Driving on mud

[Carl_G]

Last night my friend and I were driving on grass that became so muddy that the tires of our work vehicle (chevy Tahoe part time 4wd) started to sink and eventually all they would do was spin. I almost got sick because recovery would have been at least $800.

Anyway, I tried everything to free it by moving forward and backward. It would gain a little momentum but just get stuck again. My friend then tried and got it out no prob. He said he feathered the gas instead and it worked.

Traction control was off and if was in 4 low. We had no fraction aids as this was an area we visited before when the grass was solid.

Can anyone explain why his method worked? He doesn't know why.

Thanks.

 

[J-money$$$]

AIR DOWN NEXT TIME!. makes all the difference. run them tires right around 8 psi in the mud. And feathering the gas works because it keeps the tires from spinning. When you mash on that skinny pedal it just breaks the tires loose. THink of doing a burnout, once you get the tires spinning its easy to keep it going. Same applies here. And even if you were stuck im sure with a high lift, shovel, and some friends you could get out. I would do a lot for $800.

I use to take my friend with a silverado with a V8 out in the creek bed by my house, he would always get stuck because he would just smash the gas in the sand....

 

[Carl_G]

Thanks good advice!

 

[Hawkdog21]

Above is correct if you are not working with a truck with mud tires. If it had a/ts or street tires spinning them fast in mud will do nothing. Mud terrains need to spin in order to clear the tread, bite down again and clean their way to solid ground. What he did was give it enough gas not to break the traction, if the tires are packed and you punch it, its a slippery surface attacking a slippery surface, and nothing will happen, but by giving it a small amount of throttle he was able to keep the small amount of traction he had.

 

[Presta24]

what psi should u run in MT's in the mudd?

 

[Hawkdog21]

It depends on a lot of things, but to keep it short. I live in georgia and wheel all over the southeast (georgia clay is the toughest mud I have yet to find, and I have wheeled all over the US). I generally run around 17-18 psi. It still gives me clearance and peace of mind from popping a bead, but gives me a good foot print.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Running a little more pressure in the tires for mud then for rocks has worked well for me... usually around 18psi.

Another example of why I tell clients to shift into 4wd as soon as they leave pavement... these holes are usually much easier if you don't dig yourself in first.

4Lo 2nd gear is usually a pretty good mix for MT tires in the mud, and 1st gear or 3rd gear with AT tires... just make sure not to over-rev the engine (either you creep through with steady traction or build up enough momentum to bull doze your way through it). There is technique involved, and practice makes better.

Another trick is to get a set of tire chains for the truck. They work quite well in mud.

 

[Ross]

Turn your tires back and forth, this may allow the sidewall to get some traction in the ruts, some tires are better designed for this then others. You feather the gas hopping to take advantage of traction you get but you don't want to keep on digging yourself in.

 

[J-money$$$]

what psi should u run in MT's in the mudd?

when i go down to the creek to play in the water and mud i usually run 10 psi or less. The mud here is really easy to skink down into. Its a sandy river bottom. and 18 psi! dang you guys like them pumped up... I rund about 12 in the rocks, under 10 in the sand or mud. Seems to work real nice. and i have yet to blow a tire off the bead.

My friends have trucks with 36" tirse or 35s and when i ride with them out at the hammers and stuff they usually run under 10 psi

 

[JB.]

Carl, generally, aired down is the safest bet as you want to avoid dragging the undercarriage at all costs. IF you happen to know that the road bed a couple of inches down is firm, higher pressure would perform better in that circumstance if the mud was slick.