Moab is home to some of America’s gnarliest and most demanding off-road trails and few obstacles are a tougher test of a 4×4 than the Devil’s Hot Tub.
As the name implies, Devil’s Hot Tub is a bathtub-shaped rut in the rocky landscape that off-road enthusiasts frequently attempt to drive down into and then throttle out. It’s a test for even the most credentialed off-roader and recently proved to be far too much for a modified Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
A clip recently shared to Instagram that was discovered by the folks at The Drive shows the owner of the blue Gladiator Rubicon attempting to accelerate out of the rut but before long, the capable pickup truck starts to bounce up and down while fighting for traction. Commenters say that as soon as this happened, the driver should have let off the throttle, rolled back down, and tried again. Instead, he spent a few extra seconds on the throttle and soon, the driver’s side front wheel slipped out of place and was torn off completely as the Jeep slid back down.
Off-roading experts note that the driver’s decision to install large new wheels and tires on the Gladiator while not also upgrading the axles proved to be his downfall.
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Unsurprisingly, many people commenting on the Instagram video have very little sympathy for the driver and his choice of wheels. “37s on stock axle Cs are for display online, at the mall, parked in front of the Gap,” one person wrote, while another sarcastically asked, “Do they make a fender badge for the knuckle delete?”
While we don’t have any footage of what happened after the Jeep lost its wheel, it obviously had to be towed out. Here’s hoping that the owner takes this as a valuable lesson on how important it can be to also upgrade the axles of an off-roader if you are to install a new wheel and tire package.
