Traction control plus

[Howard H]

I have just been towed of site by a land rover ,now we where on very wet grass but only had to move about a foot to get onto hard standing and freedom but the Ducato was having none of it. We could not move an inch so I tried the traction control button ,no difference what so ever so what does it actually do and when would I use it . I have been around plant 4x4s and trucks all my life and got myself unstuck many times but the fiat would not move an inch , so now I am thinking about traction mats does any one use them and could you recommend any brand ?

 

[rb62]

We always put some cut down bread trays under the drive wheels when parking on damp grass,just enough to get us moving

 

[Howard H]

That’s why I am now thinking of the mats that’s all I would have needed ?

 

[Vipar]

Helped a guy out at Weymouth a couple of weeks ago “don’t worry I have traction mats” he said, He put them under he front wheels and as he try to move off they flew out the back laughter all round it took 4 of us to get him going. He had tried using lumps of canvas first he got 2 people to stand on them so they would not shoot out the back. Guess what 2 people ended up on their arses and the canvas was ripped to pieces.

 

[Howard H]

There must be an answer to this problem I don’t do ,any rallies and won’t be doing any more in winter ever again but it rains in summer and people manage so I guess there is a product out there ,I know Fiamme make a set but they don’t look much good !

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[hilldweller]

We carried two lengths of proper job mesh. I bought some to make a parking on the grass for the MH and these were offcuts.

Grass Protection Mesh | Plastic Mesh Reinforcement for Car Parking

www.ultimate-one.co.uk

 

[CazPaul]

What tyres have you got, that's really important

 

[Stroppy Bird]

I always put these down (stud side down) when parking on grass. They allow you to get moving and then hopefully you're able to keep on moving. I think it's key to park up on them as opposed to relying on using them to drive onto when you're already stuck.

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[DBK]

I have just been towed of site by a land rover ,now we where on very wet grass but only had to move about a foot to get onto hard standing and freedom but the Ducato was having none of it. We could not move an inch so I tried the traction control button ,no difference what so ever so what does it actually do and when would I use it . I have been around plant 4x4s and trucks all my life and got myself unstuck many times but the fiat would not move an inch , so now I am thinking about traction mats does any one use them and could you recommend any brand ?

Tracmats are very good. I've got a pair of the 25mm thick sand ladders which they said would be fine for a 3.5t vehicle. They also sell them on eBay which when I last looked was cheaper as they did free delivery.

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

 

[HandyAndy]

what traction control would have done is help you out of the sticky if ONE of the two wheels had any traction.. Clearly you didn't, so you stayed exactly where you were for this reason.

I do a lot of offroading and greenlaning (not in the MH for obvious reasons. traction mats or sand ladders as I still call them can really help you out of the mire. However I do have to raise an eyebrow at anything that "folds or rolls up. That sounds like it'll be as much use as a chocolate fire guard.
If I was worried about getting the MH stuck, my very first choice would be a change of tyre on the driven axle.

As it is, I generally don't have any traction issues in the 4x4 as it has a centre diff lock and front and rear ARB air lockers in each diff. I now don't have a Discovery, I have a Mountain goat

Also comes in quite useful for removing illegal obstructions to rights of way.

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[mikebeaches]

A few years ago I sank the front wheels of the van virtually up to the axle in soft sand on a rally in France. Of course everybody laughed and said the only way to escape was with a tow.

But I'd got a small shovel and a pair of Milenco grip mats. A bit of judicious digging and with the help of the mats, reversed out.

No traction+ on that van, and the mats disappeared in the sand. But so impressed, I bought another pair and now always have four on board.

Fast forward, and last week I managed to drop the front nearside wheel into a hole on a campsite near Alicante. I mentioned it on here the other day.

I think the site had suffered severe flood damage in September. The pitches had been repaired with fresh gravel - but it had been pouring with rain for a couple of days prior to our arrival. Anyway, pulled gently onto the side of the pitch and suddenly the front wheel just sank through the surface. You can see how deep from the pic...

Amazingly - with the traction control, just reversed back out - no grip mats required!

 

[pandas]

All weather tyres help a lot, (M&S - mud and snow plus the alpine symbol) a great deal in fact plus we have found the wear and ride is better.

 

[Lenny HB]

What tyres have you got, that's really important

Agree, Michelin Camping tyres are totally useless on wet grass or mud.

 

[Just smiffy]

You just need some obliging french firemen to pull you out....?

 

[Howard H]

What tyres have you got, that's really important

I have Michelin camper tyres but they might as well been bald for what grip they had .

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[Howard H]

All weather tyres help a lot, (M&S - mud and snow plus the alpine symbol) a great deal in fact plus we have found the wear and ride is better.

Did have the M and snow tyres but not the alpine symbol ?

 

[Podney]

Recommend those grippy mat things. I’ve got a pair and used them once....successfully.
Haven’t had a problem with grip on Michelin Camper tyres.

 

[Howard H]

What make “ grippy mat things “ do you have Podney ?

 

[mikebeaches]

I looked at various grip mats, and finally chose the Milenco ones because they have a very aggressive tread, they are robust, they are not too bulky and they are reasonably priced. As mentioned, carry 4 in the pvc in order to 'be prepared'.

 

[Googlebot]

Traction control works on a two wheel drive axle by braking the wheel that is slipping hence transferring the drive to the other wheel. If both wheels are stuck though, it is useless. Waffle boards and not letting it stop and get stuck are the answer, as soon as it starts to slip, stop and get a board under the wheel. As soon as you bury the tyre, it has to go uphill to start moving again.
I speak from years of experience of Ambulances on wet football pitches. As soon as they are buried up to the axles, only a HGV truck or tractor can help....

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[Minxy]

We've used bread crate ones for a long time and they work well, you have to make sure you get the right bread crate though as some are very crappy and the plastic is bendy which isn't much good. We've also got some of the orange rubbery chevron type which okay so long as the ground isn't too deeply rutted.

 

[Podney]

What make “ grippy mat things “ do you have Podney ?

Not accessible at the mo,but I think they are Milenco.
Once or twice I’ve put them down on arrival at a pitch that is wet,and a few times just to get moving when leaving the site. Low revs and maintaining momentum are your friends.

 

[Minxy]

Its best to have 2 sets of tracks so that you can move further in one go and also can keep the MH on one set whilst you move the other, this has proved to be very useful to us.

 

[Howard H]

Thanks everyone I will get a set of milenco mats and generally stay of wet grass if I can , I bet it will be carnage at the rally at Lincoln today when every one try’s to leave this morning .

 

[Rosemary1]

As others have mentioned we found it much better to actually park on the grip mat rather than just use them when planning to move off

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[Howard H]

Thanks Rosemary1 that’s what I will do in future ?

 

[intokenny]

Should have stayed in the Canaries Howard!!!! Hope you & Yvonne are keeping well?

 

[Christoph]

We've had one of the wettest summers for years and recently some places have had a months worth of rain over a couple of days. Is it any wonder grass pitches are a problem. Personally I wouldn't go near a grass pitch after September in the UK. Appreciate that rallies are usually all grass. Getting stuck on soggy grass in vans + 3.5t is always going to be a risk.

 

[Howard H]

Should have stayed in the Canaries Howard!!!! Hope you & Yvonne are keeping well?

i agree Ken thought you might be there we went with gb tours and they said a few from the tour where going but only growler and cactus bill turned up so didn’t bother with them lol , hope the knee better now ken we will meet up one day ?

 

[Howard H]

We've had one of the wettest summers for years and recently some places have had a months worth of rain over a couple of days. Is it any wonder grass pitches are a problem. Personally I wouldn't go near a grass pitch after September in the UK. Appreciate that rallies are usually all grass. Getting stuck on soggy grass in vans + 3.5t is always going to be a risk.

I agree with you ,this was the first time we had been on wet grass in 4 years we have had the van lesson learnt . I reckon to be pretty savvy on this off road stuff but was amazed how useless the van was on the wet grass but no one else to blame but myself as I said lesson learnt ?

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