Look Out Below!
I shot this sequence of my friends Chris and Louisa in their Jeep. They were attempting to climb one of the trickiest hills in California's Los Coyotes area, but encountered a slight mishap. No one was injured, thankfully, but the Jeep was a total loss.
Robert Trent, Buena Park, CA, Sept. '94
Train Wreck-Literally
This was a real-life stall on the tracks. A lady was watching out for trains while the guys tried to start it. She began yelling when she saw the train, but they didn't believe her...until they heard the whistle. The only one injured was the Jeep.
Terri Bunch, Riverside, CA, Dec. '01
Everything half off
Here's the stuff that didn't make it after I rolled my '84 Toyota truck. My friends said it was cool. I said, "ouch."
Bill Trap, Northridge, CA, June '92
Mud Thud
Here is my friend's 4Runner after a slight loss of control in the mud.
Ross Garber and Greg, Bakersfield, CA, Oct. '06
Dune Doom
I had been tooling around Silver Lake, Michigan, for a while and was familiar with the Big Dune and what was after it. After four attempts, we got it, cresting nicely over the top into a small inline dune on the back. We hammered down to launch off, but didn't realize until it was too late that a dune buggy with paddles had stopped and made a 3-foot-deep trench at the top. We hit, the front end went up, and then the rear tried to pass us in the air. I gave it gas to try and pull it out, to no avail. Hanging upside down in your seat belt really sucks after getting hit in the head with everything you didn't tie down.
Brett Fagerness, Kalamazoo, MI, Apr. '05
Nice Butt, Jerry
This happened on my annual Memorial Day trip to Basse Falls, California. It didn't take any fancy equipment to roll my Toyota back over-just a few big guys. My truck survived with only minor body damage to the driver-side door.
Jerry Stratton, Sacramento, CA, Feb. '97
Worse Than Any
There are deeper mud holes and higher water, but it seems that this truck is stuck worse than any I have seen, since this is its last run through the mud. As my son and I were driving my 4x4 through a muddy ORV area, we came upon this late-model Dodge. We concluded that there is no worse fate for a 4x4 than to be stuck in the mud and then burned, shot up and abandoned!
Jon Crocker, Jonesboro, GA, Aug. '95
Nice Legs, Tim
I should've gone straight through the ruts instead of avoiding them. But when I tried my motto, "When in doubt, gas 'er out," my '94 Suzuki Sidekick launched like a humpback whale and landed like one, too.
Tim Maron, North Bend, WA, Sept. '97
Jeep
Who: Chuck Patton
Where: Ash Fork, AZ
What: Jeep Cherokee Hang Glider
Why: No better way to transport Grandma's dishes.
Logic: "You mean you still have to stay awake with cruise control?"Apr. '01
Dare Ya
This used to be a road until Hurricane Erin hit Florida. I tried crossing it in my '72 Blazer on a dare from my friends. When I realized I was in trouble, I tried backing up, but the entire rear of the truck started to rise up and float away.
Frederick Smith, Pensacola, FL, Sept. '96
Fourth Time's the Charm
On the last Sierra Nevada trip with our Land Cruiser club, we experienced four deep water crossings. I removed the fan belt so the radiator wouldn't get damaged and forged the first three without a problem. The fourth river was about 4 feet deep, my engine went under midstream and the ignition turned off. My winch control cable floated away, but using a loaner, I was able to winch across and dry the Cruiser out. Our club will find a new place to cross the river next year.
Wayne Pocock, Rocklin, CA, Sept. '94
That's Hot
Who: Damien Aube
Where: Hinesburg, VT
What: Jeep Cherokee Hot Pocket
Why: The ranger said all campfires must be in a metal container above the ground.
Mel Torm: We've heard of chestnuts roasting and all, but come on.Apr. '01
Some Slide
My dad and I took the wrong road when we were four-wheeling in our '94 Ford crew cab. We started sliding down the hill and had to jump out the window. It took two tow trucks and cost $270 to get us out.
Joseph Sullivan, Sequim, WA, June '96
Scout a New Route
Who: Vince A. Marquez
Where: Las Vegas, NM
What: '63 Scout
Why: He wrote, "I have killed several Scouts trying to cross the Canadian River here in New Mexico. Does anybody have any tips?" How about take the bridge?
Dude, where's my car?: Genius. Sheer genius.
Apr. '01