This happened on my last deployment to Northern Afghanistan. One of my vehicles called an M-ATV (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle) led a movement down a small path and across a land bridge that spanned a 15-foot gap. Overnight, Taliban forces flooded the gap and washed out the base of the land bridge. When we drove across that morning, the bridge gave out and caused the vehicle to drop into the gap. Once the dust cleared, the commander of the truck, Staff Sgt. Ben Fletcher, came across the radio saying, “Punisher 1-2 is stuck.” Everybody inside of the vehicle was able to climb out of the gunner’s hatch.

Mountain Explorer
My buddies and I were out wheeling at the local ORV park when we found a mud hole that easily swallowed my 381⁄2-inch Boggers. After multiple attempts of snatching the rig out of the mud with ropes, we couldn’t get it to budge. Fortunately the good folks from the Mountain Explorers Off Road Club came by and used a few of their winches to pull us right out.
Mike Stokes
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

Here is where all the day’s fun ran out. I was driving along the edge of the pond when I hit a very deep drop-off. After we pulled the Jeep out we found that one of the valve stems had broken off, my front alignment was out, and the power steering no longer worked. I can look back and laugh now, as it’s all about the fun you have Jeepin’ !
Randy Sanderlin
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

The First 24
After owning my new-to-me Jeep Cherokee for less than 24 hours my boyfriend and I decided to go test it out off-road. We ended up driving on a trail that was a little too narrow and the next thing we knew we were rolling down the hill. Thankfully we both had our seatbelts on and came out uninjured. Since we were wheeling with a few other friends we were able to get the Jeep out pretty quickly. The Jeep fired right up and we were able to drive it home. Talk about a crazy first outing!
Amanda Beckett
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

In the Groove
Even with 35-inch Boggers and locked axles, my truck was no match for the monster ruts hidden beneath the swamp’s surface.
Josh White
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

On the Hunt
While elk hunting in Idaho we hit a slick spot on the trail and took a little tumble. Luckily my little brother Austin did a great job of building the cage and we all walked away unharmed.
A.J. Buttars
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

River Raider
Here in Indonesia, river crossings can be very dangerous. A Chevy Trooper, also known as an Isuzu Trooper, tried to cross and ended up getting stuck. Since we didn’t have anything that could pull it out, we had to leave it there overnight. Unfortunately, the mudflow off of Mt. Bromo in East Java can be pretty intense. By the time we got back to the Trooper the next morning it was almost completely buried. It took seven Jeeps and three winches to finally get the mud soaked SUV out.
Imam Musthaqim
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

A Few More Tons
After I got my Ford stuck, my buddy tried to pull me out with his Jeep. As you can see, neither of us fared very well. In the end we were able to get an old friend with a 21⁄2-ton military truck to give us both a tug out.
James Hawley
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

Hummer Bummer
The jump was a lot more fun than the landing! You know what they say. It’s not the fall that hurts; it’s the sudden stop that ruins your day!
Eddie Freeman
Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com

Ledge Leaper
As I started to drop down from the ledge, my passenger-side tire slid off the side, and over the rig went. After sliding on the roof briefly, the Jeep ended up resting on its side. It took a bit of careful winching, but we got it back on all fours and finished out our day of wheeling.
Dennis Pruitt
Via whoops@ 4wheeloffroad.com

They say most car accidents happen within a few miles of home. This random statistic ran through my head just a few minutes after flopping my Ranger at my old stomping grounds in the Uwharrie National Forest. Though I've driven this exact trail countless times, a new line choice sent my Ranger for a sheetmetal-crunching tumble. Luckily I was surrounded by a crew of veteran wheeling buddies and we were able to quickly right the truck, unclog the driver-side cylinder bank, and finish out the trail.
Ali Mansour, Feature Editor

It happens to us all. No matter if you are the most careful and calculated wheeler on the planet, sooner or later Mother Nature (and sometimes human nature) gets the best of you. It might be a harmless-looking mud puddle or a stump that appears out of nowhere, but it's almost guaranteed that with time comes a great whoops! We just hope that when that spectacular whoops! happens, you are ready with camera in hand!

Tilt Test
My husband, Joe, and our two daughters were almost to their campsite in Holopaw, Florida, when the trailer tipped over in the sand. Luckily, everything was strapped down tight and nothing came undone or even broke!
Jackie Kulmala
Via 4wheeloffroad.com

Poser Shot
While wheeling at the Badlands off-road park I tried crawling onto a large bolder for a poser shot of my XJ. I ended up getting a little more flex-out than I planned!
Steve Luccioni
Via 4wheeloffroad.com

Hot Water
Superlift's OHV Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is an incredible place to go wheeling. And though my '05 Tacoma did well throughout the day, it was no match for this mud pit!
Troy Brown
Via 4wheeloffroad.com

Left Out
They told me to keep left!
Ryan Durrant
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Ditched Duo
My buddy tried to make it through first with no luck, so I thought I would give it a go.
Andrew Finley
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Mess Of The Month
A Wheel Date
The very first time I took my then girlfriend, now wife wheeling we headed out to the Cleghorn trail in California. I've wheeled everything from the hot tubs in Moab to the rugged Baja peninsula, but this day my ego was more in control than my years of driving experience! Luckily, my lady was all smiles after the flop, and I knew right then and there that she was a keeper!
Scott Moore
via 4wheelofforad.com

Radius Wrong
When choosing a copilot be sure to pick one that knows your vehicle's turning radius!
Brandon Wolfe
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Hungry Engine
After spending a day at the Hungry Valley OHV Area near Gorman, California, my friend decided to take one last plunge into the mud pit. Unfortunately, the dip was a little deeper than he thought and he ended up hydrolocking the engine!
Bill Curran
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Mess Of The Month
Bone Breaker
This is what happens when you wheel unfamiliar territory at night! We ended up having to leave the bashed Cruiser overnight and head to the hospital since the crash broke my cousin Sal's arm. The next day we came back with a Jeep Cherokee to pull it out and then used my mom's Grand Cherokee to tow it home. Sorry again about the broken arm, Sal!
Diego Montoya
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Oval Under
Apparently the ruts on the right side are a little deeper than they used to be!
Christian Paglialonga
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Lucky No. 13
This is what happens when a 13-year-old gets behind the wheel of a truck with 39s and 400 hp. The result was a mild stuck and a broken set of spider gears.
Name withheld
via 4wheeloffroad.com

Show Stopper
While on a cover shoot with our show truck I relearned that show doesn't always equal go.
Fred Williams
Tech Editor

Rollcages, tow ropes, and winches were all made for a reason, and we have plenty of proof why everyone should have all three on his rig. From creek crossings gone wrong to sidehill mishaps, we've compiled some of the best of your worst Whoops!