Do Jeeps get stuck? Apparently not much, since we haven't received any photos for our Sideways column. So, this month we're throwing in some old pix of a few of our friends caught in compromising positions of their own making. Until we get more readers' shots for Sideways, we'll have to dig up dirt from our own troubled past. Of course, we can always do a night run and get in trouble-as long as we bring the camera. The Truckhaven Hills in Southern California are known for Jeep-eating nachos, washed out gullies, and canyons that can swallow a Jeep whole. We've even lost a Jeep or two in some of the bigger ones, but our compadre, Nedwardo Tosine, seemed to find a baby ditch to stuff his buggy into. The worst problem this sideways trip created was gasoline in the manifold burritos from a leaky Q-jet throttle shaft.
Smack dab in Mexico's biggest sand desert sits an upside-down CJ-5. Seems that driver Dave Elliot had wound the 258 six-popper up till the '5 thought it could fly. The only problem was the crest of the dune disappeared before Dave lifted his foot, causing the Jeep to nerf the sand on its nose then flop on its top. In true Jeep style, the rig was quickly righted and dusted off, and some extra oil was added to the crankcase for good measure.
Rockcrawling can lead to all sorts of predicaments, including a permanent wedgie. Mike Flores probably could have finally driven his '76 CJ-5 out of the Firehole obstacle in Arizona, but opted for assistance. A couple of straps and a winch or two, and Flores' CJ was on two tires-just enough to drive around the edge of the hole and escape to the next challenge.