Spinning wheels
We recently returned from Black Knowl where a M/H had got stuck in mud on its grass pitch. The weather had been torrential and you could see how sodden the grass had become.
As he tried harder and harder to move the rig, the wheels churned deeper and deeper.
The warden came with the mats and after 45 mins of in front, then behind etc it was obvious the rig wasn't budging.
My husband (who likes to offer advice 
) had gone over to "assist" and suggested that if someone had a tow rope and a 4x4 that that may be the only option.
Someone (there were a couple of advisors by now ) did and was more than happy to assist.
5 mins later M/H was successfully towed out.
What was interesting was that the warden said he couldn't suggest this to anyone and that it was fine if it was offered but that it couldn't be done on behalf of the CMC (I'm paraphrasing but you get the idea) .
Question to the seasoned travellers out there, what happens in these situations then when realistically only a tow out will do?
Comments
-
Prevention easier than cure.....
If weather looks dodgy, ground conditions less than perfect, we use these, bridging waffles, put under drive wheels, make sure you have a clear run off, not had a problem when using them yet. £30-35 from good 4x4 outlets, stored either in travel box, or tied up covered behind roof ladder if we have bikes on. It's not just MHs, we used our Jeep to dig out two caravans last year on a CL.
1 -
Ooooohhh..............good post...
I can see all the issues around the "book a hardstanding trial" coming to the fore again.......
0 -
I'm just going on info from a warden when he said the little site tractor was plated to 1200 but not up to that. You've obviously been to more sites than me and taken a keener interest in the equipment
We have towed caravans out of wet pitches in the past but wouldn't tow a motorhome as its above our plated weight. Not my problem
0 -
If the forecast is wet or the ground soft we use something similar. Not as long as yours by the look from the photo. Touch wood so far so good. Sometimes needs just a little shoulder (mine) to the back but always poised!
We were at the Bristol balloon fiesta arriving on that WET Wednesday 😲. Rally Marshalls said pitch at first attempt, several had already had assistance from farmer and his tractor. We did and got grip mats under. Really dried out during our stay but Monday as most were leaving heavy rain again. A neighbour spun the wheels, wife stayed in passenger seat 😲. Other rallies shoulder to the rear, pulls away only to attempt to stop on the soft stuff to thank folks....... It does come down to knowing how to drive to the conditions 25 years to hard-core farmers road. He was very grateful but didn't understand why the pushers were shouting keep going 😃
I don't understand people just spinning. It's clear very quickly that you're going nowhere. Damage to pitch must be considerable and it's out of action for a while 😲.
0 -
I understand wardens have been stopped from towing anything as most site equipment is not "capable"(they are not that heavy or 4x4s)and damage has been caused to both the Tractors and more importantly the vehicle being towed on a "rope",a caravan will go on the rear hook front hooks have also been removed
0 -
When we had our TA swift it was towed off a very muddy site by a quad bike
its not that they cannot be moved by small tractors as they normally have far more width of tread on the road with low tyre pressures ,hence if stuck in a car to lower the tyre pressure to give more grip 0 -
A 3.5 tonne vehicle with front wheel drive is a pretty useless thing on soft ground or slippy grass because the road tyres are unable to grip much, however if it's driven correctly it just needs a bit of help. A small Kobuta or even a little quad bike will often do the job easily providing the towed vehicle driver uses a bit of common sense. Just watching some of the antics, some of the drivers haven't got a clue how to drive on soft ground.
0 -
Whilst addressing how to remove the stuck motorhome....how about giving each warden a "tirfor" winch......we used them at work to remove Land Rovers that got stuck in the mud, (the conditions were a bit worse than CC sites)....
Obviously preventing the problem in the first place is too hard for the club (excuse the pun), giving us Hardstandings....
0 -
Perhaps the warden will have to do what we did.....find one.....
0 -
Which probably makes preventing the problem in the first place the best solution.....
Let us book a Hardstanding.
And give away free the ropey old grass pitches to those butch members with big 4 x 4's who can extract themselves from a mudbath grass pitch...
0 -
If you don't get there well before 12 noon you will probably get "stuck" with one.......
0
we tended to use a 100ton plus locomotives
and always welcomes them with open arms