Towing a motorhome across soft ground

[Sandie]

I'm just back from a very muddy festival. A lot of vehicles were having to be towed on. A couple in a large-ish hired motorhome were stuck and the tow eye supplied was bent. Much distress and the lady close to tears. I lent them mine. It was returned some time later, clearly having stripped the thread in the vehicle as the remains were still in the thread of the eye. The bar also looks slightly bent across the threads. I intend to purchase a new one, even if this will screw in ok, My question is, is this a common occurrence? Was it just down to the inexperience of the driver, or is the towing eye just not up to dragging a motorhome out of the mud? I've been towed twice in similar circumstances, but with my old small Chausson that had a fixed towing point. I'd like to know before I find myself needing to be towed. Observations/ experiences/ advice please.

 

[bigtwin]

No. 1 rule -DO NOT STOP.

Agreed, do not stop unnecessarily. But if traction is lost, I’m with this advice.

The biggest rule is.
When you’re stuck, stop trying to drive out. All you are doing is digging bigger holes to be pulled out of. Then more force is required to release you, and more damage maybe done.

Ian

 

[Sandie]

Well no it wasnt but how much is a new bumper for a van , depends how lucky you're feeling I guess

I didn't see anyone suffer visible damage, although clearly the couple in the hired motorhome damaged the towing point.

 

[Sandie]

Imagine the state that the inside of your MH is going to be in after a couple of days on there and what it's going to be like trudging around. I think id be a lot happier without a couple of hundred quid somewhere else

My van is pretty clean. The grass on the campsite main areas was ok, just the foot and vehicle high traffic areas, so you could get in and out of the vehicle from relatively clean ground. Boots off, of course! Everything muddy goes into a bin bag in the outside locker to be sorted on return. Trudging around was grim, especially for those with instruments. However, we'd committed to.perform, and if a few of the side had dropped out, we wouldn't have been able to, so letting down the rest. The organisers cancelled the dance performances on Saturday, but we danced on Friday and Sunday, when it wasn't actually raining.

 

[Beryl]

I'm 65. I'm in a Border Morris side and we were performing there, so we didn't pay for our tickets, but I have in the past

Would that be Sidmouth by any chance?

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[March Hare]

I hope OP doesn't mind me asking a question, but whilst on the subject of motorhomes being towed into/out of venues, can anyone give advice to those of us who have little or no experience of driving the motorhome whilst being towed please? I appreciate that it is probably a very novice question, but it would genuinely help us to be prepared.

Also is it possible to be towed backwards off a pitch? We had a near miss recently (5m slightly uphill strip of rain soaked grass between track and hardstanding pitch), but the only way would have been a reversing tow?

 

[Sandie]

Would that be Sidmouth by any chance?

No, Wickham Music Festival. It's not a folk festival, but they have morris dancers as side entertainment.

 

[Sandie]

Anyway.... I have ordered a new towing eye as I'm going to Scotland next week. My Good Samaritan act cost me £22, but at least I have learned something. Not having had experience of being towed other than with a (clearly more reliable and robust) fixed towing hoop, I could well have made the same mistakes as the person I helped out. I wonder if they'll inform the hire company? I doubt it, as no doubt they'll charge them for the damage to the towing point.

 

[Googlebot]

I hope OP doesn't mind me asking a question, but whilst on the subject of motorhomes being towed into/out of venues, can anyone give advice to those of us who have little or no experience of driving the motorhome whilst being towed please? I appreciate that it is probably a very novice question, but it would genuinely help us to be prepared.

Also is it possible to be towed backwards off a pitch? We had a near miss recently (5m slightly uphill strip of rain soaked grass between track and hardstanding pitch), but the only way would have been a reversing tow?

Only advice I can give is make sure any signals are clear before the tow starts and make sure your wheels are straight. You can’t tell on mud what way they are pointing and they plough if not straight.

Regarding going backwards. I have used various points but the rear axle with a strop is usually the best. Never in the middle mind, and make sure you miss all brake lines etc.

The forces involved when a vehicle is mud bound can be immense. If you aren’t sure, pay a few hundred quid for an insured professional and save thousands.

 

[Landy Andy]

I hope OP doesn't mind me asking a question, but whilst on the subject of motorhomes being towed into/out of venues, can anyone give advice to those of us who have little or no experience of driving the motorhome whilst being towed please? I appreciate that it is probably a very novice question, but it would genuinely help us to be prepared.

Also is it possible to be towed backwards off a pitch? We had a near miss recently (5m slightly uphill strip of rain soaked grass between track and hardstanding pitch), but the only way would have been a reversing tow?

When you are being towed/recovered from soft ground. Either don’t drive assist, or the best is to just, give drive assist, like tickover, or just above in a low gear. NO reving the engine and spinning wheels, no overtaking the rope, never ever drive across the rope. You may even have to slightly drag the brake as the rope/chain/strop needs to be tight at all times. Know where the centre of your steering wheel is and follow the tow vehicle.

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[Kannon Fodda]

When you are being towed/recovered from soft ground. Either don’t drive assist, or the best is to just, give drive assist, like tickover, or just above in a low gear. NO reving the engine and spinning wheels, no overtaking the rope, never ever drive across the rope. You may even have to slightly drag the brake as the rope/chain/strop needs to be tight at all times. Know where the centre of your steering wheel is and follow the tow vehicle.

Check your vehicle manual before deciding to be in gear, or not. Drive assistance is not appropriate for some vehicles, especially Comfortmatic which should be in neutral.

 

[Landy Andy]

I think most written tow procedures will be about on road towing, not off road, but no assistance is better than high revs, spinning wheels, and mud flinging.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I feel lucky - touch wood! Closest was a very muddy Le Mans campsite after 24 hours of nearly solid rain. The FWD VW T4 Westy slipped and slid through the mud but kept going from pitch to exit road. It had electronic traction control - that must have helped. Not as good as a LS Diff but whichever front wheel is spinning gets braked. Also, as has been said, you must not stop, but try to keep the momentum going until tyre grip is restored.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I feel lucky - touch wood! Closest was a very muddy Le Mans campsite after 24 hours of nearly solid rain. The FWD VW T4 Westy slipped and slid through the mud but kept going from pitch to exit road. It had electronic traction control - that must have helped. Not as good as a LS Diff but whichever front wheel is spinning gets braked. Also, as has been said, you must not stop, but try to keep the momentum going until tyre grip is restored.

Edit - past experience competing in Production Car Trials also must have helped.

 

[cyberyacht]

Vacating a grass site in Annan last week, my neighbour i a small RWD carved a nice pair of furrows. Several FWD Ducato's further up on level ground managed to make a bit of a meal of it. Being on a slight upward slope, I had previously reversed up onto my levellers and had Milenco jumbo mats under the front wheels. Got off without any drama other than the grass being flattened where I drove. Didn't have to scrape much mud off either.

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[TheBig1]

Having to get towed occassionally is a fact of camping on green fields. It is no reflection on being a bad driver, but you need to be sensible. Start your engine to give steering, put it in neutral to protect the gearbox. Ensure the person towing is competent and pulls straight without snatching (unless using a kinetic rope) and slowly

The towing eye on most vehicles, especially big vans is in no way designed for recovery. A gentle pull on a flat hard surface is fine usually it the eye is screwed fully in. Remember the hole you screw into is a nut welded to a plate and to thin plate steel. Doing recovery in the past, I have witnessed eyes snapping and tearing out when a vehicle gets winched onto a trailer or truck. Proper towing needs doing from the chassis, the front suspension or the towbar if fitted. But few people have the foresight to fit a tow strap before it gets too muddy to lay on the ground attaching it.

My last tow out, I was kneeling in 3 inches of water and mud connecting it. It pulled out of the mud with ease, and when on solid ground I was pleased to have the motorhome to get changed to drive home. That is with a 5 tonne tag axle.

 

[TheBig1]

Forgot to say, never ever try to screw a damaged screw eye in to your van, it will probably damage the van. A replacement eye is £20 but repairing the damage could be hundreds very easily

 

[busbuddy]

We were towed out of the camping spot at Doninton race circuit back in April. The tractor driver made us sign a disclaimer form before he would do anything. I think they have experience!

We got towed at the infield campsite at donington in may for the bsb, they came with a Mitsubishi.....we just burst out laughing and put the kettle on

An hour later they came back with a tele porter

 

[varaizian]

I hope OP doesn't mind me asking a question, but whilst on the subject of motorhomes being towed into/out of venues, can anyone give advice to those of us who have little or no experience of driving the motorhome whilst being towed please? I appreciate that it is probably a very novice question, but it would genuinely help us to be prepared.

Also is it possible to be towed backwards off a pitch? We had a near miss recently (5m slightly uphill strip of rain soaked grass between track and hardstanding pitch), but the only way would have been a reversing tow?

I was towed out in reverse from between trees by a very impatient French guy who crawled under the van and attached a material strap onto the rear axle. My gears were in neutral although the engine was running just in case. The ruts I was in kept the van straight but it all seemed a bit Heath Robinson to me. No harm done and a sharp lesson learned. Incidentally the limited slip differential function that we had then made no difference.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've seen Fiat towing eyes completely snapped due to not being towed straight.

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[GAVLAD]

Happens to the best.
Last time I was at Chester Food & Drink Festival in the Fun section, Someone got towed off by the tractor but forgot to wind up their rear corner steadies, so ploughed the field.
If you’re in a field or sand it happens.

 

[Sandie]

I was born in SE London so you are probably genetically better prepared for "weather" if you come from oop north. We could do with a bit of rain here in France.

Actually I was born in Plymouth. Been up north for a long time, though...

 

[Folkranger]

For about 30+ years we've been members of a small independant caravan club that hold weekly rallys, mainly on farmers fields from March to October. I couldn't count the number of times we've been pulled off, both as a caravan and then a motorhome. In the end we decided we would not put expensive motorhomes through the risks involved and became more choosy as to when and where we would rally with them.

 

[Googlebot]

We got towed at the infield campsite at donington in may for the bsb, they came with a Mitsubishi.....we just burst out laughing and put the kettle on
View attachment 792558
An hour later they came back with a tele porter

Did it work? I would have asked to go straight home.

 

[jockaneezer]

The towing eye on my van is a left hand thread, is that a common thing and anyone know why they would specify that ?

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[busbuddy]

Did it work? I would have asked to go straight home.

It did, we had only just got there ...they put us trackside at the end of starkeys opposite the esses....it was worth the wait

 

[dash300]

The towing eye on my van is a left hand thread, is that a common thing and anyone know why they would specify that ?

All the ones I have used have been don't know why.

Edit. Mr Google say's to be compatible with the twist of the rope not unscrewing the eye!

 

[TheBig1]

I was towed out in reverse from between trees by a very impatient French guy who crawled under the van and attached a material strap onto the rear axle. My gears were in neutral although the engine was running just in case. The ruts I was in kept the van straight but it all seemed a bit Heath Robinson to me. No harm done and a sharp lesson learned. Incidentally the limited slip differential function that we had then made no difference.

Have seen alko and other beam axles twisted by being towed by or jacked up on the axle. It is much easier damaged than most people realise

 

[Sandie]

Forgot to say, never ever try to screw a damaged screw eye in to your van, it will probably damage the van. A replacement eye is £20 but repairing the damage could be hundreds very easily

Precisely why I've ordered a new one.

 

[TheBig1]

Precisely why I've ordered a new one.

shockingly there are people that would try to reuse a damaged eye, seen it many times. You did the right thing of course and protected your investment. A strained one can snap like a twig and damaged threads could ruin the receiver

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[Steve and Denise]

I was towed out in reverse from between trees by a very impatient French guy who crawled under the van and attached a material strap onto the rear axle. My gears were in neutral although the engine was running just in case. The ruts I was in kept the van straight but it all seemed a bit Heath Robinson to me. No harm done and a sharp lesson learned. Incidentally the limited slip differential function that we had then made no difference.

Out of interest what van was this ? Your current one ? Or rwd