Aren't they intended for folks who are unable to "wheelspin" their way out?
Why not just ask a 4x4 driver for help? Most would be perfectly happy to assist, I know I always would. Driven carefully, a (proper) 4x4 on decent tyres might not spin its wheels at all. In low 1st, it would probably pull the caravan off a muddy pitch at tickover.
Sorry, didn't mean it to sound like I was insulting anyone. I havn't been sleeping properly for a while now and it is starting to take it's toll on my concentration & mood. If I was - or am - coming across as rude or nasty I can only assure people that it isn't intended that way and ask your forgiveness.
The OP asked on a public discussion forum for comments and I added my opinion. I would encorage the OP (& everyone else) not to take my opinion at face value, but to do their own research & form their own opinion. The internet is full of missinformation and rumour masquerading as fact.
When I am driving off piste I try to practice Tread Lightly and drive carefully. Just gunning it, spinning the wheels & hoping brute force/momentum carry me through the obsticle never struck me as a viable method of technical driving. It is also a textbook method of breaking things - tyre chains included.
I stand by my earlier comments. I think tyre chains should work (and work well) in mud.
Thanks for the replies - they're all of value and Lostdreamer, I don't think anything you posted was insulting. The mud paddles look interesting - not sure we'd have clearance, but I've emailed the link to the OH (aka the technical dept). We have tried waffles, but there weren't effective and the trouble with planks of wood is they are chucked out the back of the car after the wheels have gone over them - which might not do the caravan much good!
If anyone does do a chain test in mud would love to know the outcome, in the meantime I'm going to sweet talk the 4x4 owners
Hi jafa, I think you should (as was said in an earlyer reply) think about a motor mover, would stop you having to look for a 4X4 to tow you out, you would not need to worry about cluch damage,or grass damage and would save you time looking for tow.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
I have a pair of these grip mats, similar to the waffles, but with a grip type pattern on both sides. I've only used them in anger once on ice covered tarmac - got my car & trailer going no problem.
The pair I have, have a rope attached, so it's quick to realign in front of the drive wheels to get going again. Maybe two sets of these would be useful for you if you're going a considerable distance off-road/in mud?
Just watched the supertreads video. Two things jumped out at me.
1. The way they are fitted through holes in the wheels means a lot of wheels would not be able to accomodate them and that they would be difficult to fit to a lot of the wheels that will accomodate them. Wheel trims would certainly have to be removed.
2. We only saw one wheel. As soon as the supertread bites into the ground the load will transfer through the differential and the other wheel would spin instead. We did not see the other wheel. I would like to have seen what the tyre was on the other side. Nor did we see the front of the van...For all we know it could have been getting towed out with a tractor.