Ruts and Ditches

Ruts

If you are in a deep rut in mud or snow and can’t get out, dig two small trenches at a 45 degree angle, either right or left, and place the materials removed into the rut.
Drive forward slowly and the vehicle should drive up and out of the rut.
If the ruts are too deep to drive in, move to the left or right and drive parallel to the existing ruts.
If you find yourself in a situation where you must traverse a rut:

Go slow and straddle the rut when possible. If the rut becomes too wide, ease into it keeping your vehicle level and ride on the tire edge or even the sidewall of the tire.
Judge the trail over your hood or have your passenger outside of the vehicle guide you. Remember to try to keep centered in the rut and keep the vehicle as level as possible.

Source: Mark A. Smith’s Guide to Safe, Common Sense, Off-Road Driving by Mark A. Smith

UTV driving in a rut — Courtesy of Mark A. Smith

UTV straddling a rut as it becomes wider — Courtesy of Mark A. Smith

UTV driving centered down in a rut — Traversing a rut

Courtesy of Mark A. Smith

Ditches

To cross a ditch:

Go slowly.
Drive so that only one wheel goes into the ditch at time. If the ditch is deep and two wheels go in at the same time, your UTV/4x4 may hang up or become high centered.
Stay as close to a 45-degree angle as possible.

Unit 3 of 7
Topic 4 of 4
Page 4 of 7

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