Grandpa TJ: I’ve located videos which deal with stuck vehicles. These videos will give you enough information to decide if you can get unstuck without calling for an expensive tow truck.
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Getting out of Mud or Wet Sand
The video below shows the owner strapping short 2×4 boards to his wheels of his truck.
Grandpa TJ: You have to make sure that the board will not hit any part of your car’s wheel well, struts or frame when the tire spins. If there is any question of something hitting your car, don’t do this!
Thanks to Stephen Cox for the YouTube video
In this video the owners show how to use several types of traction boards to get both a truck and an ATV out of sandy mud. These boards can work in mud, sand and snow.
Grandpa TJ: They show a roll-up version that worked with just one. I keep a pair of them in my car all of the time – they don’t take up much space and can make a big difference for getting unstuck.
Getting out of Deep Sand
This video shows several ways to get out of sand. The crawl mode that he uses in the first example is similar to traction control or snow mode. All of these modes sense the wheel spinning and use the brakes and sometimes throttle control to prevent one wheel from digging into the soft surface by keeping a slow and even speed to all tires.
Thanks to Rhinohide for the YouTube video
This video shows the owner driving out of sand by turning his front wheels back and forth until he finds enough traction. This is a four-wheel drive but could also work for a front-wheel drive car.
Thanks to Kelvin Ang for the YouTube video
This video shows a four-wheel drive truck using a tire-deflation and driving tricks to get out of deep sand where all four wheels are stuck.
Thanks to Guilt Performance for the YouTube video
Getting out of Snow
This video shows several ways to get unstuck from snow including slow driving tips, using road salt or kitty litter for traction (don’t forget traction boards from the Getting our of Mud videos above), or windshield washer fluid to melt the snow. It wraps ups with great safety tips.
Thanks to DPCcars for finding the Ford YouTube video
This video shows some low-tech ways to get unstuck from snow.
Thanks to 4DIYers for the YouTube video
This video concentrates on how to use your car’s traction control electronics to get yourself unstuck from snow.
Thanks to Driving.ca for the YouTube video
This video shows how to use the hand brake to get yourself unstuck when one wheel is spinning in the snow.
Thanks to Team O'Neil for the YouTube video
This video shows a slightly different look at several ways to get yourself unstuck from the snow and ice.
Thanks to Outside for the YouTube video
Traction Gadgets for Driving in Snow
This video shows some emergency tire traction gadgets being tested. These are not replacements for tire chains but can help you out of slippery driving conditions.
Grandpa TJ: This guy is one of my favorite product testing videographers that you may also recognize. Hint – his opening slogan is “Where safety is our number one priority…”
Thanks to Taras Kul for the YouTube video
This video shows three different “snow chain” solutions on a snow-covered hill. Spoiler Alert: the zip tie version destroys themselves during the test… and true snow chains work the best.
Thanks to Sergiu Gabor for the YouTube video
This video covers winching tips and techniques.
Thanks to The Weather Channel for the YouTube video
This video has a “What to do if you don’t have a winch” solution.
Thanks to The Weather Channel for the YouTube video
Conclusion: There are lots of methods to get unstuck short of calling for a tow truck. Some require a lot of preparation and others can be improvised on the scene. 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.