Stuck In The Mud... Advice Wanted!

[Tree Reaper]

Snow chains will only work if there's a solid bottom otherwise you'll only do a better job of sinking the vehicle.

I would be looking at putting a winch on the vehicle.

If you get a receiver mount you can use it front or back.

[busted]

I would get some winter tread tires with very aggressive tread pattern. I added some photos of the tread that might work for your VW??..

The weather has been foul in the UK this year. More rain than I know what to do with. This means the showgrounds are incredibly soft and muddy and my poor old VW Transporter van keeps getting stuck.

Aside from a tow from a stonkin' great 4x4, how do you get a heavily loaded, front wheel drive vehicle out of mud where you come from?

Is there any special kit (winches etc) that might help me get out of the mire on my own? All suggestions gratefully received.

Ray

[wind power]

I use a grip hoist which is rated for 7500 lbs 100 foot cable to winch my wind generator tower (75 feet) up like a giant hinge....there are a lot of forces pulling on that grip hoist before th load starts to lighten up at a 45 degree angle and better.

The grip hoists comes in various sizes and cable lengths. They move slow! However they can be used for other things

[bluesman1951]

Oh boy where does one start ,a come along is little more than a fence stretcher unless you move into the very heavy duty kind . Being a veteran of Texas oilfields I would rather nave a chain fall with a multiplier maybe two to share the weight . Then again whats wrong with a frame mounted winch ?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

The problem has always been getting out of the site not getting in. I drive the empty van to the pitch, load up and watch it sink as the load goes on. This is a two ton van, not a bug, and it is fully loaded with a canvas 16x16 marquee plus all the stock and display kit (see attached pics). It definitely isn't going to be picked up and carried lol! Rocking and pushing sounds like a good idea until you try it with a loaded van. in 10" of mud... Also, I generally work the shows alone so there isn't anyone to help (or push) if I get stuck. Same applies to pushing stuff under the wheels. You need assistance to get them under and you can't drive at the same time

The 'come along' is a great idea (I didn't know what it was until I saw it!) and I have just invested in some ex-military ground anchors and a good sledge hammer. Hopefully they will dig in enough to give a solid pull.

Has anyone had experience of snow chains in mud? (great suggestion, Anne)

I thought long and hard about heavy pattern tyres but I drive long distances every weekend and, as you so rightly say Luke, the road noise is unbelievable when you fit them to a panel van. I'd need both hands to cover my ears!

Ray

Oh boy where does one start ,a come along is little more than a fence stretcher unless you move into the very heavy duty kind . Being a veteran of Texas oilfields I would rather nave a chain fall with a multiplier maybe two to share the weight . Then again whats wrong with a frame mounted winch ?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

The problem has always been getting out of the site not getting in. I drive the empty van to the pitch, load up and watch it sink as the load goes on. This is a two ton van, not a bug, and it is fully loaded with a canvas 16x16 marquee plus all the stock and display kit (see attached pics). It definitely isn't going to be picked up and carried lol! Rocking and pushing sounds like a good idea until you try it with a loaded van. in 10" of mud... Also, I generally work the shows alone so there isn't anyone to help (or push) if I get stuck. Same applies to pushing stuff under the wheels. You need assistance to get them under and you can't drive at the same time

The 'come along' is a great idea (I didn't know what it was until I saw it!) and I have just invested in some ex-military ground anchors and a good sledge hammer. Hopefully they will dig in enough to give a solid pull.

Has anyone had experience of snow chains in mud? (great suggestion, Anne)

I thought long and hard about heavy pattern tyres but I drive long distances every weekend and, as you so rightly say Luke, the road noise is unbelievable when you fit them to a panel van. I'd need both hands to cover my ears!

Ray

[TwinOaks]

Since the Mog is out of the question, and you have several viable ideas, can I go ahead and suggest just adding a hover craft conversion to the van? Or perhaps having some of the boys in the RAF come pick you up with a helicopter?

For storage on the van, you should have no difficulty building a low plywood floor that allows you to slide the planks under it. That way, even when loaded, you can get the planks out.

[shtoink]

We get a lot of rain where I am at, too. It's not a whole bunch all at once, but rather a continued light rain for extended periods of time. The creates puddles of standing water on the roads, occasional landslides, and the squishy, soft ground you'd expect.

Well, I got tired of hydroplaning on the roadways with the sanding water, dealing with muddy spots and getting stuck, and the dealing terrible control in the snow. I used to drive a front wheel drive sedan that drove great under ideal conditions, but those conditions are far a few between here. I ultimately went with a Subaru. A newish one that had the modern traction control, but old enough to have depreciated in value to be affordable. I can't say enough about the handling in outright nasty conditions Subaru has. I have had no issues with getting stuck in mud, hydroplaning, or snow. When it snowed last, I had some half bald all season tires and never bothered to put on any chains. It was such a drastic difference and easily explains why there is such a heavy saturation of Subarus in this region. It really feels like "everyone" drives on here.

I don't know if they are as prevalent in your area, but I do know you guys like to rally race, and that is one of those things that Subaru is known for. This makes me think that they probably aren't that uncommon and should be available at a low cost.

So, aside from carrying around a small lumber yard with you to create makeshift rail road tracks for your van, an affordable vehicle with enough room and some better traction control is probably the best bet. That is, of course, if the budget allows.