The day the CRD earned it's keep

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:14 am

As you probably know, there has been a tremendous amount of flooding here in the southeast this year. Kentucky and Tennessee have both been hit hard since late Spring, as has Arkansas and some other states. Many have died in the flash floods. The Feds have granted us disaster assistance in many counties all over this region.

Well... back at the beginning of May, I was at the Turkey Bay OHV area in western KY. There was a Jeep Jamboree going on there that weekend, and we like to go down there to wheel and see all the various rigs that show up. Thursday night and Friday were beautiful. But Friday night into Saturday morning the storms rolled in. It dumped several inches of rain on our campsite. (This was the same day that Nashville got 13” of rain and went under water). So we decided to pack everything up and leave camp early that weekend.

On the way out of the area where we camp, this guy comes walking up soaking wet. It’s still raining VERY hard. We roll down the window to see what he wants. “Do you think maybe you can help me? My Durango is stuck.” I was really just ready to get out of there at that point because the place was getting sloppy and the stream that runs through there was turning into a raging river. But, reluctantly I agreed to at least go see what he was into.

So we drove over to where his camp was and he showed me his predicament. In the middle of the night, apparently they had too much to drink and he drove their Dodge Durango into the creek (which is a violation of Forest Service rules) and got it stuck. Then, on top of that, the rains started falling and the water was coming up FAST and his truck was now half-way submerged in the rushing water. To top it all off, this was in a heavily wooded area with many trees all around. I’ve recovered a lot of vehicles from a lot of tough spots in my day, but I honestly didn’t think there was anything we could do for this guy. Even IF I could maneuver the Jeep back there, and pull him free, the water might sweep his truck downstream while it’s still connected to my Jeep. Not good.

But, seeing that his family was furious, his truck was about to be totalled by flood water, and the Forest Rangers were going to write him up if they caught him, I decided to try to help this guy anyhow. I wiggled the CRD through the trees carefully up to the bank of the rushing water. We ran the recovery straps between two trees, and then to his truck at a 45 degree angle. This way, if the water took his truck downstream, the trees would catch the strap and give me a little more leverage to hopefully keep the CRD from being pulled into the water. Once hooked up, I went to 4-low and started backing up.

The CRD did a wonderful job. It even shocked me! All that torque allowed me to keep the throttle down low so I didn’t spin out in the slick grass, weeds, and mud I was in. To my surprise, I was able to pull him free from the water and drag the Durango up the muddy bank to freedom. I had to do this while in reverse, and navigating back through the maze of trees. Once free, he opened his doors and water just rushed out. All his carpet and seats are ruined....but he was very lucky because the truck still was able to run and nobody was injured or killed so at least they would all make it home this day.

I truly believe the size of the KJ, the extra weight on the front end from the diesel engine, the torque available down low where I needed it, and the Grabber tires that live up to their name all helped me to get to this guy, and to keep this guy’s bad day from getting a LOT worse. We all do dumb things from time to time, and I’ve been pulled out of places I shouldn’t have been before. You live and learn. It’s good to pass the help on to others. The CRD earned it’s stripes that day. R.I.P. to all the ones who have NOT made it out of the floods this year.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:09 am

I know "someone" will probably jump in and tell you that the R&P is weaker used in reverse...but you have to do what you have to do sometimes...

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:05 am

Yeah there was no way to turn around in there and back up. I was lucky to be able to get to him at all. I'm just glad it all worked out for him (and us).

racertracer · **Posted:** Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:48 pm

You the man LibertyCRD!!

flman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:54 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

The CRD did a wonderful job. It even shocked me! All that torque allowed me to keep the throttle down low so I didn’t spin out in the slick grass, weeds, and mud I was in. To my surprise, I was able to pull him free from the water and drag the Durango up the muddy bank to freedom. I had to do this while in reverse, and navigating back through the maze of trees. Once free, he opened his doors and water just rushed out. All his carpet and seats are ruined....but he was very lucky because the truck still was able to run and nobody was injured or killed so at least they would all make it home this day.

You could never do that in a lesser vehicle with spark ignition :goink:

danoid · **Posted:** Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:14 am

Actually, one of the little known features of the 545RFE transmission is that is has the same gear ratio and the same number of clutch disks in 1st gear and reverse. Anything you can pull forwards, you can pull backwards too.

And yes, offroading with all my Wrangler Rubicon friends, they pull me out more often, but it's a lot less drama when I pull them out. It just grabs and tugs. No worries.

The day the CRD earned it's keep

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