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A Simple Guide on Mud Driving – Including 13 Tips

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One way or another, an overlander would have to drive in the mud. But driving on mud is a challenging task.

However, there are some tips you can keep in mind to prepare the best for tackling muddy conditions. Also, it will be great if you have the right kind of gear with you.

And, to make things simple for you, we have compiled all the tips and tricks regarding how to drive on mud in this article.

mud driving in Laos

How Do You Drive On Mud?

Try To Minimize Water Damage

While driving on mud, you should remember the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’. So, you should always check out the depth of the mud before driving through it.

We’ve learned it the hard way.

For that, a big stick can come in handy. So, get out of your vehicle and check the mud depth by poking at it with the stick.

At the same time, try to find any hidden objects in the mud that can be harmful to your vehicle.

Upon checking, if you notice that the mud depth will surpass the wading depth of your vehicle, then the ride must need to have a snorkel and breather extensions.

On top of that, a wading blanket could also come in handy to save the engine bay of your vehicle from mud and water.

bogged in Mongolia mud driving

Another idea is to follow the ruts that are not too deep.

And, if there’s no option, you have to straddle the deep ruts for the best result.

The top-most priority in that situation would be to protect the electrical components under the bonnet.

If necessary, you should cover or seal the sensitive components using plastic bags, silicone, or water dispersant chemicals like the ‘WD-40’.

road tires in mud
all terrain tires in mud

Naturally, All-Terrain tires perform a lot better than road tires.

Tires and Suspension

If you anticipate that you have to drive in mud on your trip, then you should opt for mud-terrain tires specifically for that trip. This type of tire has both pros and cons.

However, we can say that these are the best tires for driving in mud.

The best things about these tires are the aggressive tread pattern that helps in producing maximum traction, and the self-cleaning feature even in muddy conditions.

On the contrary, these are not good for the highway. Mud-terrain tires are notorious for their road noise and uncomfortable riding experience on the highway.

Now, if you are not comfortable with mud-terrain tires, there’s a way, luckily.

In that case, you can use any all-terrain tires or standard road tires with low pressure. The idea is to lengthen the footprint of the tire by lowering the tire pressure.

defender ex-tec

Mud-Terrain tires on tarmac can be very loud and uncomfortable, but blessing in mud

As a result, the wheels will be able to bite the surface for some extra surface traction. The rule of thumb is to keep the tire pressure between 22 to 28 psi.

Also, make sure to keep the pressure a bit higher if you are carrying a heavy load.

Eventually, you will need some gear like an air compressor, a tire deflator set, a tire pressure gauge, or a tire repair kit for customizing the tire pressure on the go.

Another clever idea is to mount larger diameter tires and to raise the suspension to get more ground clearance for driving on muddy surfaces.

Additionally, underbody protections like bash plates can be a great addition for protecting the components such as the gearbox, engine sump, transfer case, and the radiator of the vehicle. 

Utilize Traction Control

When it comes to driving in mud, you have to make sure you are utilizing all the traction aids on your vehicle. If you are driving a modern 4×4 vehicle, your vehicle should be equipped with a terrain management system built-in.

For many vehicles, it might also be known as the ‘Traction Control System’. This feature helps to increase the traction of your ride on poor driving conditions.

So, try to engage the ‘Mud’ or ‘Mud and ruts’ option (whichever in your case) from the traction control system while on muddy roads.

And make sure, all the 4 wheels are touching the ground all the time to increase the possibility of getting unstuck.

mud terrain

Prepare with Recovery Tools

If you drive in the mud, you will need some recovery equipment just in case. Without the appropriate recovery tools, it wouldn’t be possible to get out of a muddy road.

Some notable recovery gear for muddy conditions are recovery tracks, shovels, snatch straps or shackles, etc. 

But another great addition on your recovery kit could be a winch. This can be very helpful to recover your vehicle while stuck on a muddy road.

In addition to a winch, you should also try to keep some winch-related gear like snatch blocks, tree trunk protector, rated shackles, extension straps, and more to make using a winch easier.

mud driving Land Cruiser
cleaning FJ40 after mud driving

Cleaning Up Your Vehicle

It is not a good scenario when your vehicle gets stuck in deep mud. Getting stuck on a muddy road means you may have to get a bit dirty.

As a result, it is always a great idea to keep a pair of mud boots and high-quality work gloves. So, you can work in the muddy condition keeping you clean enough when you get back on the ride.

Besides, a set of waterproof seat covers can also go a long way. Now, mud is not good for your vehicle. So you should try to clean up the vehicle as soon as possible after the recovery operation.

The painted surface on your ride can be easily damaged with sharp objects from the mud. So, make sure you have cleaned up the exterior of your vehicle thoroughly.

A great and fast way to clean the underside of the vehicle is to use a power washer. Try to make sure there’s no muddy residue or build up around the mechanical parts of the engine and inside the wheels.

You should also try to give a deep cleaning to vital components like the transfer case, gearbox, the suspension parts, and the diffs, etc.

If the mud is really stuck anywhere in the vehicle, you can use chemical cleaners to loosen up it a bit. Last but not the least, you should also try to clean up the recovery gear as soon as possible.

Because you may need those back in your next trip. And, keeping mechanical and electrical tools clean translates to a longer lifetime. 

FAQ on Mud Driving

How Do You Drive in 2WD On Mud?

When you are driving a 2WD on mud, you will have to use a low-range gear like the ‘2nd’ or ‘3rd’ gear. This will ensure that your ride can keep consistent momentum in deep mud.

It also helps to grip the surface with better traction. If you are climbing a muddy road, your ride will need to have more momentum to balance the decline in traction.

Can Mud Damage Your Car?

Yes, mud can do very extensive damage to your car. Due to that, the rule of thumb is to avoid driving in mud as much as you can. Over time, rust can be a serious issues.

But your truck is not the only victim here. Driving in mud can damage tracks as well. Other than these damages, the ride can get stuck causing you hours of work to be free again. 

How Do You Drive In Mud Without Getting Stuck?

There are many things you should consider for driving in mud safely. And, we have already talked about all this in this post.

Yet, here are a few key tips on mud driving to keep in mind.

  1. Try to get the right type of tires if possible
  2. Make sure the tire pressure is suitable for the muddy condition
  3. Check the depth of the mud before driving into it 
  4. Try to prevent wheel spins. Due to wheel spins, your vehicle loses momentum and the track gets damaged
  5. Make sure your vehicle has enough clearance from the ground
  6. When the wheels start to spin, go easy on the gas pedal and regain the momentum slowly
  7. Engage traction control if your ride is equipped with this feature
  8. Go back to a lower-range gear while driving a 2WD
  9. Keep a steady momentum to achieve the maximum traction
  10. Avoid rapid speed changes while on muddy ruts
  11. You may need to lower the tire pressure even further if you use all-terrain or standard road tire
  12. Always go prepared by taking all the necessary recovery gear (such as a winch or snatch strap) and traction aids you can find
  13. Remember to clean up your vehicle after driving on mud
mud driving Land Cruiser

Closing Thoughts

If you have read the post above, you will come to know that driving in muddy conditions may be challenging but it is not impossible.

However, you will have to follow some guidelines for the best results and a few recovery tools can be of great value in those poor driving conditions.

On the other side, you should also keep in mind that cleaning mud off of your vehicle can be very tricky.

And, if your vehicle is not cleaned up thoroughly after a mud-bath, it can easily damage the vehicle.

As a result, it is always better to avoid driving on mud whenever possible. Don’t do it unless it is absolutely necessary.

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AUTHOR
Ferenc
Ferenc Elekes has been a devout Overlanding enthusiast for many years. During that time, Ferenc has explored 75 countries on six continents, with overland travel involved in 40 countries on three continents. From his trusty 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado with a roof-top tent, he’s blogged about experiences that can only be found in the remotest regions on Earth. Along the way, he's gained in-depth knowledge of the novel challenges overlanders encounter and practical ways to meet them. On his website, he shares informed opinions about everything from the best overland gear to how to get a vehicle unstuck. Ferenc has also written for Ih8mud, the Expedition Portal, the Overland Journal, and he is often invited as a guest to outdoors-related podcasts.
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