My Weekend Adventure in Stupidity

[chango]

All my fantasies of the invincibility of my FJ have been shattered.

Last weekend, the family and I took a ride out to the West Desert (UT) along the Pony Express Road. We blasted through snowdrifts and rocked along as usual along a 100 miles of dirt road. We made to the Fish Springs wildlife refuge and I got the bright idea to show my kids some hot springs just north of the refuge. I've been through that area before without major problems, but apparently the hot spring had a new eruption right in the middle of the dirt road; the road had a couple of inches of clear water on top, and the ground below looked solid...but it wasn't. Me, being so wise and skilled in the ways of off road travel assumed I would be OK without getting out and checking, but when I drove in, the FJ was swallowed.

I was down to the driver's side window on one side and my bumpers on the other; in a "invisible" hole, trapped 100 miles from civilization in the winter with little kids (read: I'm a dumb a$$).

I walked back to Fish Springs and ran into a ranger (who rocks by the way ) he gave the family a ride back to Fish Springs and opened his house for us while I rounded up some help. He wouldn't even go close to the FJ though, and told us up to 5 people a year get stuck there regularly. They tried to block off the road with a berm but someone pounded a new trail arould it (sure enough, I noticed the berm on the way out). My dad came out with a full size PK and we spent 1/2 of Saturday night wading in the muck trying to get the FJ out, all to no avail.

Sunday I hired a tow company to winch it out; I got it back last night, and I now have a very muddy and possibly water damaged FJ and am $500 poorer.

The moral (s) of my story?

1.No 4X4 is invincible, no matter what the hype says

2.The West Desert is a very cold and lonely place to walk by yourself in the winter.

3. Never drive within 2 miles of an undeveloped hot spring.

4. If you want to show your kids a good time, don't do something that will traumatize them.


unfortunately, I am now only 75% stupid-free

[Saphteemon]

Sorry to hear of your FJ's debacle.........

[MoabRat]

chango previously said:

All my fantasies of the invincibility of my FJ have been shattered.

Last weekend, the family and I took a ride out to the West Desert (UT) along the Pony Express Road. We blasted through snowdrifts and rocked along as usual along a 100 miles of dirt road. We made to the Fish Springs wildlife refuge and I got the bright idea to show my kids some hot springs just north of the refuge. I've been through that area before without major problems, but apparently the hot spring had a new eruption right in the middle of the dirt road; the road had a couple of inches of clear water on top, and the ground below looked solid...but it wasn't. Me, being so wise and skilled in the ways of off road travel assumed I would be OK without getting out and checking, but when I drove in, the FJ was swallowed.

I was down to the driver's side window on one side and my bumpers on the other; in a "invisible" hole, trapped 100 miles from civilization in the winter with little kids (read: I'm a dumb a$$).

I walked back to Fish Springs and ran into a ranger (who rocks by the way ) he got my family back to the springs and opened his house for us while I rounded up some help. He wouldn't even go close to the FJ though, and told us up to 5 people a year get stuck there regularly. They tried to block off the road with a berm but someone pounded a new trail arould it (sure enough, I noticed the berm on the way out). My dad came out with a full size PK and we spent 1/2 of Saturday night wading in the muck trying to get the FJ out, all to no avail.

Sunday I hired a tow company to winch it out; I got it back last night, and I now have a very muddy and possibly water damaged FJ and am $500 poorer.

The moral (s) of my story?

1.No 4X4 is invincible, no matter what the hype says

2.The West Desert is a very cold and lonely place to walk by yourself in the winter.

3. Never drive within 2 miles of an undeveloped hot spring.

4. If you want to show your kids a good time, don't do something that will traumatize them.


unfortunately, I am now only 75% stupid-free

That was a bummer! P.M. me and get a my cell phone number if you're interested. Next time you get stuck maybe we can mobilize our informal gang and haul you out a bit cheaper. I only charge coffee or beer

[fhp6]

I once heard a wise 4x4 type mention, "Never go wheel'n alone"!
Glad all of you are ok and no one hurt.
Happy New Year to you and yours!

[Soup]

Sorry to hear about that. It sounds like everyone is okay, so that's the real bonus.

Stuff like this can happen to the best of us. Thanks for the reminder. Oh and I hope the FJ is okay.....

[chango]

Brazenhead previously said:

Chango I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. But at least you and your family are safe.

How long did your FJ sit in the water?
Did it fill up the interior?

Man this really sucks but it wasn't the FJ's fault don't blame her. Maybe it was your house getting back at you for leaving it. Jk i only joke!

Glad your safe!

I think the house DOES get jealous when I spend more time with the FJC!

The interior stayed dry, but mud coated from me crawling in and out of the window while trying to get it out, but the FJ sat in warm saline mud/water for a day and 1/2. I drove it home about 50 miles; the engine runs fine but there is some vibration in the drivetrain that wasn't there before.

After blasting the whole thing off I plan on changing the diff oil and doing a complete diagnostic.


Thanks for all the kind words everyone!

[chichid65]

I'm sure glad to hear the "gang" is ok. It could of been alot worse, Never wheel alone, especially with "precious" cargo onboard.

Happy New Years!

[chango]

chichid65 previously said:

Never wheel alone, especially with "precious" cargo onboard.

Happy New Years!

fhp6 previously said:

I once heard a wise 4x4 type mention, "Never go wheel'n alone"!

I don't know how many times I've heard that wise piece of advice and totally disregarded it!

I do (and did this time) bring a load of survival gear when I go out, even on day trips, just in case it becomes necessary to unexpectedly camp for week, so we wouldn't have died regardless, but it still hurts...

[Woodsman]

What, no pics ?

Good to here everyone is OK and good that it wasn't totally swallowed.

[chango]

Woodsman previously said:

What, no pics ?

Good to here everyone is OK and good that it wasn't totally swallowed.

No pics on purpose... some of our not so shining moments are best left unphotographed