Best tool to have in a situation like that? What you had, a shovel.
As others said, better tires, airing down, and (even best yet) chains.
Chains make a world of difference in the snow.
LC stuck in mud tonight..Escape saved it? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Cruiser Kid
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Best tool to have in a situation like that? What you had, a shovel.
As others said, better tires, airing down, and (even best yet) chains.
Chains make a world of difference in the snow.
I guess I'm spoiled, for me, snow is GTFO weather.
It's embarrasing. It is rare that a LC is rescued by a Jeep! It is more often the other way around.
I once had a situation like that. When I ran Desert buggies, I "found" a Blazer stuck in a mudhole. I was running about 40 MPH. I smacked right into his truck, head-on. He was stuck, and had spent some time trying to get out. Both of our bumpers were dented at best. It wasn't like I had any choice in the matter. We were in the mud, and sliding at best. Well, I bounced his truck out of the hole, and got my car out as well. We shared a cold one and promised to never meet like that again!
You can rest assured that your truck will rarely be stuck because it is a 6,000 lb. truck. It can get a grip in almost any situation. But there are those rare situations where the sheer weight will work against you. Try not to disparage the lighter trucks on the trail, because once in a while, they will have the advantage over yours. Yours is most often the best truck on the trail, but not always. Every once in a while, the lighter truck will have an advantage that you lack.
There will be many times when you can help a lighter truck out. There will also be times when a lighter truck will be just the helping hand that you need. The guys who prefer a light truck have their reasons, just like we do. They extend a helping hand, or winch, when needed just like we do. Offer it when it is needed, and appreaciate it when you need it.
I once had a situation like that. When I ran Desert buggies, I "found" a Blazer stuck in a mudhole. I was running about 40 MPH. I smacked right into his truck, head-on. He was stuck, and had spent some time trying to get out. Both of our bumpers were dented at best. It wasn't like I had any choice in the matter. We were in the mud, and sliding at best. Well, I bounced his truck out of the hole, and got my car out as well. We shared a cold one and promised to never meet like that again!
You can rest assured that your truck will rarely be stuck because it is a 6,000 lb. truck. It can get a grip in almost any situation. But there are those rare situations where the sheer weight will work against you. Try not to disparage the lighter trucks on the trail, because once in a while, they will have the advantage over yours. Yours is most often the best truck on the trail, but not always. Every once in a while, the lighter truck will have an advantage that you lack.
There will be many times when you can help a lighter truck out. There will also be times when a lighter truck will be just the helping hand that you need. The guys who prefer a light truck have their reasons, just like we do. They extend a helping hand, or winch, when needed just like we do. Offer it when it is needed, and appreaciate it when you need it.
I wouldn't worry about it to much. I got stuck once and my wifes jeep pulled me out. I was barely stuck. By that I mean if I would of had another guy to help push while my wife drove I would have been out. I have 315 tires and a 4 inch lift and was up to the axle in mud. To me being stuck is when the vehicle trying to pull you out almost gets stuck.
sometimes you just get into a slippery hole and 5 ft away is just enough different that it's not a problem.
I stuck my dad's Pathfinder when I was in highschool - taking a 'short cut' after dark. We pulled it out with mom's '88 Camry 4 cyl.
Kinda like being on ice, it'll get so slippery here you can push a car sideways on it and it'll just glide, but you get in the car and try to drive, and nada.
I stuck my dad's Pathfinder when I was in highschool - taking a 'short cut' after dark. We pulled it out with mom's '88 Camry 4 cyl.
Kinda like being on ice, it'll get so slippery here you can push a car sideways on it and it'll just glide, but you get in the car and try to drive, and nada.
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
I am now wishing I had lockers and tires to try it again!!
that's the spirit !
I got my self stuck more times that I can remember .. living in a 8 month rain country it could happen any day if you aren't paying atention where you drive .. ( even in the City )
And the best tool that you can have it's a winch !
- Thread starter
- #29
Glad that I'm part of this community. I can't believe the response I got to getting stuck in a field.
Thanks for the ideas on how to avoid this situation moving forward and thanks for telling your stories so that I know I am not the only knuckle head to get stuck in a silly spot!
Thanks for the ideas on how to avoid this situation moving forward and thanks for telling your stories so that I know I am not the only knuckle head to get stuck in a silly spot!
Mud and sad are the devil. Momentum and planning is your friend. Once you are a little stuck, it is often over.
in the sand in Mex we usually don't even try to get out ourselves,as one just digs in. A little pull and all is good.
J
in the sand in Mex we usually don't even try to get out ourselves,as one just digs in. A little pull and all is good.
J
- Thread starter
- #31
When I was in the field hooking up the strap to tow I thought to myself, oh thats why the guys named the web site "ih8mud"
Grench
SILVER Star
A quick note on technique...
On an open diff vehicle (even with the center locked - the ends are open unless you have or install lockers), the wheel with the least traction per axle will spin. A way to partially overcome this is to drive with two feet. One foot on the brake and one on the gas (Sing it Sammy...). By applying brake to the spinning wheel it will in effect add torque to the wheel that otherwise isn't turning - even though it's getting brakes too. Sounds weird - but it works.
As to the Escape having more traction. Would it happen to have traction control?
Looking at Ford's site the 2012 model:
"Whether traveling on- or off-road, the available Intelligent 4WD System in the Escape is always on, working to help provide maximum traction. What’s so smart about the system is its ability to sense traction input 200 times per second and automatically adjust torque distribution as needed. Such adjustments work to help ensure maximum grip where the rubber meets the road." 2012 Ford Escape | View Escape Features | Ford.com
Translation from marketing speak - if a wheel slips, the computer applies the brake on that wheel to stop it from spinning - pushing the power to the other wheels.
Don't underestimate the power of selective wheel braking - it makes lockers obsolete for 99%+ of what vehicles in the US are asked to do.
So, yes, in this case the Escape was better suited to the wet/muddy field than the 80 series without lockers when both are outfitted with an off road novice driver.
IMHO YMMV
On an open diff vehicle (even with the center locked - the ends are open unless you have or install lockers), the wheel with the least traction per axle will spin. A way to partially overcome this is to drive with two feet. One foot on the brake and one on the gas (Sing it Sammy...). By applying brake to the spinning wheel it will in effect add torque to the wheel that otherwise isn't turning - even though it's getting brakes too. Sounds weird - but it works.
As to the Escape having more traction. Would it happen to have traction control?
Looking at Ford's site the 2012 model:
"Whether traveling on- or off-road, the available Intelligent 4WD System in the Escape is always on, working to help provide maximum traction. What’s so smart about the system is its ability to sense traction input 200 times per second and automatically adjust torque distribution as needed. Such adjustments work to help ensure maximum grip where the rubber meets the road." 2012 Ford Escape | View Escape Features | Ford.com
Translation from marketing speak - if a wheel slips, the computer applies the brake on that wheel to stop it from spinning - pushing the power to the other wheels.
Don't underestimate the power of selective wheel braking - it makes lockers obsolete for 99%+ of what vehicles in the US are asked to do.
So, yes, in this case the Escape was better suited to the wet/muddy field than the 80 series without lockers when both are outfitted with an off road novice driver.
IMHO YMMV
Cruiser Kid said:. Probably will spend the money and get fairly aggressive tires for the LC.
Righto...had similar experience when I first got mine. It came with HT tires (kinda glad, knowing it was used on black top). Only Made it up all 3' of a muddy incline in low!
Well, old dad finally redeemed himself with the 10year olds after fitting AT
