Want to Take My new Toy out and Need Help

brian clemens · Senior Member

Want to Take My new Toy out and Need Help

JT · Senior Member

Just remember, SUVs are not sports cars.� Don't go flipping it.� And don't get stuck.� It's not any fun.�

mx19 · Senior Member

I got stuck a couple weeks ago.Not very fun.But I will remember that day on the water longer than others cause of the drama that goes with sinking your ride down to the axle...
I just sold my 4 wheel drive last week..It had 40" tires and all kinds or mods..I use to get that stuck all the time to...

brian clemens · Senior Member

ok so i am guessing i shouldnt get it stuck

i looked around and called around and i guess there are some old fire roads up near prosser creek area off hwy 89 past truckee, think ill be going up in that area, and play in the snow

shon42073 · Senior Member

I used to go 4 wheelin on the BLM land around cache creek.

SCM · Senior Member

Having done a little off-roading myself, here is some advice:

1. Tread lightly. Stick to fire and logging roads. Avoid crossing creeks and drainages if you can...tears up the gravel and causes siltation down stream.

2. If this is your everyday driver...go easy and be prepared to get it scratched up (think brush and limbs sticking out in the trail). Also, since your turning tires that are larger than the stock set-up your engine and driveline are working harder; watch for an overheating engine and if you get stuck pay attention to how hard your pushing the the driveline, nothing is worse than dropping a driveline in the backcountry.

3. If you can, always go with someone else who has a 4x4, that way you can get pulled out or have a ride home if the vehicle becomes disabled.

brian clemens · Senior Member

well went up to prosser res, if thats even how you spell it, i did some sledding with the gf, and well the first time down, i went way way up on this hill, and well i picked up a lil to much speed and couldnt stop in time and hit a tree. i wasnt to hurt, but the tube was, oh well. then we went driving to play in the snow with the toy, it was fun at first but i wanted more, so i started to explore, got to a point behind the dam at prosser, and decided that it was far enough, so started to turn around, the spot where i stop had a lil tiny stream going through it from snow melt off, and well there was snow too, i checked it out and it looked safe. boy was i wrong, never turn around down hill, always do it up hill, so my ars decided to turn around down hill, big mistake, had it in 4low and was just spinning the tires, so i look over to my right and see a nice lil trail i can go up. never should have looked over. i didnt get out to check the path and well i got stuck up to the body, yes the body of the jeep. you could open the door and the mud grass and snow was up to the bottom of the body. i guess the water and eaten way the land below where i was at, i got out and sunk in about 2ft with my own weight, so i am doing everything to get out, rocks, boulders, everything, and we are way up in the mountains and i am starting to have a hard time breathing, so all of a sudden i hear the sound of a old dodge pick up. so i sprint up this hill that had to be about a 60 deg slop (i felt like i was in highschool again doing suicides on the hill at the football field) i got about 3/4 of the way up and my body gave out, with was about a 75 yr up hill battle and i gave out at abouyt the 50 yrd mark, i told my self that i had to keep truckin and this would be the only chance i had to get me and the gf out.

so i finally made it to the top just in the nick of time, the dodge was already by, and then 2 jeeps, i was out of breath and couldnt talk so i just sign languaged with them. i got out a do you have a winch, they said no, i pointed down the hill, they asked if i tried crossing the little creek, and i nodded and they knew,

so needless to say, we had some diggin sticks, and some tow ropes, and finally, after the gf took pics as well as them, we got me out. and we then proceded to go up to boca, i almost got stuck again, there was a part that got narrow and i got to close to the edge and the dirt gave way and i was in the ditch that was about 3ft deep, i just had to give the jeep hell to get out, drove about 60 yrds in this ditch before i finally got out. so we got to about 1 mile out and the snow got to deep for me. they continued but i turned around and decided that i and one to many close calls today.

so all in all i had a great day. the gf had a blast, and she had a smile on all day and thats all that really mattered.

ONE QUICK POINTER, IF THE GF OR WIFE TELLS YOU DONT TURN AROUND HERE DO IT. there is a possibility that you might get suck 3ft into the mud, and it wasnt fun. i do have pics of this day and will post them soon. i have to down load them off of the digital camera, but i dont know how to do that so the gf will have to.

my first time going wheeling and i get stuck, not a lil stuck but a big stuck, i guess if you dont go hard the dont even bother going out. i did get congradulated on my first time gettin stuck and being that it was the first time i did very very well for myself.

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

I guess you didn't listen to SCM's first pointer.... Avoid crossing creeks. At least you got out. I think your next objective should be trying to cross the Yuba at the highway 20 bridge. I'm telling you, it can be done.

JT · Senior Member

Brian,

You may want to look into getting a winch.

brian clemens · Senior Member

hey jt thats the first thing i did when i got home, definitly will be my first toy to put on the toy. if i had a winch it wouldnt have been a problem.

well it wasnt really a creek, i see putah as a creek, but this was smaller than that, it was just a hill that had some run off going through it, and well it had solid ground in the area i was at, but once you left the main road it became from being a few inches deep to about 3 ft deep, it was like quick sand but get rid of the quick sand and put some grass on the top of the ground. and was like having and underground stream about 2ft, thats really what it was. it was scary and fun all at the same time. it went from just a trickle of water pooled up on the road, to a pit of stuckness. it was so funny. next time ill just have to back out and not turn around, turn around down stream is a big no no.

i may have some juevos, but even i know when to stop, i would love to have talked to the guy that thought he could cross a 1000cfs river,

hey eric you remember when i crossed there just above the bridge right below the 2 big rocks and that pool, i tell you what that was up near my belly button, and i had a hard time crossing and i dont have a lot area for the water to push on, but then you try to put a vehicle out there. man that must have been funny.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Heres some things to keep in mind about winches weight capacity, These are general rules of thumb, If a vehicle is stuck up to the top of the tires the vehicles weight is now about doubled, You must take this into consideration when using a winch, at that point you may need to use pulleys to gain the mechanical advantage and increase the winches weight capacity, if pulleys are used correctly you can easily double or triple the winches weight capacity. Next thing is this, winches can kill you !!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure the winch cable is securely attached to whatever it is you are attaching it to, if the cable breaks or comes off when it is under pressure and it hits you, you are going to be in serious trouble. Beleive me bro, I have pulled some seriously big trucks out of some pretty serious situations. Be carefull out there Brian and make sure you use your head and take along things like extra warm clothes and a blanket, water and something to eat in case your stuck and have to spend a night stuck or even worse several nights. One more thing to add is this, A rig like that is gonna need to be properly maintained if you plan to put it in situations like you did, If you were in deep mud and water there is now a good chance your differentials, transfer case, and transmission now have water in it, that enters thourgh the vent that is located at the top of these components. Also you will need to regulary clean and grease your front wheel bearings.remeber man, you gotta pay to play !

-- Edited by thecaptain at 15:52, 2008-03-31

lightfoot · Senior Member

Welcome to the dark side.

Somebody mentioned tread lightly...good adivice.� Your posts don't indicate it. Spend some time looking around....

Blue Ribbon
Tread Lightly
Pirate
Jeeps Unlimited
and a milliion others places

Your access to usfs land with your Jeep is on the chopping block.� More and more areas are being restricted for use.� This dose not just include 4wd vehicles but all vehicles, though with a Jeep you are driving a target.� Become involved if you can.� Frineds of the Rubicon (FOTR) is a great group if your interested in running the Rubicon trail.

Somebody also mentioned never wheel alone if you can help it.� I would strongly suggest that as well.� A winch can be a lifesaver if you have one but nothing is 100%.� I've stalled mine (9,000lb Warn) and snapped my fair share of cables.� Catostrophic vehicle failure is also fairly common.� Playing hard takes its toll.� There truely is safety in numbers.

The snow wheeling season is almost over.� The masses usually head up to the Mormon Immigrant trail off of Sly Park road via hwy 50. Currently the snow line is probably quite a ways up the road but "in season" it usually starts very near the lake.� Not just for the snow but airing your tires down will make a world of difference.� I run as little as 2-3lbs with 37" tires in the snow.

2001 TJ.� dana 30 front and 44 rear?� Auto or manual?� lockers? gearing? armor? means to air up?

Left hand side of this site has a list of clubs.� It's a good way to go, especially if you are new at this.� North district for this area.� Local there are three clubs, Dixon 4wheelers, Solano Trailbusters and the Vacaville Cliffhangers.

I strongly recommend the Cliffhangers but I'm biased (current club president).

Just Empty Every Pocket

brian clemens · Senior Member

well now that i have a new job ill be able to get some new toys for the toy as well. winch will be the first, then the others will slowly come.

as far as my jeep. its a 2001 tj, auto, all stock that i know of, it has the lift and the rims and tires, dont know much else about the jeep. i should find out soon.

what i did will never happen again. i didnt really by it to go hard core off roading, and after what i did i dont know if i want to do it again. ya it was fun. but man if i didnt find those guys i would have been screwed.

ill will buy the main essentials for the jeep, like the winch, jack, underbody armor, extra gas tanks, security boxes, and other things that may help me if i do want to go 4wheeling again.

thanks for those sites and info lightfoot. if i have any other questions i may just have to pm you.

thanks guys

Ehammer · Veteran Member

listen to captain iv worked on jeeps for a number of years and have made plenty of money off all the things he mentioned simple things like servicing your diffs after going through deep water can save you alot of money in rebuilds.

brian clemens · Senior Member

any one know of any good shops in sacramento area that work on jeeps for a good price

shon42073 · Senior Member

Work on it yourself. Vehicles are easy to work on.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Depends on what you want done and what kind of tools and equipement you have available.� Maintenance is usualy best to do yourself if possible.

There are a lot of specialty shops in the greater Sacramento area...from basic maintenance to full blown Jeep/buggy fabrication.

What are looking to do to your Jeep?

brian clemens · Senior Member

i know i can do most of the stuff myself but i dont have tools, thats my problem, i think i need to buy a nice tool set

hey and if anyone has any spare parts aftermarket or stock let me know

-- Edited by brian clemens at 18:01, 2008-04-16

Lahontan · Senior Member

Hey B-man!

How've you been!� Congratulations on your new ride!� DON'T give up on the great outdoors!� Do any of these photos look familiar?� They should!

I know this area pretty well.� I was up this way the weekend of 4/4. I think a couple days after your mishap. Dude... BEAUTIFUL spot!

I play hookie from the TD, chardonnay sippers and sneak out here whenever I can!� I should tell you that I can get ANYwhere I want to go in my wife's, all stock, 2004 Toyota Highlander.� All the time, 4 wheel, it has a V6, great granny gear, and a cool snow traction package that is similar to the old "posi".

On that weekend, I had it�down to the creek, and out again. I was over the other side of 80, trying to find my around and found myself driving "under carriage" deep in run off! I got a MAJOR bee in my bonnet and decided I wanted to find the confluence of prosser and truckee.� I've fished prosser c. twice during the season over the past 10 years. Caught a monster one trip and skunked on another.

On this escape from�civilization you and I were both out a month before the season opener, and I got REALLY PO'd because I couldn't find access to what I was looking for.

Dude, at risk of sounding like a big brother...don't blame your rig!� Calm down and learn how to handle it and what it's limits are and it will take you places you can only imagine.

Take SCM's advise...most of today's off the block 4 wheel drives will�all too soon�ride like an old west buck board if they get driven too hard too often! They just start to rattle and shake.

Your friend, Ed.

I tried to IM these and struck out. Also trying not to give up the farm.
In #1 prosser is still frozen above the dam, and in #2 you can see the gauging station and the old dam.

-- Edited by Lahontan at 02:46, 2008-04-26