So I was following a buddy up near North Pole, Alaska and we got in a little trouble. The relatively dry trail we were on quickly turned into swampy nastyness. Long story short I ended up pretty deep in the water. After 24 hours of sitting like you see in the pics I finally got pulled out with a 15,000 lb winch.

My question is, after sitting in water for so long, what should I do for preventative maintenance? I'm already pulling the seats and carpet because I took on water in the cab, but which fluids are toast and which should I leave alone?

Also I should mention that any time I press the gas the truck lugs pretty hard. Hooray for stupidity!

As you can probably tell, I'm pretty much a novice at both off roading and mechanics, but I can handle changing the fluids. ANY advice is appreciated. Or if you just wanna poke fun at me, thats cool too!

 

[QUOTE=fezzgig]So I was following a buddy up near North Pole[QUOTE]

wow... i imagined the north pole being much more snowy???

wow thats some deep water... i would cry my hole way home if i did that to my truck!!

 

I would change ALL fluids just to be sure and some may require flushing. Diffently change the oil yourself and see what color it is. We all do dumb things thats what makes us normal. Wash everything off real good get all the dirt and grim off thats been sitting.

 

your crazy

 

Yeah, I wouldn't drive it much until you get your oil changed. I would say when you started your truck after sitting in that it sucked water up into the engine. So probably need to change most of your fluids.

 

just "North Pole" no "The" needed. It's about smack dab in the middle of the state. Gets pretty warm here in the summer, i think it hit 85F today. Makes up for the -40F we get in the winter.

Oh, and I should mention that my F-150 is an automatic with 4 wheel drive.


After 3-4 different trucks had come up and down the trail behind me to assist, it was a silty, soup mess as well. VERY sticky with ruts about knee deep filled with sticky mud. Was VERY impressed with my BF goodrich AT/TA KO tires.
As soon as I popped out of that hole I was able to get all the way back, driving backwards, unassisted. I managed to pop a bead on one tire, but they got me out!

I'm planning on driving the 3000 miles or so from Alaska to Idaho next week and I will be hauling a car. Needless to say I am pretty freaked out that I did something that is going to strand me in the middle of Canada...

 

fezzgig that's one hell of a way to introduce yourself to the f150 forums lol. Welcome aboard!

 

Thanks, hopefully I will learn a thing or two here and avoid this kinda "fun" in the future. =D

Also, gotta give mad respect and props to the guys over at arcticoffroad.com They mobilized and had me out of there in no time!

 

Don't forget to change your differential fluids, and your transfer case fluid. Welcome to the site!

 

looks like mine, but mine was on the drivers side and water was up over the headlight.

 

You might worry about some of the electronics too. the vehicle motion sensor, which is tied into fuel disable, and airbags, is in the passenger side kick panel, among other things. Might need a new heater core too.

Dont forget to ad the pics to the "worst stuck pics lets see em" thread

 

heater core...heater core...*starts flipping through the Chiltons*... Ok, don't laugh. Would I check that by turning on my heat?

 

yeah if it fogs your windows you need a new one. The cheapest/biggest pain in the *** on any vehicle.

 

Check your insurance policy, it might cover the cost of repairs....

 

WOW! No way I would try going through that! Really for the tires I have ( BF Goodrich Long Trial) my truck isn't too bad in the sandy type mud. I doin't like going into the sand because it just sits in the frame and what not. Its fun while it last but clean up sucks!