Grassy fields and front wheel drive

[Lutz]

Just a tip for anyone who finds themselves with traction problems and therefore unable to extracate their caravan from a grassy or muddy field or loose gravel and there's no-one around to help. Don't hitch the car up in line with the caravan, but at right angles to it, always assuming that space allows. You'll find that you should be able to get moving without further assistance like that, even under quite adverse conditions.

Apologies to the experts who know it all already.

 

[MikeJE]

Nice one Lutz, well worth knowing. Thanks.

 

[Chrisbee]

Apology accepted Lutz. lol

 

[Guest]

Or try reversing out if theres room or tow rope round A frame and over car towball, done all three in the past.

 

[Lutz]

Reversing is not as effective, but it can help if you have to hitch up the caravan in line with the car. Pushing the caravan backwards instead of tugging it can raise the front axle load slightly, thereby improving traction.

I had also thought of suggesting the towrope solution, but refrained because of the potential danger of whiplash if the rope snaps or knots come apart. You need to be VERY careful if you use towropes or recovery belts.

 

[Steve L]

Nice one Lutz.

It does work, I've done it before.

Another tip is to let your tyres down to about 10psi on the front. This gives a much larger footprint of tread on the grass.

Don't turn the steering with the vehicle stationary and when moving turn the steering gently, so as not to un-seat the tyre from the rim.

Of coarse when you are off the grass, just get out your trusty 12V air pump and re-inflate the tyres.

It's an old trick from my trial car days.

All the best.

Steve L.

 

[Peter_374392356]

If you have a caravan mover, engage it and drive the caravan and the car (very slowly) at the sametime.

 

[hgv dave]

a simpler way........get the wife to sit on the bonnet........not very pc i understand but woth a try

hgv dave

 

[emmerson2]

....or buy a 4x4!

 

[Guest]

"potential danger of whiplash if the rope snaps or knots come apart" ) :0) :0) :0)

When has anyone seen a knotted tow rope? I've only ever spliced tow ropes the same as the pro's.

Is Lutz suggesting that caravanners would try towing their pride and joy with a bit of old cord?

Have always carried a tow rope and towed caravans off pitches, when we had two wheel drive cars.

 

[Lutz]

I'm not suggesting anyone would use a bit of old cord, but a length of mooring rope or hawser can come in useful if you don't have a dedicated tow rope handy. On the other hand I've even seen proper tow ropes snap with potentially disastrous results. A couple of years ago while in the Emirates I was helping to recover a BMW X5 out of a hollow in the desert sand. We were using a Toyota Landcruiser coupled together with Merc G-Series to try to get the car out. Obviously the combined pulling power of the two cars was too much for the tow rope which duly snapped. Fortunately, there was nobody in the way and the rope only whipped up the sand, but I never heard such a bang before and had anyone been near the rope he would have certainly been seriously injured.

 

[Guest]

Always use the right tool for the job Lutz!

Top Tip

When using a tow rope or winch cable to haul a vehicle out of trouble or on to a trailer. ALWAYS DRAPE something such as car blanket, matting or even jackets over the cable or rope.

It protects people and vehicles from a snapping rope or steel cable as it slows down the snapping cable or rope ! ;0)

I've towed more than a few vehicles out of Emirates sands for over twenty five years and never had anything snap yet!

 

[Lutz]

Good point about draping something over the rope or cable, Euro.

The BMW was stuck right in a hollow and its wheels were locked due to transmission failure so we couldn't move the car forwards or backwards, but had to pull it out sideways, hence the enormous force that was required to get it out.

 

[Lutz]

Are or were you by any chance a member of the Middle East ME4x4 Club? I had relatively good contacts with them before I stopped going to the Emirates when it all became too commercial for me. I then moved to Oman for offroading, but next week I'm going to try Jordan.

 

[Lutz]

Are or were you by any chance a member of the Middle East ME4x4 Club? I had relatively good contacts with them before I stopped going to the Emirates when it all became too commercial for me. I then moved to Oman for offroading, but next week I'm going to try Jordan.

Question obviously for Euro.