The Defender might be renowned for its rugged durability and its off-road capabilities, but even...
Ahh, it’s festival season upon us once again! There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a summer festival, with live music, good food and a laid-back atmosphere… and, for many of us, our trusty Defender parked up on site ready to take us home. But - as any 4x4 owner will know - where there’s a field or temporary car park, masses of vehicles and potentially a bit of rain, there’s always the risk of getting stuck in the mud!
If it happens to you, and your Defender’s wheels are spinning and you’re unfortunately going nowhere fast, don’t panic. Here’s our guide to getting unstuck without making matters worse…
Stay calm!
Before you do anything, hop out and have a proper look. Is it just one wheel spinning? Are you sat on your axles? Are all four wheels stuck? Understanding how badly you’re stuck will help you to decide on the best course of action - and hopefully stop you from making it even worse.
Ease off the power
It’s tempting to put your foot down and give it some welly, but all that’ll usually do is dig you in deeper. Instead, try gently rocking the Defender back and forth by going between first and reverse, applying just enough throttle to gain some traction. If you’re in a newer Defender with traction control, turning it off briefly might help the wheels to spin more freely and find some grip. Try to pull away in second gear if you can, and if you’ve got some movement, aim to keep moving if possible, rather than stopping… and don’t slam the brakes on as you’ll lose traction again.
Reduce the tyre pressure
Letting some air out of your tyres increases their surface area and improves their grip in slippery conditions. Don’t go mad, though - 15 to 20 psi should be enough to make a difference. Just remember to re-inflate them once you’re free and back on firmer ground…
Get some traction aids
If you’ve come prepared, now's a good time to dig out those traction mats or recovery boards, and wedge them under the stuck tyres to give them something solid to hold onto. If you haven’t got any mats, try a few sticks, some flat cardboard or your car mats as any of those might just do the trick. Some people say that putting more weight in the boot can help, as well as having someone try to bounce up and down in the rear of the vehicle.
Dig deep!
Sometimes, a bit of old-fashioned elbow grease is what you need. If you can, try to clear out the mud from around the tyres and under the chassis. If the diffs are resting on the ground, you’ll need to dig those out too. This is obviously where carrying a shovel around with you helps!
If you’ve managed to get out, try to avoid driving in the tramlines created by other vehicles.
Get a tow if you need it
Don’t be too proud to ask for help. With likely so many other car owners around, someone is usually more than happy to lend a tow rope and give you a gentle pull (especially if they are a Land Rover owner, we find). Some of the larger festivals and organisations have dedicated teams from breakdown providers, such as the AA, onsite too. Many Defenders have obviously got winches fitted, so you can also use this too if you have one - we'll be showing you in another article how to use your winch effectively so be sure to have a read of that.
Some top tips to help prevent you getting stuck…
1. If you can, try to carry these on board - recovery boards, a shovel, a tow rope, a tyre deflator, and a portable compressor/inflator, as they can make all the difference.
2. Park up wisely in the first place. Stick to higher ground if possible, and at least avoid that obvious muddy patch near the toilets and showers…
3. Check the forecast: If a weekend of rain is expected, take extra care when manoeuvring on grass and go prepared for the worst.
A final piece of advice - if you can, change your shoes when you get back in the car, because if you are caked in mud you’re likely to slip on the pedals when driving off.
We’ve all been there at one point in time, and usually there are some helpful people or hardy festival workers that will lend you a hand. Getting stuck in the mud at some point is almost a rite of passage for car owners, but with the right approach and a bit of know-how, you’ll be on your way in no time…
