Hi. I have a defender 90 (2004). I rarely have to go off road in serious mud so a bit out of practice tbh. I took her across my field on Sunday and got stuck. This has never happened. I just usually put her in first or second gear, take my foot of the accelerator and off she goes. Clearly the field was far boggier than I thought and she got stuck. I tried to put diff lock on (low ratio?) but still couldn't get out. I am not sure the diff lock engaged. Had to get a farmer to come and pull me out with a tractor! I know I must have done something wrong and wondering if it was putting the diff lock on once she was stuck. I don't have off road tyres as have never really needed them. The mud was about six inches deep so really should not have been a problem. Don't want to ask the exhusband as he will gloat. Was it something I did wrong or should I get her checked out? Please be nice.
My Defender got stuck in mud. What did I do wrong?
- Thread starter lisette
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neilly
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Hi Lisette,
Not wanting to seem like I am trying to teach you to suck eggs, but you say low ratio and diff lock in the same sentence, do you know the difference?
Also altho mine is not as fancy as yours , I always try and engage diff lock before it is needed. Whilst I still have good momentum.
Does Your defender have Traction control as well as Diff lock? Sorry I have not played with one of the newer posh ones.
Cheers
Not wanting to seem like I am trying to teach you to suck eggs, but you say low ratio and diff lock in the same sentence, do you know the difference?
Also altho mine is not as fancy as yours , I always try and engage diff lock before it is needed. Whilst I still have good momentum.
Does Your defender have Traction control as well as Diff lock? Sorry I have not played with one of the newer posh ones.
Cheers
First of all, you have a Defender not a Panzer tank. Getting stuck is to be expected. Never venture offroad alone. Secondly, as neilly here said, engage difflock BEFORE you get stuck not when you get stuck. As soon as you hit rough ground, engage difflock. Otherwise you'll end up with 1 wheel drive.
2nd gear low range AND diff lock is pretty much all you need before you go into anything slightly tricky.
But good tyres are essential and with grass and some chalky mud it doesnt matter what you do you will get stuck.
Ive always gone laning on my own and usually at night.
The trick is to read the road/lane/mud/field and if you think you are going to get stuck reverse out beforehand, its sure beats walking home for help.
But good tyres are essential and with grass and some chalky mud it doesnt matter what you do you will get stuck.
Ive always gone laning on my own and usually at night.
The trick is to read the road/lane/mud/field and if you think you are going to get stuck reverse out beforehand, its sure beats walking home for help.
mikescuba
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If you have road bias tires then you would have no chance in soft mud. Keeping momentum and in diff lock would help. Also look out for wet grass that is even worst. I have all terrain tires and still got stuck in soft wet grass.
On a trip across the Sahara when we hit soft sand we had to floor the accelerator and keep going, if we eased off we would have got stuck.
When you are in diff lock in a Defender a light should show on your dash. If diff lock is not used often they can become jammed. I try to engage diff lock every now and again just to keep it from seizing up.
On a trip across the Sahara when we hit soft sand we had to floor the accelerator and keep going, if we eased off we would have got stuck.
When you are in diff lock in a Defender a light should show on your dash. If diff lock is not used often they can become jammed. I try to engage diff lock every now and again just to keep it from seizing up.
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Where are you based?
Get someone to show you how your vehicle works.
6" of mud on road tyres is not going to end well.
Get someone to show you how your vehicle works.
6" of mud on road tyres is not going to end well.
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freelance
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You probably found the one place in the field where all the surface water drains to, it might be a go anywhere defender but you still have to pick your way across any surface!
jamesmartin
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higher gear is better on slippery ground for the same reason its easier to set off on ice in second rather than first
Mr S1
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I agree....
Mr S1
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Likewise, even if I only drive a few yards with it on it keeps it moving. Also stops the solenoids from seizing.
neilly
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Mr S1
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I was worried about this although wouldn't know what the solenoid is tbh. Just thinking maybe it was due to not using the diff lock enough. The light came on to show it was on. Also I was just thinking, I had already been across the field once (I was mending fencing and had left something behind) so possibly there was enough mud in the tyre treads to lose the traction. Probably a combination of things. I have no idea if I have traction control. It is just basic, no extras just a casette player lol! I will try to use the diff lock more regularly once field is less wet.
At this time of year most Defenders wouldn't get out of a field..especially with AT tyres. I wouldn't worry but try and take it somewhere controlled where you can practice, perhaps LR experience.
I drive off road but still wouldn't be able to get out if I went into our fields now without it looking like I ploughed it.
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Mr S1
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Slave cylinders are part of the clutch system, you dotnned to worry about them ! If it goes into gear / diff lock they're working ! I doubt yours has traction control
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Based Hants Berks border near Newbury. I did the Landrover experience course (albeit some years ago now) but it is so long since i have had to use the diff lock I had forgotten what to do. The other thing that has confused me is the post that said, high gear, low range and diff lock. How do I get that? I think I need to get someone to show me again.
neilly
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It is all described in the owners manual.
Cheers
Cheers
neilly
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Hard-Drive
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You say you had your foot OFF the accelerator. Whilst a Jeremy Clarkson POWERRRRRRRRRRRRR approach is not going to help one bit, you also need enough momentum and gas to get you through the tricky bit. Expect some wheel spin in really boggy bits and use some speed to carry you through. TBH if you are in low range and lower gears on the main gearstick in a flat field you are asking for trouble. In simple terms your Defender is always in four wheel drive...diff lock gives it even more traction (push small lever to the left), and low range (lever forward) is a "crawler" gear. In low range, 1st gear on the main stick your engine will be revving it's nuts off at a walking pace. Use high range, diff lock (small lever back and left, dash light on) in a field. Do not forget to move the lever back to the right when you hit tarmac or firm non-slippy ground again or you can damage the gearbox (light might take a second or two of driving to go out).
If you do get it stuck some careful backwards/forwards whilst sawing the steering wheel side to side half a turn might get you moving and get you out. But if you've sunk to the point where the truck is sat on the axles/diffs with the wheels just spinning you're probably not going anywhere.
If you do get it stuck some careful backwards/forwards whilst sawing the steering wheel side to side half a turn might get you moving and get you out. But if you've sunk to the point where the truck is sat on the axles/diffs with the wheels just spinning you're probably not going anywhere.
