Wet grass tire chains??

[SC_camper]

I tried to get the camper out of the yard for the first trip of the year. We had some rain and ice earlier in the week. I first tried 2 days after any weather, didn't move the camper 4 inches. Had another inch of rain, waited another 2 days, put out 14 bags of drainage rock in tire paths. This time I got the camper to move 30 yards and then just spun in the grass. Now I have muddy ruts and couldn't go camping.

My Excursion is only 2wd and a 4x4 purchase isn't in the cards. I'm thinking about getting some type of snow(wet grass) chains for these situations. Will chains give me the traction needed or will I just dig bigger ruts?

[kw_00]

Not ragging but this is why I really love having the 4x4 truck. In Florida we have sugar sand...man that stuff will make u bury down so quick. On my old 2 wheel drive I used boards, they were my best friend. Never have I used chains before, so I cant comment. But I have aired down my tires with success especially on the beach. I know this is expensive but are u able to blacktop or concrete and path to where its at? I added a slab beside my house which has helped out. Got the same HOA problems like u have so I understand that issue.

[wcjeep]

Avoid snow chains. Can you install a french drain down the middle in between tire locations? Wood is probably the cheapest option. There are also offroad traction mats. I'll post a link to some cheap units. You are going to need a lot more rock. Also, air down your tires.



Traction mat

[SC_camper]

Wow, thanks for all the input! I'm going to try to answer some questions and maybe explain why some options just wont work very well. I will say that it's more than just wet grass, the ground was wet too and it's red clay. I did dump several bags of gravel and sand to make a path for traction, the camper tires are also on gravel. This got me about 25 yards or so before I started spinning in the grass again. I did not have the WD bars on and had some firewood in back of Ex.

My TT sits in the lowest part of the yard. To get the TT out of the yard, I must pull it from the back fence(west side of yard) and up along the side fence(north side of yard). Then I've got to back the TT towards the back fence to turn it around. The gate to get out is on the south east side of the yard. I basically have to make a 5-6 point turn to get out without hitting the fence or a tree.

This situation makes being towed or wenched out a PITA. If it was a fairly straight shot, it would be no problem. The boards would work well but again, that's a lot of boards to be moved around(by DW).

You can count the fence panels from the front of the TT to the stacked firewood. 5 panels at 8 foot each, 40 foot to get turned along the side fence The firewood is in the corner of the back and side fences. I have to turn the TT around and pull it as close to it's parked location to start going up along the south fence to get out.

If I was to rearrange the TT parking area and turn everything 90 degrees, I would have a straight shot up to the gate. Problem is that I live in a neighborhood with HOA and that would put the TT broad side to neighbors views. Parked the way it is, it is a bit less obvious or obtrusive. I'm trying not to rock the boat. I have permission to keep it on site if I keep it covered, but no body has complained yet.

[CampingN_C_]

Another vote for boards but be careful not to spin them out behind you, they could hit the camper.

[BurbMan]

4LO is invaluable in these situations....but without it, plywood strips under the back tires are your best bet.

[LowRyter]

I had the same thing happen a couple of years ago when I was camping at the Indy 500. Wet grass, 5th wheel trailer and 2wd Duramax. The 2wd tow truck couldn't move either. But a couple of 4wd half ton trucks managed to pull out the tow truck and myself.

I'd like to get all season tires on the rear. Recommendations appreciated.

[Grit_dog]

You'll just dig down quicker.

[Bedlam]

rtz549 wrote:
Have a look here for ideas:

http://www.toughtoys.com.au/4wd-recovery/sand-tracks-sand-ladders-and-maxtrax-alternatives/

I have one of the alternatives I keep in the truck for self recovery. Mine would work on slick surfaces but have no flotation on soft.

[K_Charles]

When I worked we rented out mats that contractors used to save homeowners lawns when working behind someone's house.

[tbred]

We use sheets of 4x8x3/4" plywood to pull our tt off it's gravel pad, through the yard to the driveway. We'd never get out in the spring without them. We store them in garage when not in use and they've held up great for 2 years. Save the lawn too.

[PA12DRVR]

I'll take a different point of view...starting from the point that all of my 4-wheeling, much of it in the edges of spruce bogs in AK, begins with chaining up the 4WD pickup or the SxS.

- Chains will help, particularly if you do have a hard bottom and are only dealing with slick grass.
- What will help more is, if possible, lifting the trailer tires high enough to get them on boards: can you jack up each axle so that you can lay down a 2x6x6' under the tires so that you're not having to lift/pull the trailer out of the mud?
- Maybe use a bottle jack on top of 1'x1'x2" pads (stacked two deep) to get each trailer tire up and on a firm surface?

Once you're moving, don't stop until the Excursion and the trailer (ideally both) are on a hard surface

[2003silverado]

If it's purely wet grass than yes, chains will help. I know how slippery dew covered grass is and 2wd can be almost useless on it. However, if the ground is soft, which it sounds like it is in your situation they aren't going to help. If the truck or especially the trailer starts to sink in even an inch or less you will be doomed and a 4x4 probably would be too.

A truck with 4wd can usually go through the mud pretty well if you keep moving, attach a trailer to it and not so much. As soon as the trailer starts to sink you are attached to an anchor.

[dapperdan]

I vote for the board idea, I've seen some foundation repair outfits that use "tons" of three quarter inch sheet plywood to drive their equipment on. I guess it would all depend on how soft your soil is there.

I remember years ago one of my co-workers came back from a trip with his MH and didn't realize how much rain we received while he was away, he buried the MH up to the axels. Ended up having a HUGE wrecker come and winch him out. You should've seen his front yard, turned into a long landscaping project to fix up the deep ruts. He laughs about it now but it wasn't so funny that Sunday he got back from his trip!

Dan

[rtz549]

Have a look here for ideas:

http://www.toughtoys.com.au/4wd-recovery/sand-tracks-sand-ladders-and-maxtrax-alternatives/

[Bedlam]

Another vote for laying boards and keeping your weight distribution bars off to get maximum weight on the drive axle. I keep my trailer at a friend's home that has poor drainage where the ground swells up with retained water and have had to do the same with 4wd.





Yes, the yard has more moss than grass. It is the wet northwest.