Mud, mud, glorious mud

[Brian112Aston]

I know we all like things here on PH that do at least 150 and all the better if they can do it sideways in a cloud of tyre smoke. But the recent weather (well the last 3 months)and some interesting photos of various events round the country got me thinking in a differnent vein.

The present ground situation would be a golden(brown) opportunity for you journo's to conduct a real life group test of a selection of 4x4's in a truly muddy field. A straight 100yds to the other side, all aids switched on, Defenders, Rangies, Toyotas, 4matics you name it. We get all excited when it snows, lets be a bit British here and turn the circumstances to our advantage and find out what these vehicles are really capable of. Particularly the ones with big 20" bling wheels!!!
Who knows, you might still generate some tyre smoke *^%*!?

Think on -----

[Caulkhead]

Brian112Aston said:

I know we all like things here on PH that do at least 150 and all the better if they can do it sideways in a cloud of tyre smoke. But the recent weather (well the last 3 months)and some interesting photos of various events round the country got me thinking in a differnent vein.

The present ground situation would be a golden(brown) opportunity for you journo's to conduct a real life group test of a selection of 4x4's in a truly muddy field. A straight 100yds to the other side, all aids switched on, Defenders, Rangies, Toyotas, 4matics you name it. We get all excited when it snows, lets be a bit British here and turn the circumstances to our advantage and find out what these vehicles are really capable of. Particularly the ones with big 20" bling wheels!!!
Who knows, you might still generate some tyre smoke *^%*!?

Think on -----

It wouldn't tell you a thing about the vehicles ability, it would just be a test of their tyres. My 2WD Doblo van would win if it had mud tyres on and all the 4x4's had road tyres.

[Brian112Aston]

Point taken, but the test would be for 'showroom spec' vehicles. Talent and tyres can go a long way if the will is there! Lets get muddy.

[Angry Sheep]

There are several 4x4 magazines out there which include off road ability as part of their road tests. I think a few of them do group tests similar to how you describe - take them somewhere muddy and see which gets furthest.

[Shaw Tarse]

Brian112Aston said:

Point taken, but the test would be for 'showroom spec' vehicles. Talent and tyres can go a long way if the will is there! Lets get muddy.

Showroom spec stuck

[Agrispeed]

In this weather, Im stuggling to cross the fields (clay ground)in a tractor, and that has over an inch of tread! and running 480/80 on the back! the ranger I use got stuck to its axles and we had to really work hard to get it out I think after 3-4 months of rain, I think a RR would sink out of sight

[Mikeyplum]

Caulkhead said:

It wouldn't tell you a thing about the vehicles ability, it would just be a test of their tyres. My 2WD Doblo van would win if it had mud tyres on and all the 4x4's had road tyres.

Shirley, if they all had the same stty road tyres on, they would all be on a level palying field (excuse the pun).

So which ever vehicle won, would prove it puts its power down the best? Non?

ETA - Tard Spelling

[pilchardthecat]

I think such an article would be a great read.

PH journos - get to it.

[Caulkhead]

Mikeyplum said:

Caulkhead said:

It wouldn't tell you a thing about the vehicles ability, it would just be a test of their tyres. My 2WD Doblo van would win if it had mud tyres on and all the 4x4's had road tyres.

Shirley, if they all had the same stty road tyres on, they would all be on a level palying field (excuse the pun).

So which ever vehicle won, would prove it puts its power down the best? Non?

ETA - Tard Spelling

None would win - wet grass churned into mud, as any experienced off-roader will tell you, is one of the worst surfaces. Pretty much anything with road tyres won't climb out of the depressions the weight of the vehicle has made so any results will be meaningless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utwPM-2oeI&fea...

[SystemParanoia]

Caulkhead said:

None would win - wet grass churned into mud, as any experienced off-roader will tell you, is one of the worst surfaces. Pretty much anything with road tyres won't climb out of the depressions the weight of the vehicle has made so any results will be meaningless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utwPM-2oeI&fea...

4x4 response and they're wearing road tyres? incompetent morons!

[Mikeyplum]

Caulkhead said:

None would win - wet grass churned into mud, as any experienced off-roader will tell you, is one of the worst surfaces. Pretty much anything with road tyres won't climb out of the depressions the weight of the vehicle has made so any results will be meaningless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utwPM-2oeI&fea...

Hmm... Maybe the race should be changed to a distance race. Which 4x4 can travel the most distance with 20" ling longs

I'll open the books with a punt of 4.5"

[Agrispeed]

In mud, the thing that is most important is weight, as the higher the weight the more mud is displaced and so you get a firmer surface, hence why when you see a tractor ploughing or cultivating ground they will have front weights, wheel weights, and sometimes even mid weights, upto 8 tons , tread depth is the next thing, as well as how well they clean, you don't want a good tread that instantly gets blocked up with mud, effectively turning it into a slick.

[Brian112Aston]

I believe you may have something there, hence my original challenge to try the mud in vehicles weighing max. 2 tons on 'regular' tyres. I am currently watching some green painted vehicles on a bog (ex sports pitch) and the 10 tonner has certainly found it's bottom limit! The Landie is sat nicely on top on it's standard tyres.

[thinfourth2]

Nothing wrong with 20" rims on an offroader