Had the ol' War Wagon in the trails today!


Didn't venture out much further after these pics, was already a bit more than a mile in, and it was getting risky.


This thing actually has great traction considering it's empty! I was impressed!

 

That's one of those "keep moving" roads. At least till you are on a high spot....

Even the old Ford tractor might could spin a little in those water-filled ruts....

 

getting dirty is FUN!

 

Cleaning up afterwords isn't much fun though.....

 

I'm thinking the guy who got stuck in one of those ruts a half-mile from the road first said that.........or something similar!

Did you have that Hide-A-Bed in the back?

 

It's not a hide a bed, just a regular old couch from 1977


And yes, it's always in there

 

I don't know why I keep thinking that's a Hide-A-Bed----projecting am I?

You need sort sort of flat screen on that other wall---maybe one of those bed slide things for pick ups, move the sofa outdoors when parked?

 

if you think you've got it good now, just try it with my locking diff
the only real limiting factor to off-roading my van is that i don't want to beat up the toolboxes with all that abuse.
but you should have seen some of the places i took the LTD i used to have... and some of the dents i put on the underbody

 

My dad had an old 1976 Pontiac Parisienne with a 400 in it long ago, he took that thing offroading so many times!

Go offroading in the luxury of your 4000lbs car, just bounce all over the trail

 

A limited slip unit, and tires with the right tread, they tend to get you in deep enough to find real trouble, something I don't suggest without backup.

 

I seem to recall falling into a Culvert not all that long ago .
It gets worse now, i have a front hitch receiver, a warn winch that fits in it, and an Eaton E-locker. I expect much trouble in the future. At least I have the winch to pull my own dumb self out.

 

I can give you some warning, not everywhere that you get stuck, you'll find a sufficient anchor point to secure your winch to pull yourself out, and not every stuck can be extracted by a straight line pull from either direction, never go out alone. I wheeled everything from rough construction sites to mountains, I don't care your experience, or equipment, never go alone, you'd not believe the stuff I've either witnessed, or got myself in.

 

well if you do go alone... carry something like this, could save your ***.
Smittybilt Products Winch Anchor Support Platform

 

Most places east of the Mississippi where one would get stuck will have a reasonable anchor point nearby. Two things that are needed to take advantage of these are a long length or wire and a ****** block. Used with the winch, shackles and tree straps that everyone also carries, will get a rig out of stuck spots most times. The long wire does not need to be at the maximum strength point. I would recommend 250 feet of Amsteel Blue 1/4". It has a breaking strength of 8600 lb and the whole coil will only weigh three pounds. Add this to your 125 foot winch cable and you can find a tree or a big rock somewhere. Redirect vectors with the ****** block.

Having said this, I confess that I NEVER go off roading alone. Always two rigs.

Here is a link to everything you will ever need to know about off road recovery:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Recovery/

 

locally, if you can't find a tree or other anchor point within 50 feet, its probably because you're in a lake. a come-a-long and 50 feet of wire as all it takes to be free out here