Talking to friends in the northern hemisphere, some of them are really grateful they own 4wds right now. Having a proper off-roader lets them keep driving when lesser cars give up. Unfortunately even the toughest vehicle isn’t immune to snow and ice, and if you do a lot of winter driving you’re probably going to get a bit stuck sooner or later. If that happens, unless you know how to get yourself out again it’s going to be a frustrating – and even dangerous – process.
4wd Recovery
Knowing the right way to recover your vehicle is crutial to any safe and fun 4wd trip. Being prepared to get stuck is best way to have an enjoyable journey. We’ve prepared some vital recovery information in the article below to help you be prepared for your trip.
4wd Recovery Techniques
If you want to know what "sinking feeling" really means, try driving into a patch of deep mud. Suddenly it feels like your wheels have been dipped in glue, the steering stops working, your vehicle starts to settle and speed falls off. Before you know it you're stopped. And stuck. If you go off road in wet weather you're going to have this experience sooner or later, so you need to be prepared for it. Part of that is having the right gear to get yourself out; you also need to know what to do. Trial and error is not the way to go when you have a couple of tons of vehicle up to its axles in mud. We thought we'd put together a few tips to help you out.
We’re big fans of trailers and caravans; why limit yourself to the space inside your vehicle when it has the power to haul a whole load more gear behind it? The bush isn’t always a kind place to equipment though, and if you haul a trailer through it for long enough eventually something’s going to break. Then what? Do you give up, call the AAC and wait for a tow home? There’s no need for that. With a few spares and simple tools you can be on the move again in no time.
When there's snow on the ground a good 4wd vehicle is the best way to get around. Even then you're not invulnerable though – with enough snow in the wrong place, anything can get stuck. Not to worry, if you do manage to get yourself bogged in the white stuff it's usually possible to get going again before spring comes and it all melts. Here are our top tips for getting yourself out of winter dramas.
Driving in sand can be a lot of fun. If you ever get the chance to go dune running in the Sahara or the Empty Quarter, take it. It can also be pretty easy. Hard-packed sand is a fairly good surface for driving and you shouldn't have any dramas as long as you remember not to brake too sharply. Loose sand is a different matter though. Even a great driver can easily get stuck. Dunes or loose patches will trap you unless you keep some momentum, and if you lose it you're probably going to come to a halt pretty quickly. Getting going again can be a challenge.
The first rule of keeping moving through difficult ground is keep the engine running. Sometimes it doesn’t want to, though. Put too much strain on it and any engine can stall. When we first started driving most of us probably stalled at the lights a few times. That’s always a bit of a red face moment. Go off road and stalling becomes a lot easier, though. Picking your way slowly across rough ground and a fast-changing surface will give you plenty of opportunities to feel that sudden jolt and experience unexpected and unwelcome silence. Luckily we have a few tips (and yes, they’re based on experience) on how to get moving again.
When you need to tow a normal car it’s pretty simple to set up – just fasten a tow rope or strap to the towing point in the front bumper and away you go. If you’re towing your 4wd on the road the same drill works fine. That’s not the only kind of towing an off road vehicle can expect, though. Most of us who like to get away from it all have spent some time standing beside a bogged in Ute or Land Cruiser wondering what to do next, and often the solution involves complex operations with winches or fixing a big strap to a mate’s wagon and getting dragged out of there. When you get into that sort of stuff you need somewhere secure to attach the towing gear, and your standard tow points aren’t always up to the job.
Half the fun of a 4wd is that you can take it almost anywhere. Rivers, rough ground or thick bush that would defeat a normal car… no worries, just drive on through. A well set up off road vehicle can really get around. Of course it’s not invincible and if you enjoy getting away from it all then sooner or later you’re going to find you’re stuck. Now here’s a nice test of your outdoor abilities – can you get moving again?
Recovery straps are a vital part of any 4wd equipment list. It is important to know what you're getting when you buy your next recovery strap. In this article we explain the differences between Recovery Straps, Snatch Straps, Winch Extensions, Tree Trunk Protectors and Equalizer Straps.
Tyre repair equipment is not often thought of when packing for a trip. Often people will think the old spare tyre on the back of the truck will do the job and get them out of trouble, and in many cases it will. However, tyre repair equipment is as essential as a snatch strap when it comes to four wheel driving. There are many options when it comes to buying tyre repair products and we aim to show you a few with this article.
Outback Australia can be a very inhospitable place. If you find yourself in the middle of a trip without being prepared for recovering your vehicle from sand, snow or mud, you might be in for a long night. So which sand ladder or track type recovery device is right for you? We've put together this comparison of products available from retail stores and online.
Sometimes a snatch recovery is not practical or could prove too dangerous in the event the car may roll or become damaged during the recovery. Often a more controlled and slower approach is required.
Using a jack to recover a vehicle is done when a wheel is able to removed from a rut if the car is stuck on its underbody. Often the vehicle will be jacked up and lifted out of the holes it is in. Once lifted, the holes under the wheels can be filled with dirt / sand / logs etc in order to enable the car to drive out of the bog.
A stuck vehicle can be recovered using a product called a snatch strap. The strap is used to pull the bogged vehicle free. The strap is not tensioned before the recovery takes place. Instead the strap is laid loose and the tow vehicle is used to tension the strap like a rubber band. The stuck vehicle is “snatched” free and pulled to safety.
