Worst Stuck Ever!!!

DPV Podcast Ep. 8: Our Worst Stuck Story

Welcome back to the DPV Podcast! Episode 8 is here, and we’re finally getting our act together with an outline… sort of. We’ve got a wild episode for you, complete with tales of epic off-road fails and budget-friendly build ideas.

Sleep Deprivation and Alaska Adventures

Josh is running on fumes after a rough night with the kids, while Alex just returned from an epic 5,300-mile road trip to Alaska. He saw incredible scenery, hiked with the kids, and encountered moose, bison, a wolf pup, and a bear fishing! Unfortunately, the elusive caribou remained unseen.

Project Updates: Big Chief and Daily Drivers

Josh has been busy gutting the Big Chief, selling off parts (including the engine!), and starting on the cage build. He’s also got the doubler kit from Offroad Design, so things are moving! Josh also sold his black Grand Cherokee and is currently daily driving his one-ton dually, which is surprisingly saving him money.

Our Worst Stuck Story: Naches Wagon Trail Nightmare

We’re diving into our worst stuck story ever, a tale from 14 years ago on the Naches Wagon Trail. This historic trail, part of the Oregon Trail, proved to be a formidable challenge for our unprepared selves.

• The Setup: We had a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ with 31-inch tires (33s were recommended), an open diff, and a broken winch. Our survival gear consisted of a twelve-pack of Mountain Dew and a bag of Doritos.
• The Trail: The trail was tight, winding, and full of muddy spots. Despite seeing plenty of other vehicles, we were woefully unprepared for the challenge ahead.
• The Epic Fail: We got stuck in a giant mud hole, sinking to the doors. Hours of effort with a high-lift jack and branches proved futile.
• The Overnight Stay: We spent a cold, wet night in the Jeep, wrapped in tarps, and had to periodically start the engine to warm up.
• The Rescue: The next morning, a dirt biker pointed us to the main road, where we found a group of people, including a guy in a Grand Cherokee who pulled us out.

Lessons Learned:

• Always be prepared with proper recovery gear, food, and extra clothing.
• Don’t underestimate the difficulty of a trail, even if it seems easy.
• Never say “Dude, you got this!” unless you’re prepared for the consequences.
• Test your winch before you go.

What We’re Bringing Now:

We’ve come a long way since our Naches Wagon Trail debacle. We now pack more food, better recovery gear, extra shoes, coveralls, tarps, and even cans of soup!

Don’t forget to check out the video of our epic stuck! We’ll link it in the show notes.

Wheel it, Wreck it, Wrench it Repeat!!!