First Major F**K Up

Wasnt exactly on a joy ride in South Florida, there was just a rather large puddle in between myself and where I needed to be. No problem, I have a stock TRD OFF ROAD!
It didnt look that deep

So I went in...

The floating grass trick got me again!



My back wheels still had plenty of traction, but to error on the safe side, I switched it to 4 Low and back up slowly... Then tried it again with some speed... then again with the with Dif Lock. I rocked that thing for 20 minutes and couldnt get it out. It was this humble little root that my big bad truck couldnt conquer.
Nightfall was approaching in the Model Lands, so I conceded and called a friend in the Keys to see if he could come pull me out. Embarrassing, but an hour and half later I had 4 wheels on solid ground, and an aquarium in my Hella's.
I drove to the Racetrac to gas up when I noticed coolant spilling all over the floor. All the hoses were in place, I knew that couldnt be good. Made it to a dealership a few miles away without overheating, praying that my waranty would cover it... that it was just a faulty radiator and simply cracked when it shouldnt have... Nope.
Somehow a log (or something) made it up past my skid plate at just the right angle to wreak havoc. Ended up costing me about 800 bucks and had me in a rental Corolla and motels in Florida city for for nights before I could get back home. Lesson learned... be more careful? Nah, I just need bigger tires.

 

Ah... Oops!

 

Oops, it can happen.
Do you carry any digging or cutting tools with you?
A good ax or spade would take care of that root.

Also a portable manual winch would do the trick.

 

I have been meaning to pick up a hand winch for a while but am moving to the desert and dont think it will be much help there... or will it? I guess a shovel is the only hope in the sand

 

Winches are great out here..... Lol

 

some max trax would be ideal in the sand and also in that slick crap

 

What do you winch to?

 

The have anchors to put in the ground or other trucks. Lol

 

Yeah I just wasnt sure those anchors would work in the sand

 

Haven't seen them personally.

 

I keep a foldable military shovel in the truck (and a hatchet). It sucks to use but easy to pack and just might have been enough in a situation like that. Any lesson learned without loosing a digit is a good one!

 

. . .be more careful? nah, I just need bigger tires!

can I use that?

 

Probably was the rugged fails.
A good set of tires may of helped

 

you may