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Old 04-14-2021, 06:18 AM   #1
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Class A RV... and Mud/Traction

Still new to RV'ing... last weekend drove off the road slightly to back up, got stuck in the dirt... which was slightly wet...

A 30,000lb class A loses traction pretty much immediately...

Which got me to thinking...

When I look at most national parks, and many other parks, the parking spots are dirt/grass.

Dirt/grass plus water = mud...

Is this not an issue?

I am not completely paranoid about getting stuck again...

Not an issue?

Do you guys carry stuff to get you out?

Plan to goto the EAA flyin, in Wiscosnin this summer. That looks like just huge grass fields people park in...

If it rains, is that not an issue???
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Old 04-14-2021, 06:29 AM   #2
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Whenever I have to go off of a paved or gravel area I always walk the area first. If soft or wet no-go. It’s certainly doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get stuck but I have not yet. Also, if at an event where I am parked on grass and a decent rain is on the way I pack up and move onto a stable surface. I’ve been to one event where a good rain storm moved in and there were stuck rigs everywhere and the place was a disaster by the time they all got dragged out. I did move then and I was not one of them.
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Old 04-14-2021, 06:41 AM   #3
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A couple years back I was at a Good Sam Rally in MO. I was parked, along with others on the grassy part of the fair grounds. Myself and at least 3 other rigs had a hard time getting out.

For me it was that my jacks sank down about 4 or so inches into the grass/mud. It was very hard to get them up due to just plan suction. I had increased the foot print size of the jack pad with the lego type squares. Those just broke in half due to the weight. I think I left the parts of most of them buried in 4 inches of mud. Some of the other rigs had to dig and dig find ramps etc but all got out. It was not a good sight.

Once the duallys start to spin you have lost the advantage. I am like you now about parking on grass. If its a dirt pad thats different the odds lean more in your favor.

After my ordeal I got home and quickly ordered better and larger jack pads. I really feel more comfortable with these than anything else. They are worth taking a look at.
https://www.outriggerpads.com/for-rvs/
To me they are worth every penny

Good Luck safe travels
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Old 04-14-2021, 08:18 AM   #4
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So how does one deal with this? If you show up and all the spots are grass, as they tend to be at national sites, then what?

Whats the best way to get out if stuck?

Do you use large jack pads, lift the rear, and put something under the tire? Gravel? Wood?

I'm still awefully nervous. I was on a very slight incline I thought would be easy to drive up, but the tires just dug in... Tried to put the wood I had for under the stands, under the tire, that did squat...
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Old 04-14-2021, 08:23 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bpu699 View Post
So how does one deal with this? If you show up and all the spots are grass, as they tend to be at national sites, then what?

Whats the best way to get out if stuck?

Do you use large jack pads, lift the rear, and put something under the tire? Gravel? Wood?

I'm still awefully nervous. I was on a very slight incline I thought would be easy to drive up, but the tires just dug in... Tried to put the wood I had for under the stands, under the tire, that did squat...

I’m an old sailor from Annapolis, and my experience is biased by a foundation of sailing a deep fin-keeled sailboat around a very shallow Chesapeake Bay. I simply avoid places and conditions that I know my vessel won’t handle well. I realize this creates some limitations, but it’s the comfort price we pay for a bigger boat or a bigger rig.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:06 AM   #6
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I try to stay as close to a campground road as possible and reverse in. If it looked like it was going to get bad I would ask to move to another site or even a car park.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:15 AM   #7
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Parking on dry ground doesn't guarantee it won't rain and you won't get stuck. Been there , done that. Towing out caused $4,500 damage to the MH front suspension.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:20 AM   #8
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Parking on dry ground doesn't guarantee it won't rain and you won't get stuck. Been there , done that. Towing out caused $4,500 damage to the MH front suspension.
Mr.D, most of the damage on your rig was from gross negligence on the part of the tow truck operator.

Who pulls a huge RV, chained to 1 front tire, resting against a cement curb.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:48 AM   #9
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We do our best keeping too hard packed, and gravel roads.
Dusty desert roads are good in the summer heat, but also turn slippery in rains.
We avoid grass. If the ground is capable of growing grass, it's too soft for me.

My dad used to drive trucks in the Australian outback, in the 1950's. Most of his route was graded dirt roads. During rainy seasons the freight still had to be delivered. go. He told me the roads (over time) would become lower than the surrounding ground, and would fill during rains. Driving through the puddle (his words) was far safer. If you dared to go to the outside, the ground was not as hard packed and you'd almost always get stuck.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:54 AM   #10
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Coaches are not made for off roading. It is pretty simple don’t park any place in question. These are very favorable when it comes to towing or extracting when stuck. Not a lot of tow truck operators have experience towing or extracting a coach when stuck. Requires an experienced operator, most are experienced at towing big trucks and equipment not low slung motorhomes.
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Old 04-14-2021, 10:08 AM   #11
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It also seems that most motorhomes run ribbed tires. It least I do. You can get traction tires for the rear that might help some, but they are noisy. Still, 30,000 lbs is 30,000 lbs. It does tend to sink into the ground if the ground is soft at all.
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Old 04-14-2021, 10:16 AM   #12
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I carry a tarp with me in case I get stuck and I have to crawl under my rig to attach a chain to the axle. If the tractor, tow truck, backhoe, etc., that is pulling you and goes slow you should be to be pulled free without damage to your rig. I've had this happen a couple of times and I also sat in my rig and applied gentle throttle to assist the tow vehicle.

Also, one time I got stuck turning around at my sister-in-law's and I backed on to soft grass on a slight decline I put throw rugs from inside the rig in front of the rear wheels, they gave the wheels enough dry traction to pull right out. Something I've learned from WNY winters, using car mats under the tires when stuck in snow.
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Old 04-14-2021, 10:20 AM   #13
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Our coaches don’t do well in mud so prior advice given to try to avoid these situations is wise. Sometimes all the planning you do can’t prevent some situations. If you are really worried and want to be preventative, buy a good set of chains for the duals. If you ever start spinning to the point where you can’t move, don’t let it keep spinning and bury down to the axles. Put the chains on right away and in many situations you will be ok. If not, be prepared to spend some big money for an experienced tow truck operator.
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Old 04-14-2021, 10:23 AM   #14
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Mr.D, most of the damage on your rig was from gross negligence on the part of the tow truck operator.

Who pulls a huge RV, chained to 1 front tire, resting against a cement curb.
When I was towed, they used the solid front axle... which sounds like the norm as there arent ANY tow hooks on this vehicle...

Driving home I thought an airbag was damaged, clearly the right front was flat...

Thankfully, found the level adjust had rotate a full 90 degrees, and locked the bag flat. Corrected it, and alls well...
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