Getting in over my head

[Cyber_Jeeper]

I bought my first jeep almost 2 months ago. We've taken it on a few short off-roading day trips, but decided to take it camping this weekend.
On the map there I noticed an alternate way out from our campsite. We figured why not try it. What's the worst that could happen?

The trail was not well travelled and very narrow and twisty. I think it was more of a UTV trail than a jeep trail. The elevation was around 8500 to 9000 feet so there were a lot of shrubs, aspens, and pine trees encroaching on the trail. The sound of half inch thick tree limbs scraping on a vehicle with only 700 miles on it was excruciating. And there was a lot of scraping...

At one point we came across a narrow section that had a very narrow choke point between two Aspens. It was barely wide enough for the jeep to fit. In fact, I almost ripped the rear fender off trying to get through it. I had a to spend a few minutes going between forward and reverse before I could inch my way through it. But with no way of turning around we didn't really have a choice.

Later on there was an Aspen that had halfway fallen across the trail. I inched my way forward and thought I would have enough clearance. Well, I had clearance at first, but the second half of the roof did not have enough space. I'm still not sure if the mark on the roof is permanent, or if it's simply tree bark that can be scraped off.

We've agreed to never do the trail again. A day later I'm still not sure if it was Type 2 fun or Type 3 fun. Maybe Type 2.5 fun?

So what's your favorite story of getting in over your head? Any permanent damage? Would you do it again?

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[Smoke ‘Em]

Pics…. We need pics.

 

[Jtclayton612]

Ah type 2.5 fun. A perennial inside joke for ultralight hikers lol.

also I agree, pics.

I once scraped my soft top against a very thorny branch hard and all I could think about was a tear until I got a chance to look at it lol.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Sounds like one of those firebreaks cut by a little pocket sized dozer 60+ years ago, and nobody has traveled it with a jeep in a long time.

 

[cobra]

Many years ago, with a buddy. Running a trail too fast in a old CJ3B. Turned it over on it's side. Long walk home. At that age, yeah, i would do it again.

 

[Rangemaster]

I bought my first jeep almost 2 months ago. We've taken it on a few short off-roading day trips, but decided to take it camping this weekend.
On the map there I noticed an alternate way out from our campsite. We figured why not try it. What's the worst that could happen?

The trail was not well travelled and very narrow and twisty. I think it was more of a UTV trail than a jeep trail. The elevation was around 8500 to 9000 feet so there were a lot of shrubs, aspens, and pine trees encroaching on the trail. The sound of half inch thick tree limbs scraping on a vehicle with only 700 miles on it was excruciating. And there was a lot of scraping...

At one point we came across a narrow section that had a very narrow choke point between two Aspens. It was barely wide enough for the jeep to fit. In fact, I almost ripped the rear fender off trying to get through it. I had a to spend a few minutes going between forward and reverse before I could inch my way through it. But with no way of turning around we didn't really have a choice.

Later on there was an Aspen that had halfway fallen across the trail. I inched my way forward and thought I would have enough clearance. Well, I had clearance at first, but the second half of the roof did not have enough space. I'm still not sure if the mark on the roof is permanent, or if it's simply tree bark that can be scraped off.

We've agreed to never do the trail again. A day later I'm still not sure if it was Type 2 fun or Type 3 fun. Maybe Type 2.5 fun?

So what's your favorite story of getting in over your head? Any permanent damage? Would you do it again?

Sounds like you guys had a great time. Enjoy it, that is what it is made for.

 

[ZigZag]

About 20 years ago we were staying in Breckenridge, CO for a week during the summer. We (I) decided that we should go Jeeping in my almost now Grand Cherokee (almost stock). Everybody was up for it so off we went. I was following a guidebook, of sorts, in which someone had put together a bunch of trail reports on typewritten sheets. No pics. Just directions like turn here, etc. We got to the top of a mountain pass where the instructions said to take the right fork. Only problem was there were several trails that came together at that spot. At least two of the qualified as the right fork. I took the more right of the two.

A short way down the mountain the trail was getting narrower and more overgrown. No problem. "With our great Jeep ground clearance, we can go anywhere." That was the tag line from a TV ad we had seen. No true. We came to a water crossing. Not flowing water. More like a bog. I could see the train on the other side. No problem. When the water was more than half way up the tires my wife was having doubts. Then there was a log under the water that we had to get over. No problem. Water getting deeper. No problem. We made it to the other side and went a little further down the trail to where it obviously ended. No room to turn around. We have to back across the bog. Dirty looks from my wife. Hung up on the log again. Oh my.

We made it out ( or I would not be telling this story) and all was OK but we purchased a GPN and some actual maps and a 2-way radio. Never thought that maybe we shouldn't do this stuff.

 

[Cyber_Jeeper]

Pics…. We need pics.

I was too busy driving to get anything good, but my wife got a couple from her view in the passenger seat.

 

[Cyber_Jeeper]

Ah type 2.5 fun. A perennial inside joke for ultralight hikers lol.

also I agree, pics.

I once scraped my soft top against a very thorny branch hard and all I could think about was a tear until I got a chance to look at it lol.

Ha, I’m down to around a 10-11 pound base weight so I can relate. Unfortunately I’ve had some Achilles issues that have made it difficult to get out. That’s partly why I got the Jeep, it gives me another way to get out and explore.

 

[Bob Burd]

This one sucked. 15mi from the pavement. No one around, middle of nowhere, NV.

Lockers on and rocking back and forth got it out with a lot of mud thrown.

Bit of a panic for ten minutes though.

 

[Mikester86]

This one sucked. 15mi from the pavement. No one around, middle of nowhere, NV.

Lockers on and rocking back and forth got it out with a lot of mud thrown.

Bit of a panic for ten minutes though.

Another reason I am not a fan of mud!

 

[Beau Nugget]

Another reason I am not a fan of mud!

I could not agree more

 

[unsavory]

I was too busy driving to get anything good, but my wife got a couple from her view in the passenger seat.

That's an overgrown mountain bike trail.

 

[Mocopo]

I was in my 2 door JK, my buddy was in his crew cab 2500. Obviously very different capabilities. We were scouting for deer, done for the day, heading back home. Decided to take a trail that looked like a short cut, and we felt like exploring a bit anyway.

The trail took us through about 5 washes. But these were tiny AZ washes in the desert. We would go down at about a 25 degree grade, hit the bottom, then immediately climb the other side. My front bumper would scrape, it required so much approach angle. Needless to say, his truck could not do it. We spent almost an hour at each wash with shovels, trying to fill it in enough for him to make it across, and even then he got stuck when he fell into a v notch climbing out of one. That was another hour right there, because he was too afraid to use my winch on my jeep to help him out. He was afraid he would just pull my 2 door down the hill with him, or that the steel cable would snap. His truck weight about 6800 lbs, and it was a 9500 lb line.
All this was like 15 minutes from my house... at one point I just went ahead and drove the rest of the way home, got some wood to use as tracks to span the gaps at the bottom of the washes, then drove back out to help him get unstuck. I learned a lot that trip.

 

[Opus]

I was in my 2 door JK, my buddy was in his crew cab 2500. Obviously very different capabilities. We were scouting for deer, done for the day, heading back home. Decided to take a trail that looked like a short cut, and we felt like exploring a bit anyway.

The trail took us through about 5 washes. But these were tiny AZ washes in the desert. We would go down at about a 25 degree grade, hit the bottom, then immediately climb the other side. My front bumper would scrape, it required so much approach angle. Needless to say, his truck could not do it. We spent almost an hour at each wash with shovels, trying to fill it in enough for him to make it across, and even then he got stuck when he fell into a v notch climbing out of one. That was another hour right there, because he was too afraid to use my winch on my jeep to help him out. He was afraid he would just pull my 2 door down the hill with him, or that the steel cable would snap. His truck weight about 6800 lbs, and it was a 9500 lb line.
All this was like 15 minutes from my house... at one point I just went ahead and drove the rest of the way home, got some wood to use as tracks to span the gaps at the bottom of the washes, then drove back out to help him get unstuck. I learned a lot that trip.

Sounds more like your friend in over his head…

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