What not to do before you make the first note...
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Hot Springs AR
So I decided to take the wife and my new (to me) 07 JK X Unlimited to Superlift ORV in Hot Springs for a pre-anniversary weekend campout. A couple of the guys in my local Jeep club weren't busy and came out so we wouldn't have to wheel alone, and I'm very glad they did. The X performed admirably on class 3 trails all day. We were headed back to camp to put my Jeep away and ride along with another guy to see some fours, when disaster struck. The spot we were on was barely worse than a rutted dirt road, about a 45 degree downhill. Tamest thing we'd seen all day. Let my guard down, and didn't react fast enough.
the angle in the first picture is about right, the rest make it look pretty level. That section of trail has two ruts in it that looked a little deeper than my diffs would pass, so I kept the wheels up on the higher sections, and the back wheels got loose, slipping into the ruts. Didn't get my wheel cut fast enough to make the front wheels follow, and ended up sideways on a downward slope. Luckily, it was a really slow roll, and only came out to about 3/4 of a roll before the little tree stopped us.
With some creative winching, we got it back on it's wheels without doing any extra damage:
No frame damage, though the windshield was slightly pushed out of shape at the top, and the hood was torn up. After insurance estimate, every body panel on it had a dent or ripple somewhere worth replacing. The right rear flender was the only piece of plastic to survive. Soft top was torn up, as well as the door frame pieces for it. The doors were off luckily, so no issues there. Bumper was a little crumpled in some spots, but it was my spare bumper anyway (I keep one with hooks to tear up, and one without for when I want the Jeep to look less used for the sake of my parents' nerves). It's been in the shop for almost a month between waiting for parts and paint. Insurance covered it, $12,349.76. I get to go pic it up this afternoon, fixed, and improved! 4" rough country lift, and 33" tires. I'll post some of the "after" pics tomorrow.
Just remember, the worst stuff can happen when you least suspsect it. I'm going back to Superlift for a club even this weekend (lol, yes right after I get it back from the shop) and this time, I plan on paying better attention even on the easy stuff.
the angle in the first picture is about right, the rest make it look pretty level. That section of trail has two ruts in it that looked a little deeper than my diffs would pass, so I kept the wheels up on the higher sections, and the back wheels got loose, slipping into the ruts. Didn't get my wheel cut fast enough to make the front wheels follow, and ended up sideways on a downward slope. Luckily, it was a really slow roll, and only came out to about 3/4 of a roll before the little tree stopped us.
With some creative winching, we got it back on it's wheels without doing any extra damage:
No frame damage, though the windshield was slightly pushed out of shape at the top, and the hood was torn up. After insurance estimate, every body panel on it had a dent or ripple somewhere worth replacing. The right rear flender was the only piece of plastic to survive. Soft top was torn up, as well as the door frame pieces for it. The doors were off luckily, so no issues there. Bumper was a little crumpled in some spots, but it was my spare bumper anyway (I keep one with hooks to tear up, and one without for when I want the Jeep to look less used for the sake of my parents' nerves). It's been in the shop for almost a month between waiting for parts and paint. Insurance covered it, $12,349.76. I get to go pic it up this afternoon, fixed, and improved! 4" rough country lift, and 33" tires. I'll post some of the "after" pics tomorrow.
Just remember, the worst stuff can happen when you least suspsect it. I'm going back to Superlift for a club even this weekend (lol, yes right after I get it back from the shop) and this time, I plan on paying better attention even on the easy stuff.
Just remember, every time you break something, its just an opportunity to upgrade!!!
they didn't total it
were you able to drive it out or did it get pulled? well like others said youz didnt get hurt
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 0
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Next time just take the ruts! In all seriousness though, glad you are alright. I know if it was my wife, she would never step foot in my Jeep again if she was in while that happened. Keep us updated on the "new" model.
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 943
Likes: 2
From: Hangin in the sunshine state....staging forum..
Wasn't going too fast, maybe 10-15. Cool part was, all the dmg was aesthetic. We drove it home to Memphis, 4 hours from little rock. Went top down on the interstate at 80. alignment wasn't even shaky (though the steering wheel was off-center, but that was from trail riding all day). I gotta hand it to Jeep, they make a sturdy vehicle.
there he says 10-15 mph and he drove it home
