When driving away from paved roads, almost anything can happen. For example, you may unexpectedly drive off the road into fields below. Or just in the fall or spring, when incessant rains have turned the country roads into an impassable swamp where even a powerful SUV, not to mention a standard front-wheel drive car, can get stuck.
In this article you will learn how to get out if you are stuck in the mud. As a rule, in such a situation you cannot do without the help of others, however, there are several ways in which you can get out of the mud on your own.
The first method: correctly distribute the weight on a car with rear- and front-wheel drive
It is much easier to get out of the mud with front-wheel drive, as it gives its owner greater maneuverability, which cannot be said about rear-wheel drive.
On front wheel drive:
- Unload the rear of the car and load the front. If you're traveling alone, simply move your luggage from the trunk to the front seat. If you are with a group, then leave one passenger in the front and get everyone out of the rear seats;
- Drive away smoothly and slowly turn the steering wheel left and right to try to find traction at the edge of the track.
On rear wheel drive:
- In this case, on the contrary, you need to load the rear axle and unload the front. Or simply move the passenger from the front seat to the rear.
- Just keep the steering wheel straight.
- Move slowly in the opposite direction. In this case, you can apply the handbrake to avoid wheel slipping.
Didn't help, is the car firmly seated? Then place tree branches, stones, boards, and rubber mats under the drive wheels. And again, we slowly try to get out of the mud.
Put a stick on the wheel
If the mud trap is long, the method of rocking and placing branches under the wheels will not work. You can also use another original method to get out of the mud. All you need for this is a piece of stick or board and a roll of adhesive tape. Using sticks or fragments of boards, you need to build an analogue of the lug for the wheels. This simple device will increase the traction of the wheels and the ground and increase the vehicle's cross-country ability.
Transverse lug
A short stick, approximately 30-50 cm wider than the tire itself, is suitable for this. We tie this device to the tire using tape or any rope. It is important to ensure that the stick does not damage the wheel arch from the inside with its edges. For a guaranteed effect, you can attach the poles to both drive wheels.
Radial lug
We also use a stick or board, the length of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the wheel along with the tire. We fasten the stick clearly along the radius of the wheel so that it protrudes 5-10 cm beyond the wheel on both sides. Place plastic bottles or something similar under the stick to prevent it from scratching the car body.
Now you theoretically know how to pull a car out of a ditch, but at the end of the article we will give some tips to avoid this unpleasant situation. If it is not possible to get around a difficult section of the road, it is better to prevent the problem and do everything to avoid getting stuck in the mud.
- Reduced tire pressure. If you are approaching a problem section of the road, it is recommended to slightly reduce the tire pressure, this will increase the chances of overcoming off-road conditions.
- Smooth movement. You should drive on a broken road slowly, without sudden acceleration or braking. Increasing speed can cause wheels to spin, which can lead to the vehicle sinking into the mud.
- No stopping. Try to move without stopping; when you resume movement, the car will almost certainly skid and get stuck in the mud.
- Turn the steering wheel. It is recommended to rotate the steering wheel with a small amplitude to the right and left, loosening your grip slightly. This driving style is needed to find traction at the edges of the tracks.
- Don't get caught in a rut. On dirt roads there are always knurled places where fairly deep ruts form. Try not to get into these grooves, otherwise you risk “sitting on your belly.”
Traveling behind the wheel of a car in good company is an exciting experience. But do not forget that unforeseen situations may occur along the way. The main thing is to always be alert and act confidently, and then you won’t be afraid of any dirt.
- Author: Alexey Vinokurov
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The second method: “rocking up” on automatic and manual
If the previous method of getting out of the mud did not help you, try rocking your car. This can be done alone or with the help of friends. For this to work, the car needs to move forward and backward, gradually increasing the distance traveled. On a manual transmission, this is achieved by periodically engaging first and reverse gears. At the same time, try to spin your wheels as little as possible so as not to get stuck in the mud even more. And as soon as you feel that the car has swung to the maximum, try to drive sharply in the right direction. Also operate the clutch carefully so as not to burn it.
If you can't change gears quickly, you can try rocking the car using the clutch. As a rule, this works in cases where the car's wheels get into a recess. To do this, engage first or reverse gear and drive away slowly. And after you feel the wheels start to spin, release the gas and press the clutch. At this moment the car should roll in the opposite direction. And as soon as it stops rolling away and begins to return on its own in the right direction, release the clutch again, helping the car climb up. Most likely, you will have to repeat the above steps several times before you get out onto a solid surface.
How to get out of the mud automatically with the help of rocking?
As a rule, cars with automatic transmission are equipped with various additional electronics that prevent the wheels from slipping when cornering. That's why when you try to drive out of the mud, the car will behave completely differently. Moreover, with an automatic you will not be able to change gears at the same speed as with a manual. Therefore, no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to rock the car by quickly changing gears. Even if you try to do this, your automatic transmission will simply refuse.
What to advise if a car with an automatic transmission is stuck in the mud? Everything is the same as in the previous case. Use the method of rocking the car halfway - without using reverse gear. That is, start moving all the way, and then simply roll in the opposite direction and forward again. Only instead of pressing the clutch, you need to switch the automatic transmission lever to the “N” position, and when you need to get under way, to the “D” position.
Correct tire installation
To drive out of a snowy place, you need to align your tires correctly when installing them. The car owner must change summer to winter ones in time. Spikes on the treads help fight ice and snowdrifts.
Correct installation, if stuck, is performed according to the following parameters:
- tread pattern type;
- direction of rotation. Usually indicated by an arrow on the wheels;
- outer and inner side of the tire. It is written in English “outside” and “inside” respectively;
- installation side: left or right.
Read
All about automatic transmission AF17 (AW60-41SN): algorithm, connection diagram, location
These parameters can be obtained from the seller in an official car store, but usually the direction and sides of the tire are indicated on the tires. In addition to proper installation, the tires must be balanced. The behavior of the car on the road and when trying to drive out of the snow depends on balancing.
I would be interested to know if you pay attention to tire parameters when purchasing?
Third method: use a winch or make one from scrap materials
You can also get out of the mud using a winch. It is selected according to the weight of your car. You can hook it to a tree, pole or other object. If you don’t have one, then you can make a winch from improvised materials.
To do this, you need to have a crowbar and two cables with you. You will also need a wooden block or a metal rod for leverage, but you can use a shovel handle or a tree branch instead. It is better if the cable is not flat, but in the form of a pigtail, as it is more resistant to torsional loads.
We drive a crowbar into the ground, tie one end of the cable to a tree or pole, and attach the other end to the crowbar so that it can freely rotate in place without being pulled to the tree. Make sure that the rope does not sag, but is attached tightly to the top of the crowbar.
Let's move on to the second cable. We tie one end to a branch and the other to the car. Carefully wind the branch onto the device, the cable should be located as low to the ground as possible. This will give you some leverage that will allow you to free your car from the mud.
Make sure that the device is strong, the cable is not rotten, and the crowbar does not jump out of the ground.
What information does the car owner need to provide when filling out an application?
If your crossover is stuck and you need off-road towing services, you should provide the specialists with as much information as possible. This will help technicians select the optimal type of special equipment for removing and transporting the crossover.
First of all, you should note the make of the car and its model. In addition, the application must indicate:
• type of breakdown (if the inability to move independently is related to this);
• terrain features;
• location of towing eyes;
• distance from the location of the car to the road with a hard (asphalt, concrete) surface.
Fourth method: getting out of the mud using a jack
What to do if the car sits on its belly and the wheels are just spinning in the mud? In this case, it is best to use a jack. But to use it you need a flat and hard surface. What if there is a solid swamp underneath you? And here there is a way out; you can use a wide board as a support. If there is none, make a platform from branches or place a rubber mat or spare tire. Using a jack, lift the drive wheels of the car and place something solid under them: it could be branches, stones or even straw. In any case, your goal is to make the bottom of the car rise above the ground.
Dig up the snow
When there is a lot of snow and it is wet, rocking does not always help. In this case, it is necessary to clear the wheels and the space around them. For this you will need a shovel, which it is advisable to carry in the trunk in winter.
If you don’t have a shovel, use your feet, a stick, cardboard and other available means. Your goal is to remove the snow from under the wheels and clear a track for them.
Be sure to check if the exhaust pipe is clogged with snow. At best, the engine will stall, at worst, gases may enter the cabin.
Sometimes in deep snow a car gets stuck because it sits on its belly, and the wheels, having lost grip, literally spin in the air. The problem is solved by clearing the snow under the bottom.
If you have nothing to clean with, you can jump on the door sills to compact the snow and lower the car. Another option is to jack up the car and lower it sharply.
Fifth method: how to get out of the mud with a stick
There is also another simple and original way to get out of the mud, which simply could not help but end up in this article. All you need is a piece of board or stick and a roll of duct tape. Then everything is simple. Tape the stick tightly to the car tire. This interesting modernization will allow a simple passenger car not only to get out of the mud, but also to drive where even a powerful SUV can get stuck.
Be sure to watch another video on how to get out of the mud with a stick and duct tape.
Psychological aspects
Off-roading is a tricky thing. When setting out on the road to a thicket or village, you should be mentally prepared.
When getting ready to travel, you need to have several useful devices in your car, at least a car shovel and a cable. If you get stuck, you don’t need to immediately press the gas pedal, this will only make the situation worse, and the rescue process will drag on for hours. There is nothing to grieve and lament, anyway, in the deep forest there is no one to help, it is always better to rely only on yourself. Calm down and act is the only way to quick salvation. This is especially true for female drivers.
Sixth method: towing the car
If the car is stuck, and all your attempts to get out of the mud have ended in failure, then all you can do is follow the tractor.
However, you need to remember that if your vehicle is supported on its belly, then trying to pull it with a truck or tractor can seriously damage the chassis, engine pan or exhaust system components. Therefore, in this case, before rescuing the car from the mud trap, lift it with a jack and place something solid under the wheels: branches, stones, boards. And if possible, post them all along the way.
Attach the tow rope only in the required places (these attachment points are described in the vehicle manual). The force required to pull a vehicle out of the mud must be much greater than that used during normal towing. Therefore, the cable should be attached to very strong body elements, such as the front/rear axle, tow bar, etc.
Modern cars have special sockets for inserting a hook, which are designed for towing a car. Before you start screwing in the hook, such a socket must be thoroughly cleaned of sand, dirt and other contaminants to be sure that the hook has been screwed to the required depth.
To make screwing easier, pre-lubricate the hook threads with any grease or oil. When it is not there, drops of oil from the dipstick, which is used to measure the oil level in the engine, are suitable for lubrication.
To pull a car out of a sand and mud trap, you should not use steel cables. They are stiff and not flexible enough, which means they don't absorb shock at all. The elastic rope provides much greater energy absorption when pulling the car out of the mud.
The correct and reliable connection of ropes, staples, etc. is extremely important. If any of the elements are not attached exactly as it should, then at the decisive moment it can “come loose,” thereby creating a threat to human health or even life.
New articles
- How to avoid getting tangled in the pedals? Location of gas, brake and clutch on manual and automatic
- How to tow a car with an automatic transmission? — Practical advice for drivers
Car stuck in sand
When driving on a road with sandy soil, you need to have an idea of what to do if the car gets stuck due to insufficient sand density. The free-flowing properties of this material contribute to the rapid sinking of the machine if the surface is not compacted enough, especially when moving up or down.
In such a situation, all of the above methods that were described for getting rid of dirt will help. A rubber mat placed under the wheel is especially effective.
Another opportunity to get out of such captivity is to wet the sand. Then the moistened area is covered with whatever is at hand - bush branches, rags, car mats, etc. This will compact the sand and reduce wheel slip due to increased traction. Sometimes it can be effective to lower your tires.
In these circumstances, there is little chance that digging out the wheels will help, since it is not so easy to get to a solid base.
As can be seen from the presented material, a way out of any difficult situation is possible, the main thing is not to panic and choose the right course of action. The equipment prudently placed in the trunk will come in handy. But the best solution for drivers is to avoid traveling in bad weather, especially on bad roads.
It is worth considering the choice of cable
This small but useful item should be in the car at all times. According to traffic rules, the length of the tow rope for a passenger car must be 4-6 meters with at least two red and white flags placed. This thing will come in handy in a situation where the driver is alone, and when another person can help him pull the car out of the mud.
You need to be careful when buying cables from Chinese manufacturers. In the passport for the product they indicate one length, but in reality it turns out to be a completely different size. In a difficult situation, this can play a bad role. If you select a product with a length shorter than four meters, the risk of collision with a towing vehicle increases. You should also not buy a product that is too long: it will cause inconvenience when maneuvering and turning.
