Yup... as stuff cools off, it's inclined to suck in water.

Hey, at least these heavy trucks don't float away.

 

Update: Truck is running MINT now. Wasn't at first. Changed all fluids on the trail. But we left empty handed again but we are a little further. Almost through the worst. I really need to get my winch ATTACHED to my truck. This is the most craziest recovery mission EVER. Just so you guys know, guys with strictly mud bloggers get shivers thinking of this trail. That's how intense this is.

This photo is where we left last night when the winch failed. This is NOTHNG.

 

Knarly stuff man

 

Oh man thats some deep nasty mud! How long did it take for all of yea to get out?

 

I'm still in there. Just got back home. My two buddies are out. We were there from 6am. That's some nasty stuff. What a trail. Most of the holes were "hit it as fast as you can and winch across." I'm 99% out but I broke down. Passed all the mud holes now. If only you guys knew what we had to go through lol. Truck was misfiring again and I was going pretty good and it just died out of nowhere with no warning. Turns over but no sign of fire. I'm getting fuel. I think my coil got soaked going through the last hole I went through. Does that make sense? We looked a it a little bit it was very cold and POURING rain so we just said f**** it. Also, my rad fan is not engaging. Burnt the clutch out? Engine temp gets hot fast. Tranny is taking a real beating too. Its not liking this very much. My buddy has a busted windshield, steering pump, dents, broken winxh and broken sway bar. Just so you guys know, im not an idiot. I really don't like taking my truck through this stuff. It's just I had to. Need to get my truck out of the bush, running or not. I love offroading but this isn't wheeling this is a suicide trail.

Here's a video of my way out. It's only short but the trail was like this for a mile. I was bouncing off rocks, trees, making new paths through bush, anything to just NOT get stuck . This was EASY compared to the thick swamp we had to get through.

 

Dang big guy....indeed...you could have just turned around.

On my reply I didn't catch you were still ON the trail. lol So another thing to have with you are a good few cans of WD-40. I'd air everything out again especially the dizzy cap and plug wire boots. If you already put dielectric grease in the boots, then those should still be fine. (A month ago at the OHV park an XJ hit a water hole. Came to ask for help b/c it would stay running/start. We pulled the dizzy cap and wire boots. Sure enough, holding water. So I had my OBA and aired it out with generous WD-40 right after. Fired right up. Told him to go through everything ignition related after getting home.)

So the above will apply to you, but also the whole hot engine and sucking in of water to the engine probability is higher. Hopefully you can do that again assuming access. I wonder if it will be any better with a different (weight) oil in this situation knowing you'll need to flush it all after rescue?? Heavier weight oil will displace water out more...to help boil it out?? Total brainstorm there and hope someone can speak to that, if not, ignore.

As for your high engine temp...that is worrisome. Possibly indicates you've sucked in mud via the lower rad hose...since it's down low...? Bring coolant with you. Possible you have some air pockets....?

As corbo said....FRIGGIN GNARLY!!!

WD-40 everywhere!

Dielectric grease everywhere!!


This picture just rocks!

 

Ok, t-minus 2 days till start. I rotated the tires few days ago and took some pics. These are pics after a good amount of mileage since install of the long lower arms ~6000 miles. So everything has settled in pretty good. Front is off the ground just enough to get tires off, so perhaps +1" on ride height just for reference. Also the cul de sac is sloped a couple degrees, thus I didn't take a caster measurement. I will Friday as I'll be on flat slab.

The axles are already sold. Listed them last week. One person just wanted rear and over the weekend another only wanted front. 1st person backed out...and 2nd person will take the pair. Transaction may go down this weekend too, but we'll see. He has an 01 ORE and had some accident. Had bought mistakenly bought an older axle and was stuck with it....not cool.

Anyways, so here are pics of the front. Let me know of any questions or if you notice anything to be concerned about.

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They arrived. Inspected and good to go.


Just basic steel with BS=4.5 and offset= -12mm

Beadslocks after more funds saving.

 

nice wheels! black and steel! whats better???

Im really looking forward to reading through your swap

 

The dodge is out and back at home!! She's in rough shape though. Steering leak, only the first 2 tranny gears work, coil broken, body damage, interior is disgusting, rear end is clacking, broken passenger window, misfiring engine, etc. My buddy has it worse though. Broke his sway bar, winch, windshield, body damage, and power steering box. This trail was stupid. Stupid stupid stupid nuts. At the end it was ***** to the wall get the f*** out of here no matter what. If the trail was too crazy id basically hit the bush line doing 20 pushing down trees running over stumps running up against trees, sliding around muddy corners, yeah.. ANYTHING to not get stuck. Reason the truck died last night is because of my coil. Has a hairline crack down the side of it. We had to jimmy rig a pop can as a guard so it wouldn't get wet on the rest of the trail. I'm most worried about my tranny. My fluid is milky again so I have to drain my fluid and hopefully it will come back.. :\ only 1st and 2nd work. 3 rigs through a 25 mile trail in 4 days. Miles of winching and hours of chain blocking but we made it.
Never again will we touch that trail.









This was a real nasty hole. I was the only one to make it but paid for it. Hit it pretty fast and motor got soaked.



My interior is disgusting. It's a write off.



And I made it through!!!!!!!!