How to get your car out of the mud!

25/07/11

Festival season is well and truly upon us, and while some biggies have already passed, there are plenty more to come, in the shape of The Big Chill, V, and Reading and Leeds, to name but a few. Here at Motors.co.uk, we think driving down is far and away the best means of getting there. After all, you just can’t carry eight crates of beer on the train (never mind your tent, clothing, stove, chairs, gazebo and all the rest of it!).

There are however some perils to be aware of when taking your precious motor to the UK’s musical meccas. As per usual, Glastonbury was a bit of a washout this year, at least at the start of the weekend, and it’s a well-known fact that things can get a little messy (in more ways than one). If you’re off to a festival this year, here are a few pointers on how to make sure your motor survives the ordeal.

Empty it

Clear the car – inside and boot – of everything you won’t need. Maps, books, CDs you won’t listen to – even consider taking out the carpets. With all the will in the world, when clambering back in, filthy and possible a little heavy-headed on Monday morning, you’re not going to want to clean yourself off too much. So minimise what can get damaged.
Bin bags

Along similar lines, don’t be scared to relieve your local supermarket of its entire bin bag stock. Somehow, however many you take, you always seem to run out, so (space permitting, of course), go black bag mad. Put all your clean stuff in one, put all your dirty stuff in another, put yourself in several. And cover every inch of upholstery in plastic. Twice.

Pack the boot carefully
Boot packing is an artform at which we all like to think we excel. But it’s not easy. Think carefully about the size and shape of your boot, and choose your beverages carefully (taking a measuring tape to the supermarket is encouraged). More seriously, think about when you’ll need everything, and pack accordingly. What time will you arrive at the festival? Will you need your sleeping bag or your sunhat first?

Sleep in the boot

Your motor is a waterproof haven, so if the heavens really come down, abandon the tent and get in. Recline the front seats, stick someone across the backseat, and hey, if times are desperate, someone in the boot. A four person palace! It’s worth keeping a dry set of everything in the car if you’ve the space – after a long day in the rain you’ll be ready for a nice warm, dry sleeping bag.

Parking

After a long weekend, you don’t want to return to your car to find it stuck in the mud. And the key, good festival goer, to getting your car out of the mud is not letting it get stuck in there in the first place. Prevention is better than cure people! Take what you can to stick beneath the tyres – tough cardboard or even some hay (this is often distributed at festivals) can help control the rising tide of mud. You won’t regret when you beat the queues to get home!