Home SMART 100 2015 BOG OUT

BOG OUT [SMART 100, 2015]

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This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.

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1. THE BEGINNING

This innovation initially came to life when…

During a 4WD trip to remote Cape York, our Troopy bogged in a muddy creek crossing. The vehicle had to come out backwards, as forwards would make the situation worse. Winches are usually mounted on the front which makes them useless for reverse recoveries. 

The hand winch broke continually under the load, and jacking the vehicle was impossible because of the soft mud we were in. It was raining, the creek was rising, and a nearby lagoon had crocodiles in it. 

What was infuriating was watching the vehicles’ powerful wheels turning uselessly in the mud. If only that could be harnessed…

2. WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

…provide all off-road vehicle users with a lightweight, extremely strong, reliable and economical solution to the problem of getting bogged. The device allows for true forward/reverse self-recovery on vehicles of all sizes, and can fit in a glovebox.

It does this by…

…turning the vehicles’ wheels into winches. Essentially, BOG OUT is a very strong harness designed to capture tyre/s that have lost traction. Simply attach one end to the tyre/wheel (following easy instructions), and the other end to an anchor point, and drive the vehicle out of trouble. Two BOG OUT’s can be used to recover vehicles that are deeply bogged.

3. PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

…it provides a solution to almost all recovery situations forward/reverse. There are other methods available, but they all have limitations: 

  • Electric or PTO winches only pull forward. 
  • Snatch straps require a second vehicle (that may also get bogged) and apply very large kinetic stresses. 
  • Traction board devices are cumbersome and require traction themselves, and can become lodged under the vehicle.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

…having available a single system that is reliable, economical, safe, simple to use, and compact. This allows off-road users confidence to get themselves (or others) out of trouble especially without the need for heavy and often dangerous winching machinery.

4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

…the use of winching machinery, or the use of towing or snatching straps. Jacking and stacking material under bogged tyres helps with traction as do the use of traction boards. BOG OUT is novel because it uses the vehicles’ own strong wheels and engine to provide the winching. It pulls from the vehicles lowest possible point, safely away from participants.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

…manufacturers of mounted winches, hand winches, bush winches, snatch straps, tow ropes, snow chains, various jacking systems as well as several traction board devices. If these fail or are not available, then recovery/salvage contractors are sometimes utilised, depending on location.

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5. TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

…all users of off-road vehicles or mobile machinery. There are multiple target markets including: 

  • 4WD owners, usually male in two categories, under 45, and over 
  • Heavy machinery operators such as mining, transport and civil 
  • Defence and compliance organisations 
  • Niches such as ATV and remote motorcycle 

The largest market is 4WD owners. The number of 4WD-capable vehicles annually sold in Australia recently exceeded sales of conventional vehicles (313,711 in 2014 vs. 237,887 in 2013) and that long trend is growing. According to IbisWorld, 56.2% of new 4WD owners spend more than $500 on additional safety equipment. International opportunities abound.

It is available for sale through…

…online sales via our website (www.bogout.com) as well as at outdoor expos and markets. Also, TJM has made initial orders of ‘Shop Starter Kits’ which include support products. Discussions are currently underway with various industry heavyweights such as Defence Dept.

Our marketing strategy is to…

…support our comprehensive web site via social media, mostly Facebook whilst advertising through traditional industry magazines and running comps via their social media. We have constructed a mobile display unit for expo and trade events and commence that circuit with the Brisbane 4×4 National (20-22 March 2015) followed by the Outdoors Supershow in Sydney. Discussions are underway with national/international organisations/distributors.

FINE PRINT: This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.