Hi all,

I'm looking for some Mud Driving tips, I truly believe alot of it has to do with the experience of the driver so I want to be sure I'm doing what I can.

Example : Do you approach the mud and then enter it in Hi or Lo? Everyone I've seen (Also under experienced) leaves it in High and hit's the mud... I'm thinking it should be in Low and keep a constant move on rocking it etc...

Maybe i'm wrong but that's why i'm asking.

Thanks!
Vince

 

Depends on a few factors. Type of mud, power of machine, what kind bottom may have.
With a smaller machine low would probably be best, mud can really sap some power.
Soupy vs paste. A soupier runny kind will be easier than the thicker paste stuff.
There is something to be said for momentum also, it can be the little more that you need to get through.
Some mudholes are pretty grooved out so that you get high centered on the middle.

WINCH!!!!

 

as long as it's moving don't lift or stop

 

low range is best. most of the time slow and steady is the way to go. a friend of mine insists of blasting into mud and and not letting off, then we go around him , back up, hook up , and pull him out.

 

I use low and hold the hammer down untill i can see again!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

jep, just dont try to hit it too fast, cuz my friend did that and flipped forward. but just keep it slow and steady all the way through unless you start to get stuck.

 

I approach mudholes in LO range at about 7-10 mph. If it's not covered with water and you can see where you are going try not to get in the ruts. You'll get high centered. Wheels spinning in midair don't get much traction. If covered with water, just keep that big MOmentum up. Big Mo has helped me get through some nasty stuff. You want to be careful about not having too much speed. The faster you go, the more damage you can do to your quad if there are submerged rocks you can't see. Too slow and you bog down. If you feel it beginning to bog keep the throttle pinned and try a combination of sawing the steering back and forth or putting weight mostly on one side with a rocking motion. This will help you to have those, "I ALMOST got stuck stories for later". And of course, winch if all else fails.

 

If you have no self control when it comes to mudhole selection,(never seen a mudhole I don't want to get personal with, LOL), keep your winch cable hooked to a bungy on your front deck, saves a lot of digging in the muck for your winch hook!

 

the best trick i have to share with you is whatch someone go threw before you. have them find were eh ruts rocks and roots are. it works good if you can look at it after you get used to it then you can see were they get hug up and how you don't whant to do the same. i whent threw things using this method wiht my 2/4s that 4/4s wern't able to get threw. I love how there faces look when i just berily get it threw and they had to winch.

 

Invest in some waders. If you want to take a cautious approach, get off and walk around the hole first, especially if you are the first one to go through. It may sound like a punk move but its better than getting towed back to camp. Also if it gets deep, dont let it die keep on the throttle cause if it dies it may not start back up. even if it gets some water in it while its running, once you get out of the hole you can "blow it out" a little. Clean your rig thoroughly after a muddy ride cause the mud is about the worst enviroment you can subject your machine to. The best advice I can give you is to be helpful to strangers and other trail riders if you can because at some point in time you WILL need someones help.