Getting Stuck with a Diesel Pusher

[RRR]

Here in Oregon one of the National Forest (Siuslaw?) that was had a large amount of logging in late 1970 early '80's subsidized a program to do that for several log haulers. The idea was to cut down on the maintenance of the logging roads as the speeds would be lower.

I seem to remember that it was switched controlled to bleed off the tires then flip it back to air up. IIRC one of the concerns was that it would take a long time to air up 18 tires from low pressure to normal. Never heard of the outcome of the trial or if it was implemented.

[Unplanned Tourist]

Originally Posted by RRR

Here in Oregon one of the National Forest (Siuslaw?) that was had a large amount of logging in late 1970 early '80's subsidized a program to do that for several log haulers. The idea was to cut down on the maintenance of the logging roads as the speeds would be lower.

I seem to remember that it was switched controlled to bleed off the tires then flip it back to air up. IIRC one of the concerns was that it would take a long time to air up 18 tires from low pressure to normal. Never heard of the outcome of the trial or if it was implemented.

They tried the same thing in BC. It faded into the history books like CNG fuel, self loading trailers and air scales. The logging industry is pretty brutal on trucks.

[Dutch Star Don]

All nice stories about getting stuck in cars and off road vehicles, but hopefully you'll realize you're not driving an off road vehicle. Even slightly uneven roads will shake an RV apart. Yes, many drag trailers into remote sites, but no one is in them. Once you try and take a motor home off road, you'll soon realize that getting pitched from side to side in your seat gets old fast.

You've been driving big stuff for years, you should be able to recognize what will get you stuck and avoid it. I've been RVing for 50 years all over the country and have never got an RV stuck.

[n2zon]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

All nice stories about getting stuck in cars and off road vehicles, but hopefully you'll realize you're not driving an off road vehicle. Even slightly uneven roads will shake an RV apart. Yes, many drag trailers into remote sites, but no one is in them. Once you try and take a motor home off road, you'll soon realize that getting pitched from side to side in your seat gets old fast.

You've been driving big stuff for years, you should be able to recognize what will get you stuck and avoid it. I've been RVing for 50 years all over the country and have never got an RV stuck.

I got stuck once, in the Winnie. I was directed to a place where I couldn't make a turn. I was going to unhook the toad and back up, but the CG owner said I should be able to make it across the somewhat muddy grass. I would have made it, too, if he'd stayed out of the darn way! But he walked in front of me without thinking, which made me slow down too much (so that I didn't hit him), and we got stuck. Fortunately, he had a front end loader and was able to pull us free, at no charge. (He was embarrassed about the whole thing afterward.)

I don't want to even *think* about repeating that experience, ever, and certainly not in our DP. I stick to places I *know* I can go.

[Weeds636]

Originally Posted by ShelbyM

Follow the lead of the mall crawlers and mount a Hi-Lift in a prominent spot. You'll never be stuck.

This is a very dangerous tool. I have seen more than one person hurt using it. Been jeeping 50 years.

[Warrenjo]

It seems to me it would be just as effective to put a set of chains (dual wheel) in the basement. If you get really stuck let some air out of the tires and put on the chains.


I do not ever want to put chains on dual wheels in the mud or snow so I will stay on firm ground.

[Jzack]

Airing down tires on an RV probably would work better if they had real Drive Tires instead of the Steer/All position tires the vast majority are fitted with on the rear axle.

I kinda got stuck once when trying to position myself in a wet campsite after a heavy rain. It is very easy to do without realizing it in a DP. It was a weird sensation of pushing the accelerator with no results in forward or reverse. I thought something was broken. I couldn't hear the engine revving or even feel the rear end sink since you are sitting so far away from the rear axle. Since I was close enough to the hookups the CG owner suggested I just put the Jacks down, level out, and wait a few days. By the time we left, sure enough the ground was dry enough for us to pull right out after raising the Jacks.

[R.Wold]

Having been stuck in a campground on soft ground after some heavy rains, and having spent two unpleasant hours getting unstuck, Ive been thinking about this. Of all the ideas posted here, the most effective seems to me to be a selectable locking differential. Having power to the other wheel would have done it for me.

Whether or not they are available for my axle (Detroit Model 4), and if so what the cost would be, are the next questions to answer. But Ive been thinking about it since last June and might just make some phone calls. An internet search has so far been unproductive.

Given the large diameter of the wheels, the narrow profile of the tires, the stiffness of the sidewalls, and the absence of any effective tread pattern, I don't think you’d get much benefit from airing down. And as stated above the risk of breaking a bead makes this an undesirable alternative.

The idea of installing chains, aside from the possibility of damage to the fragile wheel wells and very limited room for installation, seems like just about an impossible task once you have buried your wheels in mud. Possible I suppose, but not preferable. Its a lot different on a truck with plenty of room and nothing to damage.

And of course the best plan of all is to just stay off soft ground which I intend to do, but as I’ve learned stuff happens.

[TheWoodBoss]

Know what you are driving on. A motor home will sink and get stuck in a heartbeat, stay on solid maintained roads or you are in for trouble.

[bpu699]

Letting air out is likely pointless.

The ONE time I drove onto wet grass I sunk in about 8 inches, tires packed with dirt and became slicks. Nothing short of a tow truck will get you out.

[ransil]

Originally Posted by Weeds636

This is a very dangerous tool. I have seen more than one person hurt using it. Been jeeping 50 years.

The learning curve it to whack yourself in the chin at least once, you then learn to keep it out the way.

[Caymanedge]

So this brings up a question. What would you hook too to pull the RV out?

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by HenryH001

Letting air out of tires was common in the 50’s and 60’s. I don’t think people do it much anymore. Your post took me back a few years and I enjoyed reading it.

Just don’t tell me your still using sawdust tires.

It's pretty much of a requirement when camping out on Pismo Beach, CA.
They air you back up, upon departure, if you're not equipped with your own compressor.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by bpu699

Letting air out is likely pointless.

The ONE time I drove onto wet grass I sunk in about 8 inches, tires packed with dirt and became slicks. Nothing short of a tow truck will get you out.

I can usually drive on my lawn, even after it rains. But,,, I tried it in the motorhome this one time after it had rained for a couple of days and got stopped in my tracks. I knew not to try backing or rocking so immediately shut the rig down. It stayed in that spot for a couple more days then I placed heavy lumber under the jacks to start the extraction process. Stuffed plywood strips under the wheels and was able to drive out.


Of course ours has a GVWR of 15k which made things easy. Not sure anything like my procedure would come close to working with a heavy DP.