Stuck In The Mud... Advice Wanted!

[UKRay]

All good advice, and I thank you all for it, but the cost of running a 4x4 is tooooooo heavy. I'm getting around 50 mpg fully loaded from the VW. A LandRover will do 20 at best - more likely 16. A Unimog would be wonderful. I have always wanted one! Once again, fuel costs are a barrier. A Mog is a thirsty beast and I'm travelling up to 400 miles to get to a show.

Honest guys, I do look very closely at the field before driving on it...

I'm not planning on using the 'escape kit' too often but I need to make some decisions very soon. The hand operated 'come-along' has been ordered - I know it will be laborious to use but when there is no other option it will, at least, get me out and on my way home.

I have never fitted snow chains - is there any advice I ought to have before spending money?

Thanks,

Ray

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Chains will fit a range of tires, and will need to be fitted to your particular tires once purchased. You need a set of bolt cutters to do this.Once trimmed to size they are not that hard to put on. You would want to put them on before entering the field, as trying to put themon after getting stuck would be a mess.

Another item that you may want to purchase is a HY-Lift jack, sometimes called a handyman jack. Off road shops carry them here in the states. They are a ratcheting type of jack, and they are very versatile. They have a 7,000# lifting capacity, and will lft several feet high. They come in 48", and 60" tall configurations. You see these strapped to Jeeps , and other off road vehicles here. I own several myself, and have used them for many things over the years. I have bought all of mine second hand, and have paid from $5 to $25 each. All of mine are the forged/cast style, not the fabbed sheet steel version.

I would like some more info on your VeeDub. 50mpg loaded!? Diesel? Pictures? I have a 2001 Dodge Cummins HO turbo diesel 3500 4x4 dually extra cab 6spd.My best is 22 mpg unloaded.Pretty good considering it weighs 8,000# empty, 4:10 gears,4x4, and it has the aerodynamics of a barn. Weighing in at 18,000# towing a trailer I got 13mpg on a 700 mile trip which included some looooooooong steep grades.Of course or fuel costs here are less expensive. I paid $3.55 a gallon for diesel a couple of weeks ago in Las Vegas. Mesquite NV has it for $3:69 a gallon. I thought I was doing great with my 98 Saturn SW2 averaging 40mpg. .

[RickHodges]

If I understand you correctly, you are getting bogged down as you are stopped and load the van. Try carrying 4 2x12x48"planks, put them down and park/stop on them. That should give you a wide enough footprint to stop you from sinking in. Once loaded drive off without stopping until you reach solid ground, then retrieve your planks. The planks can also be used in conjuction with jacks to lift bogged down wheels, place a plank under to free yourself.

Edited June 20, 2012 by RickHodges

[UKRay]

The van is red... and that is the extent of my vehicle knowledge. Oh, and it is right hand drive for all those of you who drive on the wrong side of the road. lol.

Brilliant idea, Rick. I'll deal with that one asap. Blowed if I know where I'll put 'em but I'll find a space somewhere!

Now where do I put the jacks and chains?

Ray

[EKbar]

UkRay

Biggundoctor's suggestion is real good about the HY-Lift it also can be set up to be used as a come-along by using shackles an strategically placed holes. This gives you multiple options. One other option you might consider for your situation is ramps for loading motorcycles, these usually come in aluminum and are light if you rig up some ply wood to them they could help you slide item in to the van. If you get stuck they could be placed under a tire for traction like floor mats and wood that has been suggested. The ramps have given me traction when my 1ton Dually Dodge 4x4 with 3 horse trailer and horses were stuck, after the frost had thawed leaving the ground slick and muddy.

Eddie

EK

Leather and Iron Works.

[dirtclod]

Ray just think how cool it would be driving up in a Unimog. Plus you could make some extra money pulling folks out when they were stuck or you could do it for free and be the hero. Either way a win win. A man with your money cost isn't a problem. :-)

I wish i got 50 miles to the gallon. 31.5 miles is the best i have ever done. I did find a picture of your van on the net and would love to have one. But we can't buy them because of the chicken tax. You can read about it here. https://www.google.com/search?q=chicken+tax&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a Anyway hope you kill a bear and i hope you don't get stuck again.

[UKRay]

You have no idea how much I want a Unimog... but it ain't going to happen any time soon!

Money? I just have a huge pile of leather, a box full of tools and a load of bills - just like every other leatherworker I have ever met. lol.

Hopefully, thanks to everyone's kindness, I'll have a couple of 'get out of jail free' card to play next time I get stuck.

Cheers guys,

Ray

[mlapaglia]

As for the planks attach them the the back of the van with some long ropes. When you drive off them the ropes will pull them along till you stop. Saves you from having to walk so far back to get them. Same trick is used with floor mats. FYI, you can place the edge of the floor mat under the tire without assistance. But the planks are better put on before.

[UKRay]

As for the planks attach them the the back of the van with some long ropes. When you drive off them the ropes will pull them along till you stop. Saves you from having to walk so far back to get them. Same trick is used with floor mats. FYI, you can place the edge of the floor mat under the tire without assistance. But the planks are better put on before.

Superb idea!

Ray

[ferret]

Another alternative would be to switch to stam fairs, always pleny of interesting vehicles to tow you out