That's my point. It's easy to keep going because you have lockers, skid plates, crawler gears, straps, etc. Then when you get stuck, you're really stuck and way out there. Having run the Rubicon and other rowdy trails in a nicely set up landcruiser I know something about getting stuck. There aren't any good campfire stories that begin with, "I came to this steep rocky drop off in the road and I turned back."
Back on topic, ya thus stuff is way heavy. Pick and choose carefully. I'm used to the landcruiser or a pretty capable Tacoma. A Ford truck and a Hawk are in my future so I will have to recalibrate what type of terrain I'm comfy on...
Damn good advice Ronski gave..."when in doubt bail out"; however sometimes things just reach out and bite you on the ass...again, depends where you are when stuff goes sour, how much risk you are willing to assume and your preparedness for when you are truly mired in...that transitions from "what if" to "now what"...
I do appreciate these discussion and the information offered...best to "go to school" on others experiences rather that 'learning from mistakes'..while experience IS the best teacher it can also be painful.
Take all the gear in world and you are still not 'bullet proof'....but hey, life should have a big dollop of unknown to spice it up!
I will give ya'll a call when I need bailing out...never too proud to ask for help..
Phil