131 9809 Mud And More In The Heartland - tractor Puller - Photo 29449007

Back to Article

Waiting your turn for extraction was the most common scene. This four-wheel-drive tractor worked all day long snatching downed comrades out of the bog. ALthough someone's buddy would often attempt a rescue, this practice usually led to two stuck rigs.

131 9809 01 o+131 9809 mud and more in the heartland+muddy red jeep cj

When the big boys started to play, they didn't even bother putting it in four-wheel drive. This allowed all kinds of slip-sliding to happen, and if the going got too deep or sloppy, a quick flip of the lever launched the rig to safety.

Big Fords are favorites in this neck of the woods, and this '76 F-250 fits the bill. Equipped with massive tires and as many ponies as the engine can push, these beasts of burden were ripping up the mud and spraying it over the other participants. Throughout the day the mud became progressively more soupy, but it had congealed somewhat for the next day's whumpin'.

While most participants came for the mud, the log climb was also quite popular. The logs were staked and cabled down on the side of the hill, making it a rough climb. This Bronco had wet and muddy tires to further complicate the equation, but managed to buck its way to the top.

The Grease Hill starts with 40 feet of flat goo that suddenly turns vertical. Without enough momentum to crest the top, some rigs needed to be pulled out backward. But to prove that stock is hot, Mike Heyer took his recently acquired '73 CJ-5 Super Jeep through the pit and up the hill.

Built trucks are the norm for this type of goo, and this J-10 is no exception. The tall tractor tires allow the truck to bog all day, and the heavy-duty military axles underneath are what's needed to prevent breakage. Other vehicles with weaker drivetrains lost driveshafts in the bottomless muck, and the sound of snapping U-joints filled the air both days.

The look on Cristin Butler's face says it all, especially when combined with the slogan on the back of the Jeep. Owner Chad Candell lent his '84 CJ-7 to his buddy Jerry Rourke so he could show Cristin a truly dirty time. The Jeep made short work of the swampy stuff and even did the rock climbs and Grease Hill.

The obstacle course featured many berms and jumps, and this high-flying CJ-5 made the most of them. Jeff Wendt of Prior Lake, Minnesota, likes to compete in the Tuff Truck series and has built his Jeep to take this sort of punishment. Mud & More '98 also featured a rock-pile crawl and stump climbing if mud or jumping wasn't your flavor.

Supercharged, blown, and nitrous-fueled vehicles made the most noise, but the average driver in his regular beater seemed to have the most fun. This Chevy K-10 kept at it for quite a while, getting deeper and deeper into the mud until the tractor finally had to be called upon. Once freed, he went at it again with the perseverance of a bull terrier.

The real pros know all the tricks of the trade. As completely covered as it could be in chunky mud soup, the engine bay of this Chevy truck stayed nearly spotless. Specially placed baffles and louvers are all it takes to prevent mudtrusion of the motor. Keeping the engine and components clean greatly improves reliability.

Waiting your turn for extraction was the most common scene. This four-wheel-drive tractor worked all day long snatching downed comrades out of the bog. ALthough someone's buddy would often attempt a rescue, this practice usually led to two stuck rigs.