Towing out of the mud / wet grass

[UFO]

I just bought an 8ton strop with all the fittings. It should be enough for what I want.

The shackles shown in the ebay post don't look up to the 8 tonne capacity of the strap. How big are they?

 

[barryd]

The shackles shown in the ebay post don't look up to the 8 tonne capacity of the strap. How big are they?

No idea. Designed to go with the strength of the strop I would hope. If they look crap ill see about getting some heavier ones. It should be here by the time I go off to Armitage Trailers a week on Monday so ill ask them.

 

[Nabsim]

Think I will use this as another reason to avoid sites if you need towing kit to get in and out lol

 

[r4dent]

You forgot the ground anchor. Buy and carry that lot for something that may never happen. Give the local farmer £10 cheaper and far easier.

I must admit that in my 4x4 days we didn't bother with ground anchors. We just put a strop on the spare wheel and buried it. .

 

[maingate]

I just bought an 8ton strop with all the fittings. It should be enough for what I want. Im not buying a feckin shovel. Do I look like someone who digs? Ill leave that to the "Manic Miner" from Gateshead! Ill regret that I know.

You certainly will my boy.

 

[Biggarmac]

When I still had my Shogun with chunky tyres I pulled lots of big motorhomes off muddy fields. The biggest problem is idiots who keep digging when they should look for help.
I had (still have) heavy duty straps and shackles. Good idea for everyone to stand well clear when trying to move really stuck vans.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

If we rarely park on grass, I use 2nd and no revs, normally it'll just drive off.

 

[wildebus]

Today I have discovered the towing eye kit in my new van and located where it goes. The Tyres on this big heavy beast look nice and grippy but given my love for parking off grid on grass is it worth carrying a tow rope, heavy duty ratchet strap type or one of those heavy duty elasticated ones or none at all! I did find an old thread on here and it was quite useful but also highlighted how dodgy it can be.

Any recommendations or should I just call recovery? Van is 4250kg max.

your old van was 3.5t? I am guessing you have confirmed your breakdown/recovery covers the new van with the greater weight?

Tow rope recommendation

We are very sensibly bought a five ton tow rope. Used it with a friend who got stuck in the sand the other day. She only has an auto sleeper Ford campervan. But the end snapped off. Must’ve been the force of the vehicle in the sand made it more than five ton pool. Need to replace it. We are...

wildcamping.co.uk

 

[barryd]

your old van was 3.5t? I am guessing you have confirmed your breakdown/recovery covers the new van with the greater weight?

Too right I have. Paid a small fortune for insurance and breakdown compared to the old van. Full recovery at home, UK, 8m+ and any weight and Europe and for what I paid I expect 5 star hotel accommodation and groupies on tap should I get stuck in the mud! I have checked and all that is covered. Special Rock Star policy. None of you lot can have it.

 

[barryd]

Think I will use this as another reason to avoid sites if you need towing kit to get in and out lol

Very rare and I dont use sites hardly at all. We do use a lot of hidden away off grid CL 5 van places though. Most are on grass.

 

[wildebus]

Too right I have. Paid a small fortune for insurance and breakdown compared to the old van. Full recovery at home, UK, 8m+ and any weight and Europe and for what I paid I expect 5 star hotel accommodation and groupies on tap should I get stuck in the mud! I have checked and all that is covered. Special Rock Star policy. None of you lot can have it.

how much did you pay then? most of us seem to pay around £156 a year for full breakdown and recovery in UK and Europe, but that includes personal travel insurance and mobile phone insurance as well

 

[Tim120]

Just repeating what's already said, shakles more tonage strop than you think.
A proper tirfor winch will set you back a good bit and you'll need something to attach it to. Keep a tractor in the garage

 

[mark61]

Sometimes a spade comes in handy, but a mate with an LC and a winch is always handier.

 

[Tim120]

Sometimes a spade comes in handy, but a mate with an LC and a winch is always handier.



View attachment 132580


View attachment 132581

Feck that, I'm off before the cement arrives

 

[n brown]

my worst nightmare was on t'algarve . my rear wheel sunk up to the axle on a rainy day . no probs - light stove ,kettle on and wait for passing tractor or 4x4
next thing ,bang on the door . local bloke come to help, he's brought 2 shovels !
not enough lingo to tell him my plan ,or to ask him to bugger off , so i ended up digging pointlessly for best part of an hour till the inevitable tractor came by and sorted me out in minutes

 

[maingate]

I had the misfortune to drive a Toyota 4WD in the Middle East and was flagged down by every bogged down Arab. That is why I carried a few helpful items to help them out.

I went on leave and my vehicle was given to an idiot. The first time he 'helped out', he melted the clutch and distorted the flywheel due to the heat from the clutch.

 

[barryd]

how much did you pay then? most of us seem to pay around £156 a year for full breakdown and recovery in UK and Europe, but that includes personal travel insurance and mobile phone insurance as well

I cant remember now. It was a mad time. It all happened so fast. The new van was incoming and the old one was still here, we had no idea if the new one would fit on the drive, need to go in storage or would need to be parked on the road in front of the house. In the end I paid for insurance which included full breakdown at home and parked on the drive or in storage which was about £640 or something. I then realised we would need cover for the roadside so that was another £150+ so about £800. Not sure how much of that is breakdown cover but I think its around what you said. AIB seemed to be the only ones that could offer roadside parking.

 

[runnach]

En-route to the tunnel March this year, I was on a CL just of the A1, first time using the straps, for North sea rig use to secure and lower sub-sea paraphernalia to the murky depths of the North Sea.

Very handy, so too having a tree surgeon business in the village.

A1 south.

Our neighbour is a Geordie and last year when I told him we were off to Newcastle he asked us to buy some stottie cake and some pease pudding for him. I was convinced it was a wind up but sure enough we managed to get some for him. Strange folk down there. This weekend you should have been...

motorhomer.com

 

[Robmac]

Sometimes a spade comes in handy, but a mate with an LC and a winch is always handier.

A compressor can also be very handy Mark.

 

[mark61]

A compressor can also be very handy Mark.

Yes, very handy, essential if you do tracks, even if just for comfort.

Not being too lazy to use it helps too. The only reason the green van got stuck in the sand was because I couldn't be bothered to air down tyres. I never learn
Also I knew a winch was around.
Once down to 20psi that van flew over the dunes.
Still using a 20+ year old Viair, but one of these is on the wish list.