Dave Yegge wallowed around...
Dave Yegge wallowed around this pit in his AEV-extended Wrangler. It took an aggressive forward and reverse gear-grinding technique to free the 4.0L manual-trannied Jeep from its watery grave.
Of All the places you might wish to be in winter, Michigan is not likely to be anywhere near the top of the list. Unless, of course, you're looking for a warm vacation from your home of Antarctica or Pluto.
Regardless, the Mounds off-road park in Mt. Morris, Michigan, has much to offer in the cold and wet months. Namely: great mud, snow, and ice wheeling. There are plenty of different bogs and pits for all levels of Jeeps. We'll even go so far as to say that the park is better when it's really wet than when it's dry. Fortunately, we followed a passing warm storm and cold front to the park. This left no shortage of sticky goo, pits with no bottom in sight, and thin layers of ice over the standing water. We dove right in since we were in a loaner Jeep with a heater and the locals had no problem finding fun in the cold and wet terrain. For more info on the Mounds off-road park, go to geneseecountyparks.org/mounds.htm.
If Vince Schrand's '90 Wrangler...
If Vince Schrand's '90 Wrangler were a boat, it would sink from all the rust holes. However, the Great Stuff expanding home insulation spray used to fill those holes might just keep it afloat. The Jeep features a sputtery 4.2L inline-six and a well-worn, mostly stock drivetrain. Front and rear lockers were added along with a 2-inch Old Man Emu lift and 215/85R16 Goodyear MT/Rs.
It didn't take much prodding...
It didn't take much prodding to lure Gavin Smith into this boggy climb in his '97 TJ. He wore out just about every line possible without success and eventually had to be yanked out backward once the Jeep settled in its own wheel holes.
Tom Ramm flogged his '88 YJ...
Tom Ramm flogged his '88 YJ through most of the deeper pits. The healthy 4.7L inline-six stroker motor seemed to rev to the moon. Somehow the locked Dana 30 and Ford 8.8 axles stayed together despite the best efforts of Tom's throttle foot and 33-inch BFG Mud Terrain tires.
Several Jeep engineers decided...
Several Jeep engineers decided some winter mud calibrations "needed" to be done the same day we were at the Mounds park. This diesel Liberty only lost one of its plastic skidplates to the fun gods on this day.
We can vouch that Jeep press...
We can vouch that Jeep press fleet vehicles are just as capable as any rental car off-road. With the ESP off and in four-low, this four-door JK Rubicon with an automatic made the slick stuff easy. A little more clearance under the middle would have been a big help, though.
You might think this Cherokee...
You might think this Cherokee was built for warm weather. Missing doors and windows, mud, and temperatures in the 30s don't exactly make for a comfortable ride. But there were very few pits at the Mounds that could stop this XJ.
Ex-Jp staffer Verne Simons...
Ex-Jp staffer Verne Simons drove the four-cylinder No Lift TJ up from Ohio and waded into the deep end only to find himself on the receiving side of a winch hook. The '98 Wrangler features an '80 Wagoneer Dana 44 frontend and a '90s Isuzu Dana 44 out back. Both sport 5.89 gears and Eaton Detroit Lockers. With little more than a 1/2-inch lift, a fiberglass hood, fender trimming, and adjustable control arms, the Jeep is able the clear 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claws on 15x8 wheels.
So how do you explain to the...
So how do you explain to the boss that you just submerged one of only a handful of diesel Euro JKs in the U.S.? Simple, you make sure the boss was the one behind the wheel.
Reg Modlin's TJ was sporting...
Reg Modlin's TJ was sporting a 2.5-inch Rancho lift and 32-inch Goodyear MT/Rs. He piloted the Wrangler through the goo until an alternator packed with mud put an end to the Jeep's charging system and the day's fun. A quick rinse with a pressure washer had it all up and working again on the way home.
Jim Weidenbach found that...
Jim Weidenbach found that driving a diesel JK Wrangler with his eyes closed often resulted in getting stuck. The street treads and lack of lockers put him at a little bit of a disadvantage. Fortunately, he stopped here to get yanked out before sliding hood-high into the briny deep.