Driving a 4×4 through mud can be a challenging but exciting experience. With the proper technique and preparation, you can enjoy a safe and enjoyable off-roading adventure.

Here are 10 tips and tricks to help you navigate muddy terrain effectively.

1. Firstly, Check Your Vehicle

Before heading out on any off-road trail make sure your vehicle is in good working condition. Do a general check to make sure all your essential systems are working, such as your brakes and suspension, and make sure you can engage your 4WD system.

Always carry recovery equipment such as snatch straps, recovery tracks, a winch, and a shovel. If you get stuck, these tools can be a lifesaver.

Also make sure you know your vehicle’s ground clearance so you know what obstacles you can tackle. The ground clearance of the Isuzu D-Max and Mu-X’s is around 230mm on paper.

2. Check the Terrain 

Before going gung-ho and driving through the mud for a dramatic spray effect, rather take some time to poke around the mud with a stick. Check its depth, determine the firmness of the bottom, find out if there are any hidden objects which can either aid or hinder traction, and decide which line you’ll be taking. Often you will want to choose the driest or shallowest section of the mud and try to avoid the deepest ruts and holes created by previous vehicles.

If the mud is more than 30cm deep, you should possibly reconsider your attempt at crossing it. You can either wait for the mud to dry out or find another way around it.

3. Tyre Pressure

Drop your tyre pressure down to around 24psi (pounds per square inch). Lowering the tyre pressure can improve traction, but don’t go too low to avoid damaging the tyres or rims.

Make sure that you reinflate your tyres back to a suitable pressure when you’re done.

4. Engage Low Range

Before entering the muddy terrain, turn your transfer case to low range and be sure to turn traction control off. This will provide power to all four wheels, allowing continuous momentum, improving traction, and preventing wheel spin. The wheels on your vehicle will turn considerably more slowly than they would in high range, thus slower speeds and more torque are the way to go.

Remember that low range is generally for driving slowly. Drive no faster than 60km/h on any surface otherwise it may result in serious damage to your vehicle.

5. Engage your Diff lock

You can use your rear differential lock when driving on difficult terrain, such as dirt, gravel, or mud. You will only need to engage your locking differential when you need extra traction, so you may only use it for a few moments at a time. With navigating through mud, the main factor that will help you through is maintaining momentum.

• The Isuzu MU-X: The Isuzu Mu-X range, including the LS models, include Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, and both the 4X4 and 4X2 variants are equipped with a diff lock.
• The D-Max: The Isuzu D-Max also includes Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control across the range, and a rear diff lock is either optional or standard on most models.

6. Use a Lower Gear

High gears aren’t effective for trekking through mud. In a manual, change your gears down to first or second gear to keep a steady pace on a muddy stretch. This will make your engine and wheels work harder. When you are done with it and on the solid ground, you can move back into a higher gear again.

7. Drive Slowly 

Mud can be deceiving, and even a small puddle can hide a deep and treacherous mud pit. Ease your front tyres into the mud, driving slowly and carefully to avoid sudden surprises. Keep a steady and controlled speed to avoid getting stuck.

Taking on obstacles slowly allows you to maintain control while putting less strain on your car and its driveline.

8. Avoid Spinning Tyres

You should try and avoid spinning tyres as it results in lost momentum. If you feel your tyres are spinning and not gaining traction, ease off the accelerator. Spinning tyres only dig deeper into the mud.

9. Use Momentum to Exit

When exiting a mud pit, maintain steady acceleration. You need your momentum to balance the decrease in traction so don’t stop until you are on solid ground. Stopping in the middle can lead to getting stuck. As soon as your back wheels are in the mud you can steadily accelerate out of the muddy terrain.

10. Finally, Clean Your Vehicle

We know you want to wear this mud proudly, but after your off-roading adventure I’m afraid you are going to have to thoroughly clean your 4×4 to remove mud and debris.

The mud holds moisture which can lead to corrosion and rust. You should pay particular attention to the wheel wells and undercarriage and get rid of any mud on your driveshaft.

Mud can also interfere with the correct working of the sensors of some electronic driving aids so it’s best to keep it clean.

If you had a particularly nasty off-road experience and don’t like the look of something, bring your vehicle into Autworld and let our guys take a look at it for you.

Practice makes perfect. So, if you’re new to off-roading, start with a few easier trails before tackling challenging terrain.

Be prepared and enjoy the adventure.