You can break anything and no Jeep truly goes "anywhere." Most of the failures we see on the trail are repeats of what we have seen before. Once you've done your time doing trail repairs you can usually figure out how to avoid them in the future. But for you unlucky types, or for those that refuse to learn, here are a few tips to help you limp home if you become a victim. And we threw in a few stuck Jeeps purely for your entertainment.
We spotted this tipped-over...
We spotted this tipped-over Wrangler near the Golden Crack in Moab, Utah. The owner's buddy winched him back over and after making sure the engine wasn't hydro-locked and the fluids were filled, he fired it up and drove off in a smoky cloud. Before starting a tipped or submerged Jeep, it's best to pull all of the spark plugs and crank over the engine to clear the cylinders of any pooled water, oil, or gas.
It's not often you get a chance...
It's not often you get a chance to see a diesel Wrangler submerged. This is even truer on U.S. soil. This section of the Mounds off-road park in Mt. Morris, Michigan, looked like a flooded bombing range. Jeep engineering provided the diesel JK and the crash test dummy behind the wheel. A quick yank from the rear had him out in no time and the interior dried nicely once the drain plug was pulled from the passenger floor.
Vince Schrand attempted to...
Vince Schrand attempted to rescue the previously mentioned JK only to find himself high-centered and stuck in a rut. A total of three Jeeps were sunk trying to get to the swimming JK.
Sometimes people get stuck...
Sometimes people get stuck and don't even know it. We found Mac McMillan's borrowed CJ-7 parked precariously close to a mud pit. Somehow the e-brake gave out and the shifter was pulled ... umm ... we mean accidentally popped out of gear, causing the Jeep to roll into the mud pit.
A bent track bar can stop...
A bent track bar can stop the fun pretty quick. Most heavy-duty aftermarket track bars will not simply straighten out with the use of a bottle jack. In this case, it only lifted the Jeep off the ground. Sometimes you can weasel in a winch cable to pull the bend out but most of the time the track bar will need to be removed to be straightened or replaced.
A bent factory thin-wall tie...
A bent factory thin-wall tie rod that's only been straightened will generally not hold up till the end of the trail. It will bend again. The best way to repair this failure is to straighten it and then sleeve it with the handle from a Hi-Lift jack. No welding needed. One of the tie rod ends will need to be removed to slip on the handle.
We spotted this inventive...
We spotted this inventive guy on Hell's Revenge in Moab, Utah. His C-clipped Dana 35 axleshaft had let loose, so he rigged a Hi-Lift jack body in place to keep the axle and wheel from falling out of place. His buddies were walking along side the Jeep, intermittently lubricating the Hi-Lift to keep it from eating through the sidewall of the BFG tire. It's a pretty good temporary fix to get off the trail.
A broken motor mount can be...
A broken motor mount can be removed and replaced or repaired with the help of a bottle jack under the oil pan. Tech Editor Hazel pulled the offending motor mount, ground out the crack with an Ingersoll Rand cordless cutoff wheel, and welded it up in a parking lot with a portable Miller Passport MIG welder plugged into the hotel wall.
Curt Stevens had a rear shackle...
Curt Stevens had a rear shackle invert on his '70 CJ-5 on John Bull up in Big Bear, California. The back of the Jeep was raised to free the shackle and a ratchet strap was rigged up to prevent it from inverting again. He finished the rest of the trail with the strap in place. Zip ties kept the strap ends from falling off the shackle when the rear wasn't articulated.
A broken tie rod, drag link,...
A broken tie rod, drag link, or track bar is best repaired with an on-board welder. The two broken pieces should be mended together and then reinforced with scraps of metal, wrenches, or whatever steel you have on hand. In this case, the drag link was mended with steel cement-form stakes.
A snapped steering box sector...
A snapped steering box sector shaft can be a real fun stopper. However, it usually only happens on Jeeps with tires bigger than 35 inches tall. In the past, we have been fairly successful at beveling the shaft and welding it back together with a 3/32-inch 7018 arc welding rod. A ram assist steering system helps alleviate the stress that causes this kind of damage.
This Larry Minor sand Jeep...
This Larry Minor sand Jeep hit a witch's eye at speed in Glamis, California. The wreck pretty much destroyed the coilover shock and A-arm. The chassis escaped undamaged, however.
A popped outer tire bead is...
A popped outer tire bead is almost always easily reseated once the vehicle is hoisted up. Be sure to clean mud and debris from the bead area. Use an air source to fill the tire while someone else pulls the tire into the bead. Sometimes a ratchet strap around the tread of the tire aids in seating. But be sure to release the strap when the tire begins filling. Watch your fingers!