What To Do If You Get Bogged
Here at Offroad 4×4 Bathhurst, we have everything you might need if you’re heading on an outdoor adventure or simply just taking a trip into town. Because we aim to cover you for all your 4×4 needs, we want to make sure you know what to do if you ever get bogged on your adventures.
What do we mean by bogged?
Being bogged is when your vehicle is stuck in sand, mud or snow and you simply can’t get yourself out. This is where we come in, to walk you through what steps you should take when your 4×4 vehicle is bogged down:
Safety
First things first, we need to act safely as you don’t want anybody getting hurt when recovering your vehicle.
- Relax and try not to panic – thinking about it properly means that the correct course of action can be taken straightaway.
- Make sure that bystanders are far enough away from your vehicle to avoid harm during recovery – it’s recommended that they stand at least double the length of your snatch strap away.
- If your vehicle has no momentum, stop driving – this could actually make you sink further.
Next, let’s look at some common bogged situations, so you know exactly what to do.
If you’re bottomed out
- Check your tyre pressure and make sure the pressure is appropriate for the terrain – if needs be, they can be deflated a little at this stage.
- Using a shovel, dig out the surrounding sand, mud or snow and then try to drive out, making sure to slowly accelerate your vehicle.
- If the above steps do not work and no recovery progress is made, stop spinning the wheels.
Instead, use traction aids under the wheels. These aids assist in digging the sand, mud or snow out. When you drive out, they should be sucked under the tyres and should assist in lifting your 4×4 back onto the surface of the terrain. Alternatively, use a snatch strap and attach it to a nearby tree or another vehicle to pull you out.
If you have no traction
If you have no traction (usually caused by incorrect tyre pressure), you’ll need to correct your tyre pressure. When it comes to sand, we recommend deflating to 6PSI and once moving again, pump up to 15PSI. Make sure you take off slowly to avoid further sinking. If you still need more traction, use traction aids. If this doesn’t work, use a snatch strap to recover your vehicle.
By following these instructions, you should safely be able to recover your vehicle from being bogged and continue your off-road adventures.
At Offroad 4×4 Bathurst, we provide all of the necessary equipment needed to safely recover your vehicle
For all your other 4×4 vehicle needs, please browse our website or contact us directly to hear about our vast array of services.
