Hitting the tracks or sandy beaches for some 4WDing this weekend? If you’ll be rolling solo, check out our mates over at 4WD Action Top Tips for getting out of those tough spots.
Spend less time bogged, and more time Taking in the Gold!
Tag: 4×4
Best of Cape York
Hear the top 3 tips to make your next Take in the GOLD adventure even better. When exploring the toughest track that Cape York has to offer, pitch your camp up at Sam Creek and discover the untapped hidden gems just meters from your spot. From an epic beach run along pure white sand, to collecting oysters off the rocks, Cape York has got your weekend sorted.
Bush Communication Tips
Minor emergency: We’re down to the last 3 beers in the esky… While the boys joke around, communications in the bush are absolutely essential. Check out their top tips for when your off the beaten track below.
Mud driving secrets
Powering through the bog holes is just about as much fun as you can have in your 4WD. Get it wrong and you’ll have water up to your seats and a stuffed 4WD in no time. Here’s a few tips to make sure you stay grinning like a chimp and driving mud like a boss!
3 QUICK TIPS
– Test the depth of all water with a stick first and get an idea of how much traction you’ll have at the bottom of the hole.
– Get your recovery gear ready and accessible, even plug your winch controller in and unravel a few metres of winch rope before you start driving
– Drop your tyre pressures down to around 18 PSI
BEST DRIVING TIPS
There’s no doubt that momentum is you best friend when it comes to thick mud. Even when you don’t necessarily have the clearance you need, momentum can sometimes overcome this and carry you through the challenge. There is however, a point where you have to be careful too much momentum doesn’t cause you damage. Especially if there is a lot of water in the mud hole, it’s all too common for vehicles to hit these type of bog holes too hard, causing the radiator fan to flex and take a big gouge out of the radiator. Knowing your vehicle and where you have the best low-down power is your key to success. I find 2nd gear low range is where I want to be. I can idle down into the mud and get instant power whenever I stand on that right peddle. I find 1st gear low-range revs out too much and will leave me wanting power, usually in the middle of the bog hole, right where I need it the most.
ADVANCED DRIVING TIPS
When I drop into a bog hole I quickly get an idea of what the bottom is like and what my chances are of driving it are. As soon as I start to feel momentum being lost I like to turn the steering wheel back and forth, from left to find all the possible traction I can. This usually works wonders and will get you that extra few feet, which can mean the difference of looking like a pro or reaching for the winch. If I find that I’m not going to make it, instead of jumping on the skinny peddle and digging myself down further, I am trying to select reverse just as I come to a complete stop and then quickly try powering myself out backwards before I get stuck. Sometimes you’ll notice a part of the mud hole where there is a lot of traction, if you get yourself back to that point you can line yourself up for another attempt. Another great tip is to steer your tyres slightly into the rut as you will often find more traction here than on the bottom of the rut where multiple vehicles have already dug it out for you.