Getting Unstuck

By Tom Madigan
Published on January 1, 1983
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Driving off-road means, on occasion, getting stuck — and therefore more opportunities to apply what you know about getting unstuck.
Driving off-road means, on occasion, getting stuck — and therefore more opportunities to apply what you know about getting unstuck.
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With jack (and a board or two to support it) you can raise a stuck wheel long enough to insert traction material underneath.
With jack (and a board or two to support it) you can raise a stuck wheel long enough to insert traction material underneath.
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Sometimes dead branches (avoid cutting any from live trees unless you have absolutely no other choice) can provide enough traction to get you out of a potentially sticky situation. Once you get going, don't stop until you reach solid ground!
Sometimes dead branches (avoid cutting any from live trees unless you have absolutely no other choice) can provide enough traction to get you out of a potentially sticky situation. Once you get going, don't stop until you reach solid ground!
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Rocks can be used to give you some traction and support in soggy ground.
Rocks can be used to give you some traction and support in soggy ground.
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Don't venture into the outback without appropriate tools, such as an axe and a shovel.
Don't venture into the outback without appropriate tools, such as an axe and a shovel.
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It will sometimes be necessary to dig a path for the wheels to follow, especially if they've buried themselves deep.
It will sometimes be necessary to dig a path for the wheels to follow, especially if they've buried themselves deep.

Folks who occasionally have to take a truck or car off the beaten path — to haul firewood, search for errant farm animals, etc. — always face the possibility of encountering a steep grade, an obstruction, or a soft surface that will bring the vehicle to an inopportune halt. The following information might just make all the difference between remaining stranded and getting unstuck.

If you challenge the dirt long enough, the chances of becoming stuck increase proportionally. If, through some miscalculation, your vehicle becomes bogged, the first thing to remember is, don’t panic! In most cases just a quick rational analysis of the situation, a few minutes of manual labor, and presto, the vehicle will be free. We will attempt to offer only basic guidelines to aid the uninitiated driver in getting out of trouble, a look at the most common miscues.

One of the most sensible learning aids for the beginner in off-road travel is to accompany a seasoned enthusiast for at least two or three outings. This buddy system will allow the novice to experiment driving different types of terrain, and if trouble strikes, aid will be at hand. Another habit that should be adopted from the start is to carry a tow strap of some type in your vehicle at all times driving off-road. This gives you an added safeguard in the event of a problem when help is needed to haul the vehicle to safety, using a second machine.

Soft sand is the most common nemesis of the novice off road driver. Excessive wheelspin and too deep sand often combine to produce a strained machine. Overcoming the problem is somewhat tricky, but once learned, the method becomes easier. A path must be cleared in front of and behind all four wheels for at least five feet. Then lower the tire pressure to about 12 PSI. If you do not have a tire gauge, lower the pressure until the sidewall of the tire develops a slight bulge. If possible, using a 12x12x1-inch board as a base, jack the vehicle up far enough to pack traction material under the tires. Raise the front end up first, then the rear. Traction material can be made from a variety of ingredients. Leafy branches from trees, cut up bushes, or small rocks will make a reasonable base for tires to bite. Be sure no one is standing behind the vehicle: Spinning tires throw debris.

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