The very first rule of 4-wheeling is: "When in doubt; check it out".
The second rule of 4-wheeling is: "Pick the appropriate line of travel".
It would have been a good idea to get out on foot and examine the condition of the soil before attempting to cross with the heavy VX. In addition; with as much extra shoulder room you had on the trail, it would have been smart to "stradle" the trail tracks with one set of tires on the middle crown and the other set of tires on the firm grassy shoulder. Lesson learned.
Contrary to Peanut Butter Kid's advice; your scenario of being stuck in the mud is a prime example of why a "high-lift" jack would be absolutely worthless, as the high-lift jack would simply bury itself deeper into the mud immediately upon jacking. The very best jack used for muddy situations is the famous "Inflatable Exhaust Air-Jack" that has high flotation capability and a wide footprint enabling it to still lift up the vehicle. A simple "come-a-long" can be used in lieu of a winch.
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