The trail looked good, only about 4" of water...until I dropped off the ice shelf and down about 33" on one side and about 40" on the other. In this pic the front tires are sitting on a chuck of ice roughly the size and shape of Africa, only about 18" thick.



So I dropped all the way in and the water got deep. Yes, my tire is still attached, its under the water, as is my exhaust. Had to leave the truck running for the whole time.



I tried to get out, but I just kept hitting the wall of the ice shelf that I dropped off of.



2.5 hours later after tugging me out from behind with another truck, trying to winch it forward, and everything in between, my hands and feet were soaking wet and very cold. I kept having to reach into the water to hook up the tow strap in the back and crawl across the hood to hook it up on the front. We finally got it out and this was some of the ice that was still attached to it. The ice was a good 12-18" thick.



Now the damage.

The biggest issue I have is that my front diff is toast. I busted a few teeth off the ring gear. I didnt get pictures of the bumper, but it is dented on the rear corner, and then dented underneath, nothing major and Ill leave it like that until I make a new bumper.

Pictures:

My diff fluid when I drained it. I changed it out not too long ago and had'nt been through any deep water since.



Found a few shavings of metal on the drain plug.



Chunks of the gears.



My trac bar vs a straight line.



And finally, the exhaust. It is touching the crossmember in the rear and hanging several inches below the hangar for it just outside of the picture.



So, who has the best prices for 4.88 Yukons?

 

yeozers! When you get stuck you get STUCK!

What rims are those?

 

no offense but what were you thinkin?

 

oo that sucks i bet geeting into that water was cold

 

ouch, just ouch! nice truck tho, and the underbody looks extremely clean no rust at all!

 

When you get stuck, you dont screw around!! My dad always said "If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly."

BTW Glad you made it out....

It could be worse...

 

x2

 

Next time use a boat, captain.... J/K...

 

wow, thats a hell of a stuck.

 

Damn, I wouldn't have the nuts to attempt a cold/icy water crossing like that.

 

dang dude taht sucks. At least you made it out. That has to be one of the most miserable feelings, getting into that icy water.

 

Ouch!

Been there, not exactly but close enough. I learned a pair of hip boots or waders are your friend! I see a hi-lift on your rack I think? Did you try jacking the front up and piling stuff under the front wheels? May have been impossible depending on your bumper.

Good luck with your repairs. Could have been a lot worse, I don't see any body damage.

 

you're lucky the rear bar is adjustable also, they sell little spring metal type tabs that install with those hooks so the strap doesn't fall out... either look into that or closed hooks !!!

 

Yeah, a few more turns out on the bar and it will be good as new.

My tow hooka ctually has a spring tab thing on it, but it was damaged by the ice. It got pushed to the side and bent out. I could probably bend it back now, but at the time my hands were too cold and I would have had to do it hanging out the back window.


As for what I was thinking, well, I wasnt alone, had all the tools for recovery, was dressed for the weather, etc. I was driving down the trail slowly, judging water depth. The water was only about 4" deep until all of a sudden I literally dropped the front end off of an ice shelf. I hit the brakes but slid a couple feet forward because I was on solid ice. By the time I came to a stop, I couldnt back myself out. The other side of the crossing looked easy enough to get through, so I tried. It turned out to be another ice shelf and getting over it would have been pointless because the truck that was following me couldnt have made it even if I did. The first picture that I showed is actually one of the last pictures I took but it best shows the position I was in when I first dropped down into it.

 

whoa, holy ice shelf

glad you made it out...time to upgrade some parts!

 

Dude, i'm sorry to hear that. Your truck did great at ashburnham in the snow, its a shame this had to happen now. I wish you the best of luck in getting it fixed.

 

Oh, the wheels are Pro COmp 8089
http://www.4wheelparts.com/PPT3637T100073.aspx

 

You have to be willing to walk whatever crossing you attempt. Because you will walk it sooner or later... A few steps in the waders would have told you the ice shelf dropped off dramatically.'

You learned a lesson, sorry it cost you a rear end rebuild though. That hurts. On the other hand its a great excuse for gears and lockers!

 

Such is the reason I dont dare cross water until I walk it. A friend learned a lesson when his chevy 1500 sank up to the doors..

 

or why you let a buddy go through it first! What can I say ima dick! lol