Getting stuck in the mud or snow is something that most, if not all, drivers have experienced at least once in their life. Even if you try your best to avoid it, sometimes it just happens.
It can be a frustrating experience and sometimes you just can’t help but blame yourself. However, instead of focusing on what you’ve done wrong to get stuck, you should probably be focusing on what to do to get yourself unstuck. Here are a few tips to help get your vehicle unstuck and if nothing else works, then maybe it’s time to call a towing company for help.
Keep On Moving
Sometimes, you’d notice that your car is already sliding into mud or snow. Instead of stopping in the middle, it would be best just to keep ongoing. Keep your car moving because it is much better to move forward than to stop. You might make it through and you might prevent yourself from getting stuck if you just won’t stop.
Stop When You’re Stuck
If you are still getting forward movement, then it would be okay to keep going. However, when you’re already stuck, it is best to stop your wheels from spinning. If you step on the gas pedal without movement, you can get yourself more stuck. Getting your wheels deeper into the mud can be more difficult to get unstuck.
Rock The Car Backwards Then Forwards
You can try to get yourself unstuck by moving in reverse, then moving forward. By doing this rocking motion repeatedly, you might just get your vehicle unstuck. This could provide your car enough momentum to become unstuck.
Add Traction
The reason why you’re not moving even if the wheels are turning is due to a lack of traction between the wheels and the ground. One way to add traction is to place something under the tires. You can use some small branches, sand, or even a rubber mat. If you are prone to get stuck, it is best to prepare for that situation by keeping some sand or kitty litter in your vehicle.
Straighten Up Your Tires
When trying to move your stuck vehicle. Make sure that the tires are straight. Moving at a curve or turning would only add more stress to the tires that are already having a difficult time getting unstuck. Straightening your tires gives you a better chance of being unstuck.
Dig, Dig, Dig
If nothing else works, try digging. You might not have a shovel in your car so try to find something that you could use. A cup, a stick, or a piece of a wooden board would do. Don’t just dig downwards. Create a long path for your wheel towards more solid ground. Sometimes, that path can also give you enough momentum to get completely unstuck.
Call A Towing Company
In case all else fails, then there is just one thing left to do and that is to call a local towing company for help. Make sure that you are always ready in case such a situation arises. Keep a towing company’s number in your contacts at all times.
