Author Topic: Driving on Gumbo (Read 760 times)

cooper · « **on:** October 22, 2004, 11:16:09 AM »

This past weekend I had an experience on a gumbo mud road.

We drove in about 8 miles on a dry road on an antelope hunt. We walked back away from the road for our hunt, and about noon it started raining. It took us nearly 2 hours to get back to the trucks. By then, the road was getting to be in poor shape.

We were able to make it out, but there were numerous spots where it got pretty hairy - especially where the road banked a bit, and you started sliding sideways no matter what you did. Gunning the engine just made you turn sideways on the road - it didn't really get you through any faster.

Ths was my first experience on a road like this. My question is - if things had gotten really bad, would it have been adviseable to get off the road, and drive on the prairie where the grasses and sage might give you some traction?

I have a 4x4 with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. I didn't have chains, but if I did, should I have chained up? All 4 wheels or just 2, and if just 2 should they be the front (for steering?) or the rear?

Smokem · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2004, 02:27:50 AM »

How deep was the "slop"? If you had chains yes do up all 4. Provided you have tire clearance in the front. My S-10 ZR2 does not have enough "safe" clearance for tire chains on the front tires. Just by putting chains on the rear made a huge difference for me in axle deep Northeast mud.

WD45 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2004, 03:47:57 AM »

FYI...reminder
When only the 2 rear are chained it can make steering more difficult in greasy slop. While you have traction in the rear and not enough in the front at times you will continue to go straight no matter what direction you turn the wheels :shock:
I would venture to guess that I am not the only one that has experienced this :x

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2004, 12:55:58 AM »

I did a lot of 4 wheelin when I was in the mid west. When the roads got to bad I would run in the grass or fields. Sometimes the fields were just as bad as the roads. One thing that I found that helped best in mud and snow was narrow and tall tires with aggressive tread. I bought the super swampers and they work the best for me.