Mud Driving would have to be one of the most fun forms of off-road driving, but it’s not without risks. The chance of becoming bogged is quite high, as you know mud is not exactly a high traction surface. If you do make it to the other side unscathed, there is now the often forgotten after vehicle care to worry about too. Here are our five top tips for anyone looking to get dirty this weekend.
1) Always inspect the obstacle before driving it. A quick poke with a stick to check for depth will give you a perfect indicator as to how deep the mud will be. This is also the perfect chance to check for submerged objects such as rocks or logs, that could damage your vehicle.
2) If you get stuck on your first attempt, select reverse and see if you can go backwards. Quite often a build-up of mud in front of wheels is what halts forward momentum. Select reverse, back up as far as safely possible and have another try with a bit more momentum.
3) Turn the vehicles steering wheel side-to-side quickly (referred to as sawing) in an attempt to gain extra traction if you find forward progression lacking. This is an especially effective technique if you are climbing a muddy hill.
4) If you do think there is a chance of getting stuck, do you need to drive the obstacle in the first place? If you decide to go ahead, do you have an out if things don’t go to plan? If you answer no to having traction aids, a winch or another vehicle with a quality recovery kit available, the best bet it to avoid the obstacle.
5) Wash your truck afterwards, I can’t stress this enough! Not only will old, crusty baked on mud be harder to clean off when you do decide to (this will damage your paint), but it will also accelerate the chance of rust. Mechanical components such as wheel bearings and brakes also hate mud, so by washing your vehicle underneath as well as on the body, you will reduce the risk of issues down the line.