Bogs

Take Heed

Bog holes are those water-filled holes that could be six inches deep or can swallow a vehicle up to the windows.  They can be just muddy-coloured water or viscous ooze.  They are longer than a vehicle and can be longer than a semi-trailer.

When you come upon a muddy, water-filled hole - stop.  Look around, and if unsure get out of the vehicle.  Do you see muddy logs laying about?  Do you see signs of small trees having been hacked down?  Look at large trees on either end of the bog - do they show signs of cable winch marks?  These are signs that this bog has claimed victims before.  If possible, find an alternative route around the bog.

Find a largish branch and test the depth of the bog.  Test the entry angle (and depth) and exit angle (and depth).  The depth at the entry and/or exit may be much deeper than in the middle - this can be caused by previous vehicles having stopped at these points and the wheels having dug ruts into the bottom.  If unsure as to the depth or what may lurk under the surface, strip off your shoes and socks and get in and test it yourself (hey, you're in the bush with no-one around, so if need be strip down to your underwear) - it's better to get a bit wet and dirty than to find yourself in a bog that hides some large log in the middle which jams itself up under your drive-shaft.

You'll have to be aware that there could be large wheel ruts in the bog - you'll need to stay out of these.

Proceeding Onward

So, you've inspected the water hole and have decided to proceed.

The best plan of attack is to drive unhalting thru at a steady medium pace.  You'll want enough momentum to be able to get both the front wheels and rear wheels up over the exit bank.  Select low gear and have a run up to build up the speed before entering the hole - don't accelerate once in the bog, but maintain steady forward momentum. If the water is fairly deep, you should maintain a bow-wave in front of the vehicle as for river crossings.

If you find you're loosing momentum, start turning the steering wheel from side to side, from the 12 o'clock position back and forth between the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position.  This will aid traction.  Don't overdo it, or you'll loose further momentum by zig-zaging the vehicle.

If possible, that is if the bog is not too deep and the sides not too steep, drive thru with one set of wheels on the rim of the bog and the other set in the bog.  Take care  that you don't slip sideways as you proceed.

If unsure if you'll make it, have at least one capable person already out of the vehicle to walk around the bog on foot.  In this way, if you do become stuck you'll have that person already outside the vehicle to aid the recovery (lucky devil).  If possible, have only the driver in the vehicle so that the total weight is lessened before you start.

Extracting Your Vehicle

Oops, so the vehicle didn't make it thru the hazard.

Don't rev the engine creating wheel-spin - it won't do any good and will definitely make matters worse.

Don't turn off the engine - if you do, and the exhaust is under water, the water will run up the exhaust pipe and do untold damage to the engine, especially a diesel.

If you drove thru too slowly, and if you can, reverse and have another go at it.

If the exit point is steep, get out the trusty shovel and dig away to form a less steep slope.

If the vehicle is loaded, try lessening the weight.  Get everyone out, except the driver, and remove easily-removed heavy articles.

Shoving logs and branches under the wheels won't do any good, and in fact makes things worse.  All you get is that your tyres are now slipping on a muddy log rather than a muddy bottom.  Worse, the logs could flip up under the vehicle and become wedged and you'll never get them out easily.

If all other attempts fail, you'll need to winch or tow the vehicle out of the hazard.