So, today I decided to go explorer some more of those trails I had found, mentioned in this thread:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222997
I headed out there, because I had some time to kill, and wanted to explorer more of the trails. It was pretty muddy, and there were a fair amount of mud pits since we got several inches of rain last night. So, I'm on one of the trails in the woods, and it's pretty tight. Around a 90 degree bend, there is a fairly large mud hole, about 10" or so inches of water, with thick muck underneath and on either side. Since I was out here alone, and from some of the other ones I had gone through today, I decided not to go through it. So, I could either back up the narrow winding trail, or find a spot to turn around.
Just as my luck would have it, there happen to be a grassy field there. So, I figure, pull into the field, turn around, and head back. Well, I start to go into the field, and all seems well. What I didn't know, was that there was a creek right in front of me, and I couldn't see it because of the overgrowth. Well, I had been proceeding forward with caution, about to execute my turn, when the front driver wheel dropped. I stomped on the brakes ASAP, but it was pretty slippery, so I slid in...What I slid into was about a 3ft drop, with a creek running in the middle. It was about 6ft across to the other bank. So, before I know it, I've slipped into it. I wasn't totally in, so I decided to put it in reverse, and carefully back out. I still had no idea how big/deep it was at this point. As soon as I hit reverse, I slid all the way in. Quite a fun predicament I found myself in at this point. Well, I try to maneuver myself out by going from forward/reverse, but this didn't do any good. The story only gets better from here, but I will post the picture I took with my cell phone first.
Well, I figure, OK, I'll call one of my friends with a 4wd vehicle. At this point, I'm pretty pissed at myself, because I was out there by myself, and had gotten myself into this while trying to avoid getting stuck in a mud hole.
So, I get ready to call one of my friends, when I see the message on my phone that says "No service"
Great. Just great. So, time to take a hike I guess. After walking out to the beginning of the trail, which was about a half hour walk, I finally have a bar. I give my friend a call. Turns out he is about 30 miles away. Well, after finally explaining the situation, which took about 4 phone calls, because I kept loosing service, he finally gets headed out. About 45 minutes later, he shows up and I direct him down the trails and where to turn. The expression on his face was priceless when we pulled into view of my explorer.
Well, being the kind guy he is, he had brought his camera with. Here are the pictures of once he got there...
The first thing he saw...
Well, we hooked up the to strap, and after several tries we got 'er out. Now, this part was fun for me, because how I had to get into the explorer, was hanging on the roof rack, and shimmying forward, lean on the door, push myself in. When we are ready to do the first pull attempt, I realize that my seatbelt is locked in, because of the angle I was at. Great. So, my door is wedged open, so I can't close that, either.
Well, long story short, 3rd pull was a charm and we got it out.
Me unhooking the tow strap:
I again mention that the underbrush completely covered up the hole/stream. In the pictures it has been somewhat pushed back from me wandering around and looking from different angles, but just take my word for it, you couldn't see it. The last picture shows the best what it looked like, there was no sign of it being there. In the last picture, the hole is probably a ft or 2 in front of my explorer. It can be seen, since most of the brush has been knocked down, but still can't be easily seen.
Now, the aftermath. The whole front of the explorer had been under water, and resting against the other bank. When I pulled out and looked, the first thing I noticed was the water in my corner lens, which was draining.
Sludge in the bottom of the corner lamp:
Amazingly, no damage! I expected the whole driver's front to be busted to hell. I'm not complaining though!
Lesson learned: Never go on trails by yourself. Even if you were doing like I was, and only going through/over things I knew I could, things can still happen...like things you can't see that you might hit trying to avoid something you aren't sure you can get through...
Everything works fine. Drives fine, too. Tomorrow I'm going to crawl underneath and make sure nothing to bent/damaged.
Edit: Forgot to add, yes, it is on 2 wheels The front passenger wheel is sitting at the top of the water line. Slightly in the water.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222997
I headed out there, because I had some time to kill, and wanted to explorer more of the trails. It was pretty muddy, and there were a fair amount of mud pits since we got several inches of rain last night. So, I'm on one of the trails in the woods, and it's pretty tight. Around a 90 degree bend, there is a fairly large mud hole, about 10" or so inches of water, with thick muck underneath and on either side. Since I was out here alone, and from some of the other ones I had gone through today, I decided not to go through it. So, I could either back up the narrow winding trail, or find a spot to turn around.
Just as my luck would have it, there happen to be a grassy field there. So, I figure, pull into the field, turn around, and head back. Well, I start to go into the field, and all seems well. What I didn't know, was that there was a creek right in front of me, and I couldn't see it because of the overgrowth. Well, I had been proceeding forward with caution, about to execute my turn, when the front driver wheel dropped. I stomped on the brakes ASAP, but it was pretty slippery, so I slid in...What I slid into was about a 3ft drop, with a creek running in the middle. It was about 6ft across to the other bank. So, before I know it, I've slipped into it. I wasn't totally in, so I decided to put it in reverse, and carefully back out. I still had no idea how big/deep it was at this point. As soon as I hit reverse, I slid all the way in. Quite a fun predicament I found myself in at this point. Well, I try to maneuver myself out by going from forward/reverse, but this didn't do any good. The story only gets better from here, but I will post the picture I took with my cell phone first.
Well, I figure, OK, I'll call one of my friends with a 4wd vehicle. At this point, I'm pretty pissed at myself, because I was out there by myself, and had gotten myself into this while trying to avoid getting stuck in a mud hole.
So, I get ready to call one of my friends, when I see the message on my phone that says "No service"
Great. Just great. So, time to take a hike I guess. After walking out to the beginning of the trail, which was about a half hour walk, I finally have a bar. I give my friend a call. Turns out he is about 30 miles away. Well, after finally explaining the situation, which took about 4 phone calls, because I kept loosing service, he finally gets headed out. About 45 minutes later, he shows up and I direct him down the trails and where to turn. The expression on his face was priceless when we pulled into view of my explorer.
Well, being the kind guy he is, he had brought his camera with. Here are the pictures of once he got there...
The first thing he saw...
Well, we hooked up the to strap, and after several tries we got 'er out. Now, this part was fun for me, because how I had to get into the explorer, was hanging on the roof rack, and shimmying forward, lean on the door, push myself in. When we are ready to do the first pull attempt, I realize that my seatbelt is locked in, because of the angle I was at. Great. So, my door is wedged open, so I can't close that, either.
Well, long story short, 3rd pull was a charm and we got it out.
Me unhooking the tow strap:
I again mention that the underbrush completely covered up the hole/stream. In the pictures it has been somewhat pushed back from me wandering around and looking from different angles, but just take my word for it, you couldn't see it. The last picture shows the best what it looked like, there was no sign of it being there. In the last picture, the hole is probably a ft or 2 in front of my explorer. It can be seen, since most of the brush has been knocked down, but still can't be easily seen.
Now, the aftermath. The whole front of the explorer had been under water, and resting against the other bank. When I pulled out and looked, the first thing I noticed was the water in my corner lens, which was draining.
Sludge in the bottom of the corner lamp:
Amazingly, no damage! I expected the whole driver's front to be busted to hell. I'm not complaining though!
Lesson learned: Never go on trails by yourself. Even if you were doing like I was, and only going through/over things I knew I could, things can still happen...like things you can't see that you might hit trying to avoid something you aren't sure you can get through...
Everything works fine. Drives fine, too. Tomorrow I'm going to crawl underneath and make sure nothing to bent/damaged.
Edit: Forgot to add, yes, it is on 2 wheels The front passenger wheel is sitting at the top of the water line. Slightly in the water.