Before you have a friend help, take time to think through what is being suggested, whether you have the needed tools and your friend’s experience with getting people unstuck in the same situation as you are in at the moment. If the recovery cannot be done safely – call a tow truck.
Grandpa TJ: I’ve located videos which deal with different ways to get a vehicle out of a bad situation. These videos will give you enough information to evaluate if you should attempt a recovery on your own or call in professionals.
Remember, you can get personalized help including video chat if you need it. Visit Grandpa TJ’s Inner Circle for more information on how to schedule a live consultation.
As seen in the video below, for every successful recovery story that you can find, there are usually more that tell a horror story of what happened when the recovery failed. If you want to see some more vehicle recovery fails, Click Here.
Thanks to EDBPVIDEO for the YouTube videos
Towing Basics
These videos cover vehicle towing where your vehicle is stuck in some sand, mud, ice or snow and just needs a little help to get going.
Grandpa TJ: There is a BIG difference between standard towing and vehicle recovery. If your vehicle is severely stuck skip forward to the Recovery section just below.
This video shows how to use a tow strap and basic hand signals for a short tow.
Thanks to AutoTrader for the YouTube video
This video shows an extended tow through city streets and concentrates on what the towed vehicle driver has to do to keep the tow smooth and safe. Note: this is a “stripped” van with no transmission at all.
Grandpa TJ: You should only tow a vehicle with a manual transmission like this. Do not attempt to tow a vehicle with an automatic transmission installed – it will damage the transmission severely.
Thanks to Back to the Basics 101 for the YouTube video
Recovery Straps and Kinetic Recovery Ropes
These videos cover vehicle recovery from being severely stuck – where your drive wheels are spinning or buried in sand or snow.
Grandpa TJ: There is a BIG difference in recovery of a stuck vehicle and standard towing. Don’t let someone using a tow rope turn your recovery into a fail that damages your car!
This video shows the differences between a tow strap and a Kinetic Recovery Rope and why you should have both in your vehicle.
Thanks to GearAmerica for the YouTube video
This video goes over the differences between a tow rope, a snatch strap and a kinetic recovery rope. It also shows how to hook up to your car’s shipping hard points.
Thanks to CrossWay Films for the YouTube video
This video shows how to recover a stuck vehicle using a snatch strap.
Thanks to Ronny Dahl for the YouTube video
This company video uses their Kinetic Recovery Rope to recover a stuck vehicle but it illustrates how these ropes work for actual recoveries.
Thanks to Rogue Overland for the YouTube video
Recovery Using a Winch
This video shows the rigging needed for when winching is the best solution for getting unstuck.
Thanks to Ronny Dahl for the YouTube video
Conclusion: The common thread in the recovery fails is that little or no thought at all is taken about the best way to get someone’s stuck car out. Using the proper gear, pulling in as much of a straight line as possible and when something starts going wrong – don’t just pull harder!
Grandpa TJ: Another common thread is that the same people who advised you to go for it when there was a good chance you would get stuck, may not be the best people to give you advice after you get stuck.
The best advice is to try to avoid getting stuck in the first place. Know your vehicle’s capabilities and watch the road conditions so that you can avoid getting into a bad situation.