Traction control – Off in mud!

Question for the technically minded, keep it simple though.

Have always had FWD cars for towing and often on a muddy rally field, no traction, front wheel spin even at low revs and have had to be towed off. Last year I took delivery of a Skoda Octavia Estate 4x4 with Haldex traction and used it this weekend in the mud for the first time.

The scenario was and observed by the wife as she watching me back to clear a tree.

Arrived on the 5 van site, still waterlogged with very soft ground, the owner suggested the only pitch which was firm and instructed me to start the reverse then to pull forward to straighten out then reverse to back into the pitch, easy.

I started the turn in reverse, then he said pull forward now and told me to keep going, this area was very soft and already churned up.

That’s far enough now, start reversing, which I did and basically; the rear wheels were turning and the front wheels were not moving at all and no movement.

Pulled forward and started the reverse again, same thing no drive to front, only rear wheels spinning, deeper into the ground.

Tried another couple of times, and then the owner asked if traction control was on, yes by default, he suggested I try with it turned off, which I did.

Pulled forward and again started the reverse, front and rear wheels now started to spin with gradual movement backwards and out of the muddy ruts, then forward again and into reverse then reveresed into the pitch.

So, traction in the mud with traction control off, what am I missing? and the answer is not “get a proper 4x4” what ever one of those is!

Seriously though; why, what and how, there are a lot of cars using Haldex.