Why not to have a 4x4

[lgibson]

Because when people get stuck they ask you to pull them out. Yesterday two young adults flagged me down saying they are stuck and can I help get them out. The area is loose gravel and a lot of cars get stuck there, so I assumed it was an easy pull. The kids got in my truck and I turned the corner and did not see any car. I asked them where are they stuck at. One said "My Jeep CJ-7 is stuck back there on the trail". "Great", I thought I have a Jeep and I know what it takes to get it stuck. I asked if I could even get this 3500 4x4 back there. "Well", one says, "you do have to drive through 2 feet of water, but it is rock bottom". Well I went to go see what is was like. The water ended up covering my tires and the bottom was loose gravel. No problem, so far, I got through the water but that bottom sure was soft for the weight of the truck. I drove in three more of those "ponds". I saw a Jeep Wrangler, early 90's, after comming around a bend. It was sitting on flat land in no mud. I asked, " It don't look stuck, so I take it that is not it?" "No that one broke it's rear end tring to pull me out". Oh great what did I get into. I go around the broken Wrangler to see a CJ-5 sitting nose down on a hill going into the river. I tried pulling but I could only spin my tires. I turned around, in a tight spot, so I could use my winch to pull him out. I ended up dragging my truck almost 5 feet before the Jeep started to move. I got it out after about 45 min. of winching, reajusting the line and truck and winching again. Once out the CJ pulled the Wrangler out of the area, back to the road.

I ended up turning down my rear bumper and added a couple of "pinstripping" to the paint. So it is know time for a "real" rear bumper. I also notice that the volt gauge went low while heavy winching. So I am going to check on high amp alt. also. Any ideals? I now used the winch 5 times, Twice for me, and 3 for other people. It is only a Warn 8000 but it worked every time and it worked when I was stuck up to the axle in mud and a TT behind me.

And I did this for free. I don't charge because maybe they will help some else next time. The only damage is a few scraches that may rub out. and an excuse for getting a new bumper .

 

[swamp rat]

Sounds more to me like the joker who stuck the CJ doesn't have any business owning a 4x4 to me.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

I have "just" a 4x2 and have pulled a few 4 wd out of snow banks. last winter . A guy with a chevy z71 tried to go through a 6' snow drift in the parkinglot where I used to work. He didn't bother to check to see that there is a stream on the other side of the drift. I pulled into work a t about 6am with it snowing really hard (of course I had my KC DayLighters on). This guy was standing under the awning of the front door. He asked if he could go inside to warm up... He had been there for two hours. I said I would try to get him out. His reply was "you only have a 2wd, you'll just get stuck" My reply was... . my 2wd can still go across the lot... how about your 4wd. Well, he ate humble pie as I hooked up my 30' KEEPER strap and let my BFG's spin and throw snow. Now I know I didn't have to throw snow, but it was fun covering the chebby. The strap streched and recoiled, and out came the chebby... with an old fence pole through the radiator. I pointed out that there was a parts store ont he other side of town.

 

[WOWZY]

Some people don't even know how to use a 4x4 and that's why they get stuck.



A guy I knew flagged me down one night and said he was stuck in the mud. I told him to hop in and we went to where he was stuck. I knew in advance that his '69 Blazer was his first 4x4 and he babied it so much that his getting stuck was pure accident.



We got to the Blazer and I was right about him *****footin' it. He'd been going across a grassy field to get him some "leg" that night and the field bottom was so drenched that he sunk it pretty good. I got out and noticed something didn't seem right. He was stuck but had very little mud on the outside of the Blazer and the Mud-Terrrains tread were clogged up with mud. I told him that I could get it out by driving it. He said that he had already tried. I said "Not hard enough". Anyway I blew about 5 years worth of Carbon build up outa his engine turning the motor 5000rpm, cleaned the mud out the tires and she came right out with no problem whatsoever. All while he was covering his eyes because he couldn't believe how rough I was treating his little baby. I told him if he's gonna call me to get him out again he'd better have tried harder than he did.



This is the type of guy that wants a cruising, drive to work everyday, mud-slingin', drag racing and show truck that gets first place in every truck show 'n shine competion. You know the type. Every town has one!

 

[CGoyette]

Kids and 4x4 =stuck / broke everytime

When I was young I have a Cj7 /a couple of 4x4 chevy trucks and a Vlepswagoncherlet yes thats the name... . volvo engine volkswagon transmission chevy blazer frame cut down a bit. 8 4x4's all togther and only once did I need someone else help a game warden who also gave me a trespassing ticket... but with a smile



Now I have a big truck with 4x4 so I don't get my trailer stuck and haul its heavy butt. Other that that I like the sticker it makes me feel young! Tell me if your 40 and over and you have a 4x4 you don't like to say mines a 4x4! and a cummins to boot!