Community Forums

Radacravitz · 02-14-2019, 11:27 AM

Folks,
To avoid potential falling heavy tree limbs due to the ongoing heavy rains / winds here in Silicon Valley, two days ago I moved our 1995 38’ Dynasty to the street. Our neighborhood streets are paved but the parkway is not, leaving me to park drivers side on street surface and pax side on dirt ... which is now heavily saturated and ... yep, slowly sinking :-(

Intending to reverse out of the depressions I have put down boards on the pax side that the PO made / used over the years.

My question is this:

How seriously am I risking damage to the drive axle by basically using one side of drive wheels to back out? (I’m using reverse in the theory it’s geared better for this than fwd ... if I should use a fwd gear, please advise.)

I have zero experience with this so appreciate your experienced feedback.

Thx in advance.
Rad

96 Wideglide · 02-14-2019, 11:41 AM

Not exactly sure what you mean by 'one side of drive wheels'

. Isn't the other side going to be driving on boards?

twinboat · 02-14-2019, 11:45 AM

The torque from the engine will go to the tire with the least amount of traction. That's how rear differentials work.

Each side can handle what your putting to it, as long as you don't spin the free tire at high speeds.

Reverse may not be a lower gear then low, in foward.

Give it a try but if you get deeper, it may be time for a tow truck.

Radacravitz · 02-14-2019, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Not exactly sure what you mean by 'one side of drive wheels'

. Isn't the other side going to be driving on boards?

Thx for the reply.

the driver side wheels are on
street / asphalt so they’re on “regular” surface while the pax side is on saturated ground.

EDIT: Transmission is an Allison MD 3060 ... if any know gearing details.

Radacravitz · 02-14-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

The torque from the engine will go to the tire with the least amount of traction. That's how rear differentials work.

Each side can handle what your putting to it, as long as you don't spin the free tire at high speeds.

Reverse may not be a lower gear then low, in foward.

Give it a try but if you get deeper, it may be time for a tow truck.

thx for the feedback, I’ll try to keep my wits about me :-)

vito.a · 02-14-2019, 12:03 PM

I would first try to drive out going forward. Do not turn the steering wheel sharply until it gets rolling. If it spins and does not move, then try reverse.
You may have to rock it back and forth a few times going from Drive to Reverse. Just make sure the rear tires stop spinning and you step on the brake before you shift to the opposite direction.
Good luck!

EdInArk · 02-14-2019, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

The torque from the engine will go to the tire with the least amount of traction. That's how rear differentials work.

Each side can handle what your putting to it, as long as you don't spin the free tire at high speeds.

Reverse may not be a lower gear then low, in foward.

Give it a try but if you get deeper, it may be time for a tow truck.

Maybe it's just me overthinking it, but wouldn't you normally get your best traction going forward? I know that at low speeds there's not much weight transfer, but surely there's some.

Radacravitz · 02-14-2019, 12:33 PM

folks,

Thx for the feedback, very much appreciated. Using the graduated board the PO made I reversed out as if on normal surface ... I’m sure it was the street traction that did it.

thx again for the feedback.
Rad

moisheh · 02-14-2019, 12:43 PM

A stuck MH is very hard to get moving. An Allison is not like a standard tranny nor like a car transmission. Do you have traction control? Don't get excited and gun it. I would put boards on both sides.

Radacravitz · 02-14-2019, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moisheh

A stuck MH is very hard to get moving. An Allison is not like a standard tranny nor like a car transmission. Do you have traction control? Don't get excited and gun it. I would put boards on both sides.

Thx very much and please note my finalizing post ... it backed out feeling no different than normal.

EDIT: i measured the right drive wheel divot and the outer wheel was 4 1/2”, inside 2”ish.

Jeff753 · 02-14-2019, 01:23 PM

I was at Perry Georgia and the fields really got muddied up. Even cars were getting stuck.
Sometimes another option is to pop a coldie and hang out for another day and let it dry.
Once your tires break the surface, when it’s real wet, it’s a mud bath for days.

Radacravitz · 02-14-2019, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff753

I was at Perry Georgia and the fields really got muddied up. Even cars were getting stuck.
Sometimes another option is to pop a coldie and hang out for another day and let it dry.
Once your tires break the surface, when it’s real wet, it’s a mud bath for days.

yep, I get that!

we’ve had several “atmospheric river” weather these past couple of weeks so our ground is very saturated - some local areas are being evacuated - and with rain forecasted to continue for at least the next week our ground isn’t drying out anytime soon. better to get it out and back in our driveway sooner rather than later.

I **do** like your “cold one”approach, though ;-)

mdc99 · 02-15-2019, 11:06 AM

Glad the OP got out. I park in the grass and have been surprised at how much mud I can get thru, although filling in the ruts after is not so much fun. A couple of times was not able to move and the cat litter trick made the difference of being able to get out. $20-25 is better than a tow truck.

FL420 · 02-15-2019, 11:29 AM

I once had to rock a 40' city bus out of a snow filled swale. It took 3 or 4 minutes primarily because the Allison transmission was so slow shifting between gears. It took me a few minutes to get the rhythm down. IIRC, I used second gear instead of first as I was taught to do in a car many years before.