DBENKE and I checked out a possible trail for a run in couple weeks for club....not long but has a mix of tight trails, mud, deep ruts, deep washouts/ditches, etc to traverse. No rocks but there are some logs... 
I wont go into too much detail so it will be a surprise but here is the cliff notes...
Started off with a few mud holes as it had rained last week but sun started drying them out. Got progressively for demanding with last one causing A-TRAC to kick in to get me through smoothly. Came up on a big one......and tackled the left side...and got high centered. Nitto Terra Grapplers, rear locker, atrac, suspension....not enough to get me out.
DBENKE to rescue to pull me out as water was up to top of wheel well on low side...thick, slick, red clay mud.
He decided to give it a try since he is fully locked, mud terrains, etc, etc.....while on phone he told his buddy he just had to pull me out of hole. We laughed at the comment.
Off he goes...different line...same result. He gets high centered as the bottom fell out of the hole even though we explored it with a stick.
So now it was my turn to pull him out.
This time we decided to try the right side....stay higher and hope we dont slide down into the abyss again. DBENKE made it...with some wheel spinning....I did the same with some additional wheel spinning. All was good.
Went through a few more holes and checked some trails....and came to a big ditch...about 8 feet wide and 4 feet deep. DBENKE went through first with no problem...so I go through....after I get out he recommends I go pick up what came off FJ. There laid my rear left bumper wing. It appears it popped off and the sharp angle of the ditch scratched the plastic protection above the bumper as well. OOOopppsss
So we take some pics and go exploring more......to narrow narrow fire breaks and turn around. Go back through the ditch....this time I take different angle and bumper in front touches opposite ditch bank...so back out...and take new track. All is good.
Follow another track with some deep ruts and changes to flex the suspension....but another dead end.
Finally get to house and FJ is covered in mud....as is DBENKE jeep....went the same places but I looked the worse for wear for whatever reason. LOL
So there I was rinsing off back of FJ in grass to keep mud off driveway....and wife says...WHEN DID YOU WRECK THE FJ?
I look at rear bumper wing we snapped back in place and it was still hanging on....whew!!! THen go to front and it appears when my front bumper kissed ditch bank it pushed it in on a spot in plastic and cut plastic where the steel bumper stops and the plastic ends are unsupported. s***...now I got three trail kisses....
MMMmmmmn new front and rear bumper might come sooner than I planned.
Anyhow it was a good 2 hours of wheeling with lots more to explore....and figure if I can get it worked out it might be a good afternoon on the trail. Wish me luck in getting it okayed to take a whole group through the road system in there...
Only took a couple pics...none of us stuck....but a couple at the ditch and of one of my trail kisses.
I wont go into too much detail so it will be a surprise but here is the cliff notes...
Started off with a few mud holes as it had rained last week but sun started drying them out. Got progressively for demanding with last one causing A-TRAC to kick in to get me through smoothly. Came up on a big one......and tackled the left side...and got high centered. Nitto Terra Grapplers, rear locker, atrac, suspension....not enough to get me out.
DBENKE to rescue to pull me out as water was up to top of wheel well on low side...thick, slick, red clay mud.
He decided to give it a try since he is fully locked, mud terrains, etc, etc.....while on phone he told his buddy he just had to pull me out of hole. We laughed at the comment.
Off he goes...different line...same result. He gets high centered as the bottom fell out of the hole even though we explored it with a stick.
So now it was my turn to pull him out.
This time we decided to try the right side....stay higher and hope we dont slide down into the abyss again. DBENKE made it...with some wheel spinning....I did the same with some additional wheel spinning. All was good.
Went through a few more holes and checked some trails....and came to a big ditch...about 8 feet wide and 4 feet deep. DBENKE went through first with no problem...so I go through....after I get out he recommends I go pick up what came off FJ. There laid my rear left bumper wing. It appears it popped off and the sharp angle of the ditch scratched the plastic protection above the bumper as well. OOOopppsss
So we take some pics and go exploring more......to narrow narrow fire breaks and turn around. Go back through the ditch....this time I take different angle and bumper in front touches opposite ditch bank...so back out...and take new track. All is good.
Follow another track with some deep ruts and changes to flex the suspension....but another dead end.
Finally get to house and FJ is covered in mud....as is DBENKE jeep....went the same places but I looked the worse for wear for whatever reason. LOL
So there I was rinsing off back of FJ in grass to keep mud off driveway....and wife says...WHEN DID YOU WRECK THE FJ?
I look at rear bumper wing we snapped back in place and it was still hanging on....whew!!!
THen go to front and it appears when my front bumper kissed ditch bank it pushed it in on a spot in plastic and cut plastic where the steel bumper stops and the plastic ends are unsupported. s***...now I got three trail kisses....MMMmmmmn new front and rear bumper might come sooner than I planned.
Anyhow it was a good 2 hours of wheeling with lots more to explore....and figure if I can get it worked out it might be a good afternoon on the trail. Wish me luck in getting it okayed to take a whole group through the road system in there...
Only took a couple pics...none of us stuck....but a couple at the ditch and of one of my trail kisses.
