Getting Righted
Don't be in too much of a rush to push the vehicle over and get going. Before winching, pulling, or pushing the vehicle onto its wheels, double check that the transmission and T-case are in gear and that the driveshafts and axleshafts aren't broken. You don't want the Jeep to go rolling farther down the hill once it's righted. Find a rock or log to chock the tires before and after it is righted.Take a minute and visualize how strap placement will affect how the vehicle will move. Usually, you're going to want to place the strap on the opposite side that you want the Jeep to turn or roll, as shown in the photo. Move any debris or personal belongings that may have fallen out and make sure bystanders are clear and the winch and straps are secure before tugging.
Assessing the Damage
Once you've pushed, pulled, heaved, or winched the Jeep onto the tires, go around the vehicle and look for all signs of damage. Before blasting away with the key to start the engine, pop the hood and make sure the battery hasn't come off its mount. Pull the dipstick and make sure there's still enough oil in the crankcase. Top off the power steering and brake fluids if necessary. Ensure there's no damage to the cooling system. If the radiator is leaking, you'll need to solder, add eggs, or radiator stop leak to get yourself going.Bump the key quickly a few times, listening to see if the engine spins freely. If it sounds like there's resistance, don't turn the key anymore or you could hydro-lock the engine, damaging a piston, rod, crank, or all of the above. Remove all the spark plugs, then spin the engine to eject any oil from the cylinders. Once you're sure there's nothing in the cylinders, you can reinstall the plugs and start the engine. Be prepared because the engine will smoke for some time as excess oil on the cylinder walls is burned off.Don't drive the Jeep yet. Give the undercarriage a good inspection, with particular attention paid to the steering system. Make sure the drag link, tie rod, ball joints, sector shaft, and steering-box mounts are all sound. Then give the driveshafts a once over, checking the U-joints and U-bolts/straps for damage. Try to determine if the axlehousings have bent. Inflate any tires that may have become unseated, or install a spare if the tire can't be reinflated.Finally, pick up all the glass, oil, and other debris and load it up. You put it there. You take it with you.
Getting It Home
Depending on how badly you rolled, your Jeep may be drivable or it may not be. It's up to you and the local law enforcement to make the final decision. However, if you do decide to hit the highway, here are some tips we've picked up from watching others.First, let the Jeep run off-road until the engine smoking is down to tolerable levels. You don't want to hit the road looking like a James Bond smoke screen. Not only will you attract every cop within miles, but you'll probably cause accidents.Sweep up any and all glass in the Jeep. Once you're rolling, tiny fragments will become airborne and Murphy's Law dictates most will come to rest squarely in your eyeballs. Wear motorcycle goggles if you have them. If your windshield has been damaged or knocked out completely, stop by a hardware store and buy a sheet of Lexan or even plastic as a makeshift windscreen. Secure it with lots of duct tape and/or drill some holes and fasten it on with rope, zip ties, or straps.Drive slowly. Like menace-to-traffic slowly. You don't know for sure if there are hairline cracks waiting to break in your steering or suspension, so err on the side of caution. Try to notice any wobbles, pulls, or jerking that weren't there before. If they get worse as you drive, pull over and investigate. You may need to call a tow truck.Make sure any body damage isn't going to cause an accident. That means your mirror isn't going to fall off on the road, your door isn't going to swing open into oncoming traffic, and your body tub isn't tweaked to the point that your driver seat is gently resting on the passenger seat.If your axles are way bent, your steering is pretzeled, or your engine, transmission, or driveline is toast, it's best to get yourself as close to the trailhead as possible and call in the tow truck cavalry.