Does anyone have any tips on how to get off a muddy pitch? I got stuck on a grass/mud pitch recently. The towcar's wheels were spinning and I was going nowhere. I got it sorted eventually but would welcome any tips from more experienced caravanners should it happen to me again.
Getting off a muddy pitch
- Thread starter claudia-dowell
- Start date
the caravan can be "walked" off. its hard work but can be done. Basically you swing the unit from side to side pivoting along the axle. You may have to lift the hitch while someone else swings the van.
i did this at sight near Brighton some 15 years ago. The site becam so heavily water logged eeven a local tractor could n ot help so 4 of us walked the van off.... it nearly killed me doing it.
yopu could of course get some cheap "open weave" plastic door mats and place them under the wheels of the car, or if you have an awning carpet ( the breathable type) lay it out and use it as mat to drive over... ruins the awning carpet but you can get off the field.
i did this at sight near Brighton some 15 years ago. The site becam so heavily water logged eeven a local tractor could n ot help so 4 of us walked the van off.... it nearly killed me doing it.
yopu could of course get some cheap "open weave" plastic door mats and place them under the wheels of the car, or if you have an awning carpet ( the breathable type) lay it out and use it as mat to drive over... ruins the awning carpet but you can get off the field.
long long length of tow rope ( I use Spectra Double Braided, very lightweight, next to no stretch good for 12000+ KG )
1. Move the car to where you can get good traction and slowly carefully tow the van from its space
or
2. Trade in the tug for a 4x4
1. Move the car to where you can get good traction and slowly carefully tow the van from its space
or
2. Trade in the tug for a 4x4
Greetings,
If you are a distance from 'the road' you need the same long tow rope attached to car and caravan with someone at the front of the caravan to apply the handbrake when necessary and a strong person on the rope.
Using the car pull the rope between car and caravan taut. Apply handbrake to car. Strong person then pulls sideways on rope ( as if it were a bow string).
When rope has been diverted from straight line, person on caravan handbrake applies it and then the car is edged forward until rope is taut again.
The above is then repeated until such time as car is on road or firm ground.
If you are a distance from 'the road' you need the same long tow rope attached to car and caravan with someone at the front of the caravan to apply the handbrake when necessary and a strong person on the rope.
Using the car pull the rope between car and caravan taut. Apply handbrake to car. Strong person then pulls sideways on rope ( as if it were a bow string).
When rope has been diverted from straight line, person on caravan handbrake applies it and then the car is edged forward until rope is taut again.
The above is then repeated until such time as car is on road or firm ground.
I would agree with No1 above – use a tow rope, I have seen it done a couple of times before, in fact the last time I saw someone stuck like this by the time I had put my shoes on and found the keys to my 4x4 and got outside to offer to pull it for him he had the rope on and was on the move. Alternatively if there is room swing the front of the caravan round so the car is at a different angle.
The tow rope works really well. Also I have used the mover to get the van off but you need to get the noseweight down so the jockey wheel does not dig in. When I had a 2wd fwd car and used this option I just asked my other half to get into the van and move slowly to the back until the noseweight came lighter. Then just drive the van onto firm ground.
Many years ago on a site at Hexham racecourse, a front wheel drive car could not pull the van up the slight incline on the grass/mud. They tried mats under the wheels but still no joy. Eventually I reversed my rear wheel drive car down the site, hitched it up to their van and towed it up the site to level ground
Damian
Moderator
Using a tow rope works well, as does using a motor mover if you have one .
With the mover it is better, if possible, to reverse the van and have the jockey wheel trailing to avoid it digging in.
With the mover it is better, if possible, to reverse the van and have the jockey wheel trailing to avoid it digging in.
Lowering tyre pressure doesn't help much if at all on wet grass and mud.
I know nothing about the bow string idea.
With a long length of safe braided rope that you could suspend both the car and caravan from safely you just pull the caravan away from its spot. ( obviously caravan hand brake needs to be covered )
If you suspect the ground is going to be wet put some wood under the wheels when you park and then the van doesn't sink into the field. A couple of lengths of 3'x 1' marine grade ply from our previous caravanning exploits have survived for many years and a smaller piece to go under the jockey wheel.
I know nothing about the bow string idea.
With a long length of safe braided rope that you could suspend both the car and caravan from safely you just pull the caravan away from its spot. ( obviously caravan hand brake needs to be covered )
If you suspect the ground is going to be wet put some wood under the wheels when you park and then the van doesn't sink into the field. A couple of lengths of 3'x 1' marine grade ply from our previous caravanning exploits have survived for many years and a smaller piece to go under the jockey wheel.
some say hitch your car up at a angle to pull away it may help but carnt see it if you got a lot off ground to cover.
Have used Forests suggestion to good effect before. Hitched up at angle to van, old car rubber mats under car front tyres, car therefore grips and moves before full weight of van takes effect, diesel car into 2nd gear and it chugged off 100 yards onto tarmac road. No messing up the pitch either.
I've caravanned for 28 years now and had to ask for a tow in January this year when we were surrounded by 7" of snow. Our friendly site warden Dennis, drove his trusty 1950's Fergie tractor without a cab over at towed us off. Even he had wheelspin so you can imagine how bad the weather was. I did tip him a drop of Scotlands finest to warm him up. That was my first time I'd needed a tow off.
I carry a hand winch, track mats and a tow rope as part of my normal kit, but trying to winch off in heavy snow is "snow joke"!!
One thing I've found quite effective is to lower thw tyre pressure of the drive axle tyres to 10Psi. This put's down a larger foot print of tyre onto the ground. Of coarse, one must have a pump handy to re-inflate the tyres as soon as you are on firm ground. Also do not travel more than walking pace as you do risk damaging the sidewalls of the tyre if you go faster. But when your stuck you do have to think outside the box.
By far the best and first coarse of action is to contact the site warden and ask for a tow. That way, if he refuses you can ligitimately use your recovery methods and should minor grass damage be caused, you can't be deemed irrespossable as you did ask and consult the warden before actions.
Atb Steve L.
I carry a hand winch, track mats and a tow rope as part of my normal kit, but trying to winch off in heavy snow is "snow joke"!!
One thing I've found quite effective is to lower thw tyre pressure of the drive axle tyres to 10Psi. This put's down a larger foot print of tyre onto the ground. Of coarse, one must have a pump handy to re-inflate the tyres as soon as you are on firm ground. Also do not travel more than walking pace as you do risk damaging the sidewalls of the tyre if you go faster. But when your stuck you do have to think outside the box.
By far the best and first coarse of action is to contact the site warden and ask for a tow. That way, if he refuses you can ligitimately use your recovery methods and should minor grass damage be caused, you can't be deemed irrespossable as you did ask and consult the warden before actions.
Atb Steve L.
Thank you for all your great tips. I obviously need to add a few extra bits, such as tow rope and marine ply (I already carry grip mats), to my touring kit list. Having the car at an angle to the caravan is something I might try in the future.
The caravan wheels can settle in to the ground after you park up. Pulling out straight you are trying two pull the van out of two divots,
Pull it from the side and it pivots so you free one wheel first and that uses less effort than pulling the wheels from two divots
Pull it from the side and it pivots so you free one wheel first and that uses less effort than pulling the wheels from two divots
yep totally agree use the mover and tow off using long tow rope OR you could just try to select a pitch that is at the top of the field instead of the btm in wet weather.
just a thought
colin
just a thought
colin
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