Sahara 4x4 Sand Recovery 101

Sand recovery techniques tried and tested in the Sahara: mats and plates; hi-lifts; air bags; kinetic ropes, straps, and plain old pushing.
Shot in 2002 in south-eastern Algeria, kit has changed a bit but sand techniques are the same: stop early; clear the wheels and back up if you can.
Other Sahara Desert Driving tutorials:
Dune Driving: • Sahara 4x4 Dune Drivin...
4x4 vehicle set-up: • Sahara 4x4 set up: Lan...
More to read at sahara-overlan...

[@DubaiMyWay]

Very clever way for recovery, thanks for sharing ;)

[@roseteneret6582]

Tassili n'ajjer un paradis sur terre

[@gushta]

Thanks for sharing! Rather instructive video

[@gordslater]

A couple of 10" pressed-steel angle tent pegs ("sand pegs" in camping parlance) pushed down through the front "rung" of the Bakkie Mats can help prevent then slipping backwards - it doesn't always work but is worth trying.
Clip long lengths (7-8 metres for front, 4m for rear) of quality paracord from a rear tow eye to the Bakkie Mats so you drag them as you drive out - you can then keep going with good momentum for a few hundred yards in long fields of powder sand.
(or a higher robust lashing point if you have one eg: a quality heavy duty expedition roofrack - be careful you don't rip it off!! - the higher it is the more it raises the drag angle and lifts the mats up as you drag them forward, preventing thme catching in the sand)
This saves stopping and walking back to get them BUT - you MUST lay the paracord *well clear* in big loose open loops around the sides away from the vehicle or they easily wrap up on driveshafts (always carry a good knife for mishaps like this)
Cheap paracord may snap under the strain of dragging the mats - they weight a ton - especially in the hot sun!
You can use paracord on aluminium or plastic sand ladders too but you may need to use a higher attachment point to drag them to prevent them catching in the sand and acting like and sand anchor. To prevent metal ladders cutting the paracord use a carabiner or small shackle through a hole.

[@lukaszolol3701]

Really good video!