I posted these pics up in the
New Members area, but here's the story that goes with it.
First time 4Runner owner, and grew up with a mom who worked in the emergency room. That means I didn't learn to ride ATV's, motorcycles, jetskis, go karts, or do much of anything fun that could possibly land me in the ER. It was quite an effort for her to relent to a skateboard at 8 and a BB gun at 10. She even had a fit after I'd already moved out on my own, when I bought a 9mm pistol at 24! So at 32 I don't know how to drive off road, but have this wonderful new highly capable vehicle. I've driven a little in dry grass fields and gravel roads, but who am I kidding, a Civic could have handled everything but the steep ditch I crossed to get there.
On a warm winter day here in Oklahoma I decided to drop it into 4WD and cut across the field on the way to work. It hadn't rained in weeks, so I felt pretty safe. Boy was I wrong. Murphy's Law found me, and gave me a nice deep mud hole. I spun a little trying to get out, even rocked it back and forth some, until it just wouldn't move anymore. Then I got out and walked the last ~1/4mi to work. The first break I got one of the guys who had a Civic to pull me out, thankfully he was driving his 1500 with nice big mud tires that day though.
Before I could get pulled out I had to speak with a police officer that someone had called to talk to me. I was told "since the vehicle was left unattended on airport property, even though it was outside of the secure area, it was deemed suspicious. The vehicle was searched thoroughly, then towed to a nearby impound yard at my expense." The officer was kind enough to forgo the federal charges of trespassing as a courtesy since I work at the airport, but I was still liable for the tow and impound fees, and would have to sign the police report. The whole time the officer was talking with me I was quiet and polite, yes sir, no sir, 3 bags full sir. Do you know if the lot accepts a check sir? Finally he handed me back my license, cracked a smile and said, "I just can't do it anymore, your coworkers put me up to this!" I had been so focused on the officer I hadn't heard the snickers and muted giggles coming from behind me that the officer had to watch the whole time! It was a huge sigh of relief for me, and I was ecstatic that I didn't have to pay for a tow, especially since it had only been about 80 minutes since I walked away from the vehicle.
Needless to say, my coworker pulled me out with little effort and I learned a couple things. I still laugh at the whole affair, and so the the guys at work. Some d@^& Yankee moves to Oklahoma and gets his less than 1 year old $40k truck stuck in the mud. "Didn't you ever drive a go kart or 4-wheeler?" At least the general consensus was that if I'd had proper off road tires, there's no way I would have gotten stuck, even with my inexperience and poor technique!
I learned to keep my foot on the gas in mud, don't abandon the vehicle without trying everything (I'd forgotten to try A-Trac and the rear locker), and that highway tires have no place off-road. I have yet to get more adventurous, but sure this won't be the last time I get stuck.
Be careful on city airport property. They tend to get tacky. The front lawn of OMA is also a bad place. :evil:
