I had a bad experience at a site lately where I got the car stuck on some wet grass on one side of the road whilst trying to reverse my caravan onto a hardstanding on the other side. This worried me because if, during next summer, we arrive at a site which only has grass pitches available - are we likely to lose traction/get stuck whilst reversing the caravan on, or towing it off ? We're fairly new to caravanning and so far have only used hardstandings.
Grass pitches
- Thread starter Dave_5040233
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If there is a likelihood of getting stuck in bad weather conditions,always ask the wardens for help.They would rather put you onto a pitch with their tractor,than get the grass ruined for the rest of the season.Happy caravanning.
Dave, there is always the risk that you will loose traction on the grass especially if it is wet. I speak from experience of many years of rallying summer and winter. This is just one of the joys of caravanning. Some front wheel drive cars seem to loose traction even on dry grass, which is compounded by the high nose weight of the van. If it is possible always try to drive forwards, as reversing is harder work for the car. If you have fears then speak to the site wardens - I know that is not easy on some comercial setups.
Getting stuck on wet grass isn't down to inexperience, it's down to the wet grass! It happens to all of us! Top of the list to upset site wardens are those "experienced" caravanners who persist in manoeouvring themselves and causing major damage to pitches.
The first port of call is the site warden,but if they are not around you could try an old trialing car trick. Let your tyres on the drive wheels down to about 15 PSI ( half flat)this puts a lot more of the face of the tyre in contact with the ground, then without spinning the wheels feather the clutch and you'll be suprised how much extra grip you get. Remember one thing though the first time the drive wheel spins on grass, all the tread of the tyre is filled with mud and so you might as well be on racing slick's. I have seen guy's reving like mad and wheels spinning all over the place, all they are doing is ploughing the pitch and going the right way to be chucked of the site!! There's no shame in getting stuck and asking for help, a quick tap on the door of most caravans brings out a willing team of helpers and all for the price of a cuppa. I've been caught out a few times towing our twenty foot twin axle van with a front wheel drive car, but the advice above has always worked for us. Have fun.
In the absence of warden and tractor, consider the loading of the car. If front wheel drive, and assuming you have all the gear stacked in the back, you can increase traction considerably by unpacking first.
If rear wheel drive, try to increase traction by putting something heavy (spouse ?) onto or into boot, but do take care - just sitting on the boot lid without any good handholds is very dangerous.
If rear wheel drive, try to increase traction by putting something heavy (spouse ?) onto or into boot, but do take care - just sitting on the boot lid without any good handholds is very dangerous.
Dave, we always had front drive towcars until recently (now RWD & that gets stuck too!), so know the problem well. There's no real answer other than to live in a desert! I've always found there's a helpful 4x4 owner around, or as others have said most sites have a resident tractor - just ask.
In response to the reply that Roger L gave, I have to disagree that it is usually 4x4`s who create the most damage. I have been caravaning for a couple of yrs now and in all that time have never been stuck on wet pitches driving a 4x4. In fact I have usually found that it is the car driver who has no experience of driving on this type of terrain that churns the grass up when giving it loads of revs and turning the steering wheel lock to lock trying to gain traction. Myself and my partner both compete in off-road competative driving so have gained knowledge and experience of how to drive in this type of situation, not to mention the specialist tyres that we use, and the ability to choose diff lock and low gearing. Only this year we were at a site in November when a car was having difficulty pulling the caravan off his pitch. Although it was he end of season, my husband offered to pull his van off the pitch and managed it with no further damage being done to the pitch. I had also witnessed that a similar situation had occured earlier that morning and a Discovery pulled that van off. I would always say gain assistance from a site warden if you get stuck rather than compounding the problem of trying to pull off site with a vehicle that is not upto that sort of task.
Hi Dave,
It's always harder for the car to push the caravan backwards as the override funtion on the breaks never completely free the van breaks. Always try to get the van as close to the pitch going forwards. It's also best to not go in a straight line backwards as the whole of the van will be against the car.
It's always harder for the car to push the caravan backwards as the override funtion on the breaks never completely free the van breaks. Always try to get the van as close to the pitch going forwards. It's also best to not go in a straight line backwards as the whole of the van will be against the car.
The same happened to me in the past with front wheel drive car. In the end I used to reverse as far as I could with wheels on tarmac, unhitch and push onto pitch. Appreciate not everyone can do this.Same routine for leaving. Now I have a 4x4 so not such a problem but as any good off road driver will tell you, the worst thing to drive on is grass.
As other posts say, if you get stuck just ask for help. Most caravanners are only to pleased to help.
As other posts say, if you get stuck just ask for help. Most caravanners are only to pleased to help.
In response to RogerL and others of the anti 4x4 brigade, could they have stickers on their vans to that effect so that if they get into trouble I will not be one of the 4x4 drivers towing them off
The cheapest way is to get some panels to put in front of your tyres to prevent spinning. Should your wheels spin on account try again, rather unhitch and try the car in a different position. The cheaper alternative to purchasing a 4 x 4 is to have a motor mover fitted and end of problem!
In response to Luckie's comments I have to say that unfortuantely a lot of 4 x 4 driver's are not as competent as he when it comes to using the capabilities of a 4 x 4 correctly and assume that a 4 x 4 can do anything. I learnt the hard way.
In response to Luckie's comments I have to say that unfortuantely a lot of 4 x 4 driver's are not as competent as he when it comes to using the capabilities of a 4 x 4 correctly and assume that a 4 x 4 can do anything. I learnt the hard way.
Just a couple of points. When setting off on grass in either direction do not use the gas peddle. If you let the clutch in gently, the engine will automatically speed up to maintian tick over and you will move off at a crawl. You're far less likly to get wheel spin. I also carry a couple of pieces of ribbed plastic made by Fiama. They go under the wheels and provide grip. Can't remember what they're called but they are bright yellow, light weight and more importantly they work!!
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