First off - This is WHY YOU NEED CDL and/or a WINCH..........



So we were out cruising some local (45 miles from home) tails that I am very familiar with as from trucks and motorcycles. We decided to go down a trail that we have never been down in a truck before (first mistake) and for the first 300ft or so it was easy, hard packed, snow/ice.

All of a sudden the whole right side of the truck sunk about 2ft right to the doors (3-4in of lift and 32in tires), my axles were on the ground and I had no traction at all. What we didn't know was that there is a stream right under the ground which we figured out as we were digging it out and the holes kept filling with water. Mind you it was 20 degrees outside the whole time too.

So in the end we carried 400lb's of rocks out there, carpet squares, and wood. Busted a 10,000lb tow rope. Shoveled and dug for probably 12hr and still had to have a ford diesel with 44in tires come get us out.

Below is a video of it getting pulled out and some photos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqc0DPkpRcg

 

I forgot to mention that nothing was bent or broken during this and I still have no leaks. After I spent 30min at the car wash on my knees/back, and thoroughly going over the truck the only damage I could find was some scratches on the front right wheel.

Pretty lucky I would say...

 

Well I guess you learned your lesson.

The general rule of thumb when it comes to trail riding: A lift, bigger tires, lockers, etc will get you deeper into the woods, but a winch and multiple vehicles will get you out.

 

Very True...

My mistakes were:
1. Going down a trail I had only been on a motorcycle down
2. Not having CDL done yet
3. Not having a winch
4. Not going with 2 or more trucks in the first place

And just generally being an idiot that day – LOL.

 

Some good piccys, and it all adds to exerience, but what I did notice that was a little concerning is you had the hand winch connected to what looks like the break away cable holes on the tow hitch.

Do yourself a big favour and buy a reciever shackle / bracket to fit your standard hitch.

 

You got yourself hella-stuck, I'm impressed. I don't think a CDL would have helped you there. How did the traction control handle that situation? Did it stop the wheels in the water from spinning?

 

I do have one - just didn't have it with me that night when we first tried the big come-along. I did have it the next day when we pulled it out.


Yep - only one of my wheels was even spinning. I think that if I had the CDL I would have been able to back out before it really slipped into the hole(s) and the suction effect started. Who knows...

 

I suppose I should add I was at least 45min from home, a couple miles down some fire roads/Level-B, and then about 300-350ft onto a trail that is owned by the Amana Colonies Association and carries a $1,500 fine for unauthorized use.


This was all a learning experience and I will not be doing anything serious again (without another truck on site) until I have my CDL and winch installed.

I just wanted to post this in case someone else could learn something as well. Also, in the future you can point noob's to this and tell them, YES CDL/winch is very important. Without it you better have lots of time/money if you want to go trailing.