It didn't look like clay...

[mhunter]

Picked up my 1998 4Runner SR5 on Friday. Got her stuck on Sunday >_> Luckily I had just picked up a hand winch and a tow strap. The guy in the picture was my spotter, he got to operate the winch because he was the one who checked the trail and said "it's just an inch of mud, you'll be fine".

Luckily we did manage to get her out with the help of a few trees. Took about two hours.

A question for you all after this: what is the proper way to clean everything on a 1998 after being almost hub-deep in soft clay? It's got sealed bearings, right? So repacking them shouldn't be a concern? On the way home, I ran her through some light water puddles to keep it all soft and wet, then got at it with a garden hose sprayer nozzle. Is that enough? I'm sure this won't be the last time she sees clay (being in Michigan, clay bogs is pretty much the norm here), and I'd like to keep it running well as my daily driver. Besides getting a new spotter to keep me away from this stuff, what should I be doing after an incident like this?

Funny enough, on the way out I ran into a guy stuck in his Cherokee. He had another Cherokee as a recovery vehicle, but failed to notice (before he got stuck) that the Cherokees don't have recovery hooks on them. So right off the bat, I got to earn my Jeep Recovery Vehicle badge! :jump:

 

[momo.75]

First off, welcome to T4R.ORG.

Pressure washing would be the best way. Just make sure you get as much off as possible, especially around the brakes and joints. The bad thing about bogging down in clay is that it will stick to the inside of your wheels and throw the balance off, if it is real sticky clay.

 

[mhunter]

Thanks momo. Would the washer at a self-service car wash work? I don't own a pressure washer (or a place to use one at my apartment).

 

[momo.75]

I am going to say yes, only because i know it will work, but some owners of those places hate it when people spray all the mud off in the stalls. After you have sprayed it all off, just try to spray the mud into the drain. Might not be a bad idea to go at night.....lol. Also, just try to go easy on the paint with the sprayer, some of them can remove paint, depending on the pressure and how close you are.

 

[mhunter]

Good advice. Luckily here in Michigan we don't get much thick, sticky clay like in Georgia etc. It's more of a thicker mud, between mud and clay. Doesn't dry into concrete and the tires were clean before we even left the trail.