bigger concern is sharp edges, and the grease/solvents at the tie-in point(s).

It's not the anchor, it's the setup and how the anchor is used.

Wear a helmet.

Nick N wrote:Is a truck a safe anchor??

I don't know you'll get anyone to flat out condone this but I can't imagine any scenario in which you could pull a truck over a curb and through a concrete or metal gaurdrail and pull it down the cliff. You'd be fine.

The part I'd worry about is attachment to the truck. As long as you look out for sharp edges and back everything up I think you'd be good to go. Maybe just use a static line to really get a good redundant anchor.

Girth hitch the entire car...good to go!

If people are fine with bolts already, and fine with the aesthetics of parking a truck next to the cliff, why not just add a few bolts at the top and be done with it?

I've climbed at dry creek and used the truck as an anchor. Not a big deal. For most climbs it is easy enough to anchor off a tree back from the edge with an extra rope.

Don't know the whole story on this but some climbs have had anchor bolts retrofitted multiple times only to be chopped by the guy who put many of the routes in. Might want to go talk to some Montrose climbers before adding bolts in this area to get the full story.

It's pretty hilarious that people are opposed to the idea of this. Isn't it pretty common to refer to a great anchor as 'being able to hold a truck'?

In gear, Ebrake on, parallel to the edge.

It's essentially the same as a anchoring to a large boulder chilling on top of the cliff. Just don't do something really stupid.

The sketchier the better!

Assuming you do a reasonable job of attaching to the truck, and of parking the truck, you'll be fine.

Nick N wrote:Is a truck a safe anchor?? Seems like it to me. There's a nearby crag (Dry Creek by Montrose CO) where you can drive right up to the rim of the canyon, and most routes are bolted but have no anchors. So how safe would it be to set up an anchor with my truck? I'm thinking park the truck perpendicular to the cliff so the wheels don't roll, maybe even block the wheels just to be sure nothing happens. Then make an anchor on the frame the same way you'd use a tree trunk. Is that sketchy? I definitely can't push the truck sideways by myself, so a toprope fall or the weight of rapping off that would be fine right? Or is this just something you shouldn't do because the truck isn't anchored into the ground... Seems to me like it wouldn't be any sketchier than a loosely rooted tree.

A Land Rover is a standard ground anchor for cliff rescue teams in the UK. I´ve used a normal car parked up as an rap and belay anchor plenty of times.

Energy dissipated when a 1,500 kg vehicle crashes at 20 m/s (about 45 MPH): 300 kJ.

Speed a 75 kg climber would need to fall at to generate the same energy: 89 m/s. That's faster than terminal velocity for a human, and is therefore impossible to reach.

I'd say your truck is plenty strong. I'd block the wheels and anchor to either a substantial suspension component (front control arms or rear axle on both sides of the differential) or the tow hitch.