Stuck in the mud? How to get your motorhome out!

Ahh, it’s festival season upon us once again! There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a summer festival, with live music, good food and a laid-back atmosphere… and, for many of us, our trusty motorhome parked up on site ready to take us home. But - as any motorhome owner will know, where there’s a field or temporary carpark, masses of vehicles and potentially a bit of rain, there’s always the risk of getting stuck in the mud!

If it happens to you, and your motorhome’s wheels are spinning and you’re unfortunately going nowhere fast, don’t panic. Here’s our guide to getting unstuck without making matters worse…

Stay calm!

Before you do anything, hop out and have a proper look. Is it just one wheel spinning? Are all the wheels stuck? Understanding how badly you’re in this situation will help you decide on the best course of action - and hopefully stop you from making it even worse.

Ease off the power

It’s tempting to put your foot down and give it some welly, but all that’ll often do is dig you in deeper. Instead, try gently rocking the motorhome back and forth by going between first and reverse, applying just enough throttle to gain some traction. If you’re in a newer motorhome with traction control, turning it off briefly might help the wheels to spin more freely and find some grip. Try to pull away in second gear if you can, and if you’ve got some movement, try to keep moving if you can rather than stopping… and don’t slam the brakes on as you’ll lose traction again.

Reduce the tyre pressure

Letting some air out of your tyres increases their surface area and improves their grip in slippery conditions. Don’t go mad, though - 15 to 20 psi should be enough to make a difference. Just remember to re-inflate them once you’re free and back on firmer ground…

Get some traction aids

If you’ve come prepared, it’s a good time to dig out those traction mats or recovery boards, and wedge them under the stuck tyres to give them something solid to hold into. If you haven’t got any mats, try a few sticks, cardboard or your internal mats as any of those might just do the trick. Some people say that putting more weight in the front cab can help, too.

Dig deep!

Sometimes, a bit of old-fashioned elbow grease is what you need, if you can try to clear out the mud from around the tyres and under the chassis. This is obviously where carrying a shovel around with you helps!

If you’ve managed to get out, try to avoid driving in the tramlines created by other vehicles. 

Get a tow if you need it

Don’t be too proud to ask for help. With likely so many other car and motorhome owners around, someone is usually more than happy to lend a tow rope and give you a gentle pull (especially if they are a 4x4 owner, we find). Some of the larger festivals and organisations have dedicated teams from breakdown providers, such as the AA, who can help.

Some top tips to help prevent you getting stuck…

- If you can, try to carry these on board - recovery boards, a shovel, a tow rope, a tyre deflator, and a portable compressor, as they can make all the difference.

- Park up wisely in the first place. Stick to higher ground if possible, and at least avoid that obvious muddy patch near the toilets and showers…

- Check the forecast: If a weekend of rain is expected, take extra care when manoeuvring on grass and go prepared for the worst.

Finally, if you can, change your shoes when you get back in the cab, because if you are caked in mud you’re likely to slip on the pedals when driving off.

We’ve all been there at some point in time, and usually there are some helpful people or hardy festival workers that will lend a hand. Getting stuck in the mud at one point is almost a rite of passage for motorhome owners, but with the right approach and a bit of know-how, you’ll be on your way in no time…