Stupid People Tricks - With Vehicles...
(or "Driving on Sand or Mud")

by Sam the Webdude

As most of you already know, I made a Padre Island run last month, along with CCCF'rs Poolking, BigGreen, Stringer, and Phantom.    Our experiences there prompted me to write this month's editorial.

Shortly after we arrived at the Mansfield Cut (56 miles from the entrance and civilization) and started setting up our camp, a bedraggled fellow walked up and asked for help to get him out of the mud on the back side of the island.  BigGreen, while not overjoyed at the prospect of spending his first hours in the mud, went to assist.  He returned some two hours later after an unsuccessful attempt to get the other guy's vehicle  out.  Later that evening, the owner of the stuck rig and his guests came by and told us what had happened.

Seems he was back there looking for bait, and his nephew had told him that the footing was safe because he had been there before.   Well, he stuck that rig in some very slimy stuff miles from anywhere.  To make matters worse, the rig was a Ford F2500 extended cab diesel 4X4, a very heavy (and expensive) combo.  It was stuck at an angle and a long way from stable ground.

That evening two 4X4 tow trucks came in around 11 PM to pull him out.  Well, after burning up a 6,000 pound winch, they gave up and left.  Final result?  The rig was still stuck in the sand back there Sunday when I left the area.  Oh yeah, and insurance doesn't cover it.

The lesson to be learned from this is three-fold.   First, never listen to someone else tell you that something is safe for you based on ancient knowledge...PINS changes every time I am there.  Second, never attempt to go a long distance over uncertain terrain without a second vehicle or the proper tools to get yourself out of any situation.  Finally, when you first notice that you may be on unstable ground, get back out or stop where you are until help arrives.  This fellow tried to get on through a particularly bad area when he should have stopped his forward motion and gotten back out.  If he had gotten stuck closer to stable ground he could have been pulled out.

If you are ever stuck, whether you are in 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive, some basic lessons apply.  First, you have to realize that you got stuck while you had  momentum, so it is not likely that you are going to get out from a standing start without some assistance or a change in the underlying terrain.   To this end, you need to put a little "sweat equity" into getting out of the sand or mud...physical labor to ensure a more stable underfooting.  You should carry a shovel, but sometimes a piece of driftwood or even your hands may have to do...I have used a cutting board to dig with on one occasion.  Dig out all the loose stuff that you can, both in front and behind all four wheels.  Then try to replace the loose stuff with twigs, brush, even plastic bags...anything that might help you get traction.  Determine the shortest route to solid ground...either forward or reverse.   If there are others with you, enlist their muscle power to push.  Make sure that all of your wheels are pointed as straight ahead as possible.  Then start your engine, put your vehicle in gear, and...ever so gently...give it a little gas.  If you feel your "driving" wheels starting to slip, let off and go back to working on the underfooting.  Giving too much power to the wheels will only result in you sticking worse.

Now a word of caution to folks with 4 wheel drive.  Yes, you can go lots of places that those two-wheelers just can't go, but bear in mind that when they get stuck, they can be pulled out fairly easily.  When you get stuck, you are REALLY STUCK!  The only way you can get out, usually, is with the help of another 4WD vehicle and a tow rope or chain.  I have pulled out vehicles including a one ton van and a pickup with loaded boat trailer on it, but I know that there are some slimy areas around Christmas Bay that can claim me, just as one already claimed Michael's Pathfinder until Krash pulled him out with his winch-equipped Jeep!

Nothing ruins a fishing trip like spending the whole time digging.

...and that's how I see it.