Getting unstuck is counterintuitive. Don’t try to speed out of a ditch full-throttle: instead, try these tips.
1- Air down. Always, your first move when you get stuck is to try to increase traction by letting air out of your tires. You can drop pressure down to five kilograms – sometimes even lower – to get maximum traction. Easy does it: use the gas gently; flooring it will make your wheels dig deeper into the ground. Look around and aim for the firmest ground you can see. Re-inflate your tires once you’re safely unstuck.
2- Low-to-Reverse. The concept here is to rock the car back and forth to try to release it from the ground. Put the vehicle in reverse and raise the engine speed while having the brakes on. Roll backwards a little and slip quickly into low. Repeat. If you don’t start to sink deeper, this trick can get you out.
3- Dig. If you’re stuck in mud or sand, you can try digging away the material that is immediately in front of the tires to remove the barrier.
4- Check your hubs. Sometimes drivers forget to lock or fully engage them!
5- Create traction. Sometimes, your wheels are spinning. In this situation, you can use sticks, trash, rags, or pieces of carpet (if you cleverly brought them) to create traction underneath the wheels. Almost anything you can think of will probably work.
6- Jack the car up. Wheels buried? In this situation, get your jack, raise the car, and start to shovel something – dirt, weeds, rocks, etc. – under the tires until they’re level with the ground. You should pack a small block of wood when you go off-roading to keep the jack from sinking down as well.
7- Winch. If you have a winch, hook it up and start pulling. Have your partner stay inside and apply power while you’re working the winch. Make sure you always use a winch with a blanket, floor mat, towel, or rug on top of the cable. That way, if the cable becomes loose or breaks, it won’t damage anything or hurt anyone.
8- Tow. If you brought a tow strap and your partner has a car, try towing the car to get it unstuck.
The most important part of getting unstuck while off-roading is being prepared to get stuck. Before you travel, pack as many supplies that you can. If you’re an advanced or intermediate off-roader, you should definitely keep a stout winch in your car, not just for you but also for anyone else who might be traveling with or around you.