Sand Ladders

[LesW]

After reading the latest Fun mag, it got me thinking about getting stuck etc..

The only time/place this has happened was at Chester 2018, when almost everyone got stuck, and tractors were on standby to pull vehicles off.

Does anyone carry sand ladders or something similar? Good quality ones don't seem that expensive considering if you need them their worth their weight in gold..

 

[bigtwin]

I carry planks to spread my tag axle load and carry two short planks (?) for the front wheels.

These prevent any sinking and I’ve NEVER been unable to move off my pitch (but accept that if conditions are dire on the route off the site I might still become a cropper).

The planks also offer a degree of levelling to be achieved on hard standing.

Ian

 

[peterc10]

Bread crates for me and thanks to Debs free as well

 

[PeteH]

Bread crates and track mats. So far, So Good. . I always "walk the ground" first before I decide to park. I`ve annoyed several "Marshall's" with that. Get out and look before they put me in a plot, refused to park before to-day on a Particular spot.

 

[icantremember]

We have a pair of 1.2m sand ladders which we only carry if we are going anywhere I think there is a likelyhood of getting stuck.

They have got us out of trouble a few times. ... I sometimes park with front wheels on the ladders so as to get a start when moving away,

The only problem, apart from weight and storeage, is that they can flick up driving on or off and can cause damage to your motorhome.

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[Jim]

Amazon product ASIN B07FPB1VXBThese are expensive but well worth it. Had mine for years I've always found somewhere to store them, either strapped to the inside of a ladder or under a bike rack. A set of these, a bottle jack and a tow rope and you are sorted.

Make sure you buy a tow rope rated 2.5 to 3 times the weight of your van. and you can get away with a small 3 ton bottle jack for most vans as you are only ever lifting one wheel.

 

[Bobby-gg]

I've used the glassfibre with grit on extensively when I used to complete in 4x4 trails

Whilst they are fantastic bits of kit, the problem I'd envisage in a Motorhome is storage, maybe not so much before use, they can go in a garage, but after use, they really do get up to the eyes once they've had 3 tonnes plus of Motorhome over the top of them, squeezing mud thorough them, they then become a ton weight, and can easily become stuck themselves in the mud

We used to put a loop of rope around each one, so if they got stuck we could winch the out, and I suppose it's something to consider so you could always tow them out

 

[denisejoe]

Amazon product ASIN B07FPB1VXBThese are expensive but well worth it. Had mine for years I've always found somewhere to store them, either strapped to the inside of a ladder or under a bike rack. A set of these, a bottle jack and a tow rope and you are sorted.

Make sure you buy a tow rope rated 2.5 to 3 times the weight of your van. and you can get away with a small 3 ton bottle jack for most vans as you are only ever lifting one wheel.

If you are stuck in mud a small bottle jack would probably sink a large solid piece of wood might b helpful?

 

[DBK]

I carry a couple of Tracmats after nearly getting stuck in soft sand once. I carry them in a big bag but haven't had cause to use them yet but it's reassuring to know they are there. The company said the 25mm ones were strong enough for our 3.5t van.

They are having a sale at the moment but also check eBay as you might get them post free.

Tracmat™ Bridging Ladders

UK based Suppliers of Tracmat™ Fibreglass Bridging Ladders, Waffle Boards, Sand Ladders, Traction ramps, jack pads for the 4x4 off-road community. We deliver throughout the UK and Europe.

tracmat.com

 

[bigtwin]

........ and a tow rope and you are sorted.

Make sure you buy a tow rope rated 2.5 to 3 times the weight of your van.

Sounds excessive; similar to the reason that you can get away with only a 3 tonne bottle jack, you’re trying to tow the vehicle not lift it.

I’ll need to go and check the rating of mine but I doubt it’s anywhere near that rating.

Ian

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[Jim]

Sounds excessive; similar to the reason that you can get away with only a 3 tonne bottle jack, you’re trying to tow the vehicle not lift it.

I’ll need to go and check the rating of mine but I doubt it’s anywhere near that rating.

Ian

If you have a van stuck to its axles in sand or mud then you'll be doing more than lifting it. 2.5 times is the accepted norm for off-roaders. The stronger the better, but for any van I would recommend at least an 8ton strap that will take up no more space than a 5


I'd use this 8ton one for a van up to 4 ton, it only cost £16

Amazon product ASIN B07NSVBQL2
Bigger vans, and you'll be paying over £50. But if you are in a big van its important you carry say a 12ton tow rope, because no one else will have one. Towing with an under-capacity belt is dangerous.

This one does 12 or 18 ton
Amazon product ASIN B082SF3CFV

 

[ManTheVan]

I'd use this 8ton one for a van up to 4 ton, it only cost £16

Thanks for the link. Ordered and hope never to have to use!

 

[Jim]

Thanks for the link. Ordered and hope never to have to use!

I always carry one and to be honest for every time I've used it must have been used 5 times by others.

Then its always nice to be able to help people who are stuck.

 

[Jim]

If you are stuck in mud a small bottle jack would probably sink a large solid piece of wood might b helpful?

You're right, I mention that here <Broken link removed>

 

[wfdTamar]

I've bought a set of these mostly to use under the ramps on soft ground as a few times they sank a bit. They double as tracks.

Amazon product ASIN B07HG85QBF

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[GWAYGWAY]

Do not go into dodgy situations. Period.

 

[denisejoe]

M

Do not go into dodgy situations. Period.

ight not be dodgy when you get there but the rain we have had overnight could soon change things, in France a few years ago parked up sun shining was woken up at 1 am with a loud bang Denise said its only conkers but in middle of a storm had to put blind up come off ramps move them then move down the aire away from falling debris the 2nd photo the branch is 6“ thick

 

[two]

I found out why a particular spot was still free on a crowded air when I tried to climb out of the soft sand. Before I could do anything I had an army of helpers giving instructions in every language apart from my own. There was no need for sand ladders. Instead a plentiful supply was brought across, many being unwrapped for the first time. I'm pretty sure I could've managed on my own but never got the chance. We left for another site - the cost of all the beer would have been prohibitive.
The morale of my experience is to look before you leap. It's unlikely to happen again but, if it does, you're more than likely to find people keen to provide support. There will, of course, be some who may come just to watch!

 

[TheBig1]

I carry sand ladders, a 5 tonne bottle jack and a military surplus 14 tonne tow strap. Also a very big nylon bag to put the dirty kit in till I get home and clean it

 

[tribalbrit]

Bread crates cut down. I have some spare ones if anyone near me wants any. North Notts.

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[TCG]

we have a set of these, Expensive, quite heavy and no where to store them.

 

[TheBig1]

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=173965536770 only £35 a pair

 

[TCG]

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=173965536770 only £35 a pair

wish i had seen that ad before going to Tracmat... Moral of story do your research

 

[Max Enger]

I must have been doin’ it all wrong.....wet grass ....tag axle front wheel drive of course...stuck...no problem me thinks....use my new purchase plastic tracks just tucked into the front tyres.....as soon as the wheels gripped, instead of moving me forward, they just flew the tracks out from under. I thought they were a complete waste of money.

Local farmer did the trick....well his tractor did anyway!!

 

[LesW]

I must have been doin’ it all wrong.....wet grass ....tag axle front wheel drive of course...stuck...no problem me thinks....use my new purchase plastic tracks just tucked into the front tyres.....as soon as the wheels gripped, instead of moving me forward, they just flew the tracks out from under. I thought they were a complete waste of money.

Local farmer did the trick....well his tractor did anyway!!

I think he idea is (if possible) to peg them to the ground.

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[TheTwoOfUs]

I have 6 bread trays which I can lay continuously so that as the van reaches the end of one I don't drop off them but instead I can then move them up. I can also offset them as they are placed in position enabling the van to steer in a curve. Merilyn does the driving as I do the positioning.

 

[TheBig1]

I must have been doin’ it all wrong.....wet grass ....tag axle front wheel drive of course...stuck...no problem me thinks....use my new purchase plastic tracks just tucked into the front tyres.....as soon as the wheels gripped, instead of moving me forward, they just flew the tracks out from under. I thought they were a complete waste of money.

Local farmer did the trick....well his tractor did anyway!!

if you are moving a big piece of machinery across a rough floor, one of the options is to put a sheet of thick plastic underneath to reduce the friction. Those thin plastic mats are only useful to stop a caravan's wheels sinking into soft ground. They are next to useless under a motorhome and verging on dangerous

Self recovery of a stuck vehicle takes a set of skills that can be learnt, but the first point is don't panic and take it slowly

 

[Jim]

Anyone used these Milenco ones. They look like bread tray equivalents

Amazon product ASIN B074S9TVXJ

 

[TheBig1]

Anyone used these Milenco ones. They look like bread tray equivalents

Amazon product ASIN B074S9TVXJ

they look like strips of the matting you put down and grow grass through. They don't look substantial enough to take the strain of recovery more than once

 

[Googlebot]

If you have a van stuck to its axles in sand or mud then you'll be doing more than lifting it. 2.5 times is the accepted norm for off-roaders. The stronger the better, but for any van I would recommend at least an 8ton strap that will take up no more space than a 5


I'd use this 8ton one for a van up to 4 ton, it only cost £16

Amazon product ASIN B07NSVBQL2
Bigger vans, and you'll be paying over £50. But if you are in a big van its important you carry say a 12ton tow rope, because no one else will have one. Towing with an under-capacity belt is dangerous.

This one does 12 or 18 ton
Amazon product ASIN B082SF3CFV

Jim is right, and for the same reason be wary of using the towing eye. They aren’t designed to lift the van 6 inches out the mud vertically then going forward, they are designed for tarmac and not much rolling resistance.

After years of seeing Ambulances stuck on grass, the golden rule is if it starts to slip, put your foot down and let the traction control work, but once you stop, take your foot off and do not dig in!

We had a Fiat last year set on fire because the driver revved the nuts off it for ages trying to get out, all they do is dig in to the axle which makes them much harder to get out again. The traction control worked as he steered left and right and actually made the callipers glow. Melted a plastic fuel line it was that hot and set fire to the diesel pissing out. ?

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