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disco1
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Salt Pan Driving Techniques [ALL]
SALT PANS
Under normal circumstances, never drive on salt pans (we have quite a lot here in Australia).
* Never park on a salt pan while inspecting the surface. A healthy pan can swallow a vehicle in minutes.
* Walk the pan. If the surface feels firm, dig a hole about 1/2 metre (1 1/2 feet) deep; If you find dry ground all the way, then it may be safe to proceed, but with extreme caution, and slowly.
* Drive slowly in low range 3rd or 4th, diff lock on.
* Always stick close to the edges of the pan, or near to it, but never drive in existing vehicle tracks.
* If you start to bog down, stop gently and reverse out.
• Try reversing slowly without wheel spin whilst turning the steering wheel side to side, or:-
• select 2nd low range, and then without touching the gas, just turn the key to start it. The starter motor will drive smoothly for 5-10 feet before the engine starts. Since the starter motor doesn’t have all that much power it won’t spin the wheels. This only works if you have a manual transmission.
• For recovery when bogged, it is possible to lift the rear end and slew it sideways for a better position for grip. If forward movement looks impossible, reverse out of trouble.
Alternately, lift the body if possible, and place under the bogged wheels, ‘recovery mats’ or, any other material, to help the tires gain traction.
These methods in mud (or sand) can save hours of digging.
• If a wheel has been driven into a ditch and traction is lost, it may be possible to place the air-jack (if carried) underneath the wheel so that it can be lifted. This usually allows one axle to regain sufficient traction to drive or be pulled clear, little by little, with the bag remaining in place, but rolling under the vehicle.
• If snatching is necessary, fasten your seat belt!
SALT PANS
Under normal circumstances, never drive on salt pans (we have quite a lot here in Australia).
* Never park on a salt pan while inspecting the surface. A healthy pan can swallow a vehicle in minutes.
* Walk the pan. If the surface feels firm, dig a hole about 1/2 metre (1 1/2 feet) deep; If you find dry ground all the way, then it may be safe to proceed, but with extreme caution, and slowly.
* Drive slowly in low range 3rd or 4th, diff lock on.
* Always stick close to the edges of the pan, or near to it, but never drive in existing vehicle tracks.
* If you start to bog down, stop gently and reverse out.
• Try reversing slowly without wheel spin whilst turning the steering wheel side to side, or:-
• select 2nd low range, and then without touching the gas, just turn the key to start it. The starter motor will drive smoothly for 5-10 feet before the engine starts. Since the starter motor doesn’t have all that much power it won’t spin the wheels. This only works if you have a manual transmission.
• For recovery when bogged, it is possible to lift the rear end and slew it sideways for a better position for grip. If forward movement looks impossible, reverse out of trouble.
Alternately, lift the body if possible, and place under the bogged wheels, ‘recovery mats’ or, any other material, to help the tires gain traction.
These methods in mud (or sand) can save hours of digging.
• If a wheel has been driven into a ditch and traction is lost, it may be possible to place the air-jack (if carried) underneath the wheel so that it can be lifted. This usually allows one axle to regain sufficient traction to drive or be pulled clear, little by little, with the bag remaining in place, but rolling under the vehicle.
• If snatching is necessary, fasten your seat belt!
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