Descending a muddy hill

[AnD3rew]

So is have been contemplating this, suppose you need to descend a slippery muddy hill with trees or a drop off at the end.

Now you could winch down backwards if you have a front mounted winch. But if you want a simpler safety back up or you don't have the winch what do you reckon about this.

1 or 2 snatch straps, secured to a tree at the top and the back of the vehicle. The idea is not to use them at all. But they are there as a back up in case you lose traction and can't stop at the end. You would be in low range (HDC if you have it etc so hopefully as slow as possible and the snatch strap has some stretch so it would have a but of shock absorbing at the end.

I have never heard this advocated (maybe with good reason). What do you think would it work or are you likely to remove a section of your car when it slams to a halt at the end?

[Slunnie]

If you need the strap and you don't pull the tree down onto the car, then how do you safely remove the strap. If its that sketchy perhaps you'd have to make a call on driving it.

[Tank]

So is have been contemplating this, suppose you need to descend a slippery muddy hill with trees or a drop off at the end.

Now you could winch down backwards if you have a front mounted winch. But if you want a simpler safety back up or you don't have the winch what do you reckon about this.

1 or 2 snatch straps, secured to a tree at the top and the back of the vehicle. The idea is not to use them at all. But they are there as a back up in case you lose traction and can't stop at the end. You would be in low range (HDC if you have it etc so hopefully as slow as possible and the snatch strap has some stretch so it would have a but of shock absorbing at the end.

I have never heard this advocated (maybe with good reason). What do you think would it work or are you likely to remove a section of your car when it slams to a halt at the end?
I would keep my wheels in any ruts, lock in the rear diff (ARB Locker), low range first gear (mines an Auto) and drive it down on the throttle.
If there were no ruts or an embankment to stop you sliding of the actual track, then I would find another route, not worth the risk to vehicle or self if there is a dangerous drop-off, Regards Frank.

[AnD3rew]

If you need the strap and you don't pull the tree down onto the car, then how do you safely remove the strap. If its that sketchy perhaps you'd have to make a call on driving it.

Fair point

I guess I would be hoping that once you were stopped and it was a bit flatter you would be able to back up a bit and losses it off and get it off, of course you would have to walk back up the hill.

[Sitec]

As with any off road obstacle that you arrive at... 1, do you need to drive down there, or is their a way around? 2, If you do, once there is there a way out? Attaching straps then sliding down the bank to the length of the straps sounds like a recipe for disaster to me... One Land Rover at the bottom of a hill, with a Pine Tree attached to the end of the strap, no longer attached to the ground! If you HAVE to go down, then I'd be reversing down using the winch cable on a double line pull so you know you have enough winch power to get yourself back up! If the line is not long enough to get to the bottom, then you tie off half way down and go again. Can you paint us a better picture as to why you have to go down there... We're all curious!:)

[AnD3rew]

Thanks for all your thoughts, its not a real situation I am planning, i just watched a Youtube video of a 4wd sliding all the way down a track and into some scrub at the bottom a while ago and it got me thinking of how to do it better a purely intellectual excercise. Your points about not doing it if it is that bad are well taken and I agree. I guess it might happen if you were camping and it rained seriously while you were camed somewhere and you needed to get out for example.

[goingbush]

Why does no one carry wheelchains any more ?
a set of chains on the front wheels and drive down , used to be standard procedure.

[jazzaD1]

because it kind of does away with the 'tread lightly' mission statement that is pc these days...

[fitzy]

We have used a strap wrapped loosly once around a tree at the top with someone adjusting the friction on the strap to tree, to lower the vehicle down matching the speed with the vehicle, if the vehicle starts to get out of control they simply walk around the tree a little more to increase the friction on the strap.
It worked .

[Brad110]

If the chains retain traction then the damage could be less than muddies locked up.

Chains aren't necessarily evil until they are used inappropriatly.

[goingbush]

We have used a strap wrapped loosly once around a tree at the top with someone adjusting the friction on the strap to tree, to lower the vehicle down matching the speed with the vehicle, if the vehicle starts to get out of control they simply walk around the tree a little more to increase the friction on the strap.
It worked .

like a capstain winch in reverse, great idea .(will keep it in mind)

but as per wheelchain idea - not pc , too bad about the ringbarked tree !!

[Sitec]

Fitzy... Using a tree like a Capstan winch. Like it and will remember it. Gud call!!

[Tank]

Why does no one carry wheelchains any more ?
a set of chains on the front wheels and drive down , used to be standard procedure.
Because it would dig up the tracks worse than they are now and NPWS and State Forests would have the excuse they need to close another damaged track, Regards Frank.

[Disco Muppet]

Often pondered this myself, particularly after the video of that D1 with the trailer.
I was thinking Low 1, Lock if you've got 'em, down on the throttle with your foot away from the brakes, Much the same as Tank says.
Been in a situation of sliding down an angled muddy slope with trees planted in a choke point with no brakes or steering, was great fun :angel:
I think if I were in an emergency I'd utilize whatever I had at my disposal, PC or not.

[benji]

Ive had to use chains in the past. Of course no one likes too.
I do like the capstan tree winch. If there were a few vehicles in the party youd have easily 100 meters of straps.

[Loubrey]

Driving in the woods/ forests in the UK, the practice of arresting your slide with a strop and tree protector combination is quite common. We're not talking dangling yourself of a precipice, but more stopping the gentle slide towards the trees. Once the slide has been stopped a gentle reverse to loosen the tension out the line/ strop and you're back on your way. There is absolutely no other way to stop the momentum, unless you winch yourself down the slope and on an average day in the woods of Gloucestershire or Hereford shire that will become a long long day.

Obviously chains in the summer is a complete no-no and even in winter they are seldom if ever used south of the Scottish border!

Cheers,

Lou

[Blknight.aus]

Fitzy... Using a tree like a Capstan winch. Like it and will remember it. Gud call!!

noooo, bad call (but by no means the worst Ive ever seen)

first of yes, it works and its very effective BUT...

1. if the strap crosses over it can lock itself in place untill you get the weight off of it OR yank the running end (the bit you're holding) free which usually results in you having lost a turn around the tree and you wont be able to control the load any more. If it happens quickly enough you can snap the strap, this is more likely if the strap is rubbing on itself and chafing.

2. the operator is usually going to be standing within the danger area

3. if you're doing it long enough you can burn the line into the tree, I dont care about the ringbarking but if the tree is rotten in the middle, once you're through the hardcasing you can wind up crushing the tree and snapping it through

Heres how it can be done a little safer....

wrap the tree with your bridal strap or strop, hook that up to a shackle, loop that onto your largest bow shackle then thread the strap through in the same manner as you do for an abseiling figure 8. Tie a long line onto the end of the strap so that you can maintain effort on the strap from a safe distance while wearing gloves.

to make it even safer (this is relative, its safer in terms of it gives you a fall back but increases risk as you are adding a weight that could be thrown) put a large shackle on the end of the strap so that should you have miscalculated the length of your recovery or it goes pearshaped and you loose control when you get to the end of the strap the shackle will jamb in the bow shackle and stop things.