They say there are only two things for certain… death and taxes. But here’s a third: if you get bogged, there will be someone filming you to upload it onto the Net.
Let’s face it, it probably will be funny. But in some cases, getting bogged–or recovery–can be downright dangerous.
We’ve compiled a few handy hints to help you avoid becoming the next internet sensation, for all the wrong reasons!
Foot off the gas
If you’re on the accelerator and not moving forward, you’re bogged. The more you push down, the further into the sand you’ll dig, and the harder it’ll be to get you back out again.
Right vehicle, right settings, right gear
Be prepared. You need four-wheel drive–low range is a real asset–and plenty of ground clearance under the car. Do not take a car onto the beach if you’re unsure whether it’s capable.
READ MORE: ARB Tred Pro Recovery Boards
Tyre pressure
Probably the biggest tip–and the one that’ll get you furthest–let your tyres down. The softer the sand, the lower you need to go. If the sand is soft, warm, even dusty, you can happily go down to about 15 psi to get through it. The right tyres help, too.
Know your recovery points
There are plenty of online videos of bumper bars coming straight off a vehicle during a recovery. Every car is different when it comes to recovery points, so know where yours is, or have a proper ARB-style recovery hook mounted up under the car to the chassis.
Look after the engine
Imagine how much harder is it to walk on soft sand… it’s exactly the same for your engine driving on soft sand. Whether you’re bogged, or you’re the one recovering someone else, it’s really important to take care of your engine. During the show, you will have seen an example of a radiator overheating, smoke bellowing from the engine of the recovery vehicle. If his tyres were further down, he could have gone slower, thereby letting more air into the engine and potentially avoiding that radiator going pop.
Safe and proper snatch strap recovery
If you’re recovering using a snatch strap, it’s really important that it’s done properly. Failure to do so can result in serious injury, even death. One great tip is to use a dampener to absorb some of the energy. If you haven’t got one, take your beach towel down to the water, get it wet, ring it out and hang that over the strap. Click here for more in-depth videos on how to snatch recover in various situations.
Hopefully with our handy hints, you can avoid featuring on a page like “I Got Bogged at Inskip Point”… But even if you so end up there, it’s not the end of the world… even though the world may be watching…
…and laughing.
For all the gear you’ll need to prevent or recover from getting bogged, head to the ARB website.
