How to get unstuck

[jefffoxsr]

I was stuck in a little mud this weekend. Bad timing as I received a call that my wife was being rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. She was near death, but is ok now.

 

I am replacing the stock tires this week with Bridgestone Revos

 

I ordered a 48" high-lift jack with all the accessories today.

 

I was stuck in a very small amount of mud, but the soil was soft because I think it was a farm field.

 

I tried to jack up the truck and put some 8 foot long 2" x 6" under the tire to drive out.

 

The boards provided NO traction, so I couldn't drive out.

 

My friend got stuck trying to pull me out with a tow strap.

 

No trees around, and no winch anyway.

 

I won't be buying a winch as I never offroad, but I want to be better prepared if I ever get stuck again.

 

 

Questions:

 

1. What else can I put under the tire for this situation that would allow for good traction?

 

2. Would a come along help? I have a 2 ton one that wasn't with me at the time.

 

3. What else can I do in this situation?

 

4. Are there any videos or online sources to tell how to get unstuck?

 

5. Do you know of any 4x4 or offroading forums that I can go to and do a search?

 

 

Thanks.

[M J]

ive heard wonder stories about kitty litter undertires, but i am skeptical of that and its expensive, just bring bags of sand

 

i broke off a refridgerator door off a fridge that had been thrown out into the woods and used that

 

there are the basics:

 

have a friend jump up and down on ur bumper or above the tires in the bed when you are on the gas trying to get out

 

drive reverse drive reverse drive......

 

i have been with people, when their front tires are stuck, to switch the truck down to 2x4 if you have that option, so that ur fronts dont spin aimlessly and dig in further.

[General Lee 01]

The come-along might have helped your situation. It's hard to say though. I'd throw keep it in the truck from now on if I were you.

[asilverblazer]

Rocking the truck as stated would have been a good option. Also if spinning the tires doesn't dig you down deeper spin them enough to clean the treads but not so much to dig deeper.

[srlbotanical]

A 30 foot 3" snatch strap (or 2) is what I use.

 

Tow straps will have hooks, and are OK for pulling a buddy down the road, but off-road calls for a snatch strap. This kind of strap will typically stretch about 20% of its length and has loops (not hooks) on each end.

 

If you can get a friend on solid ground, hook up the strap and make about a ten foot run at it before the strap gets taught. The weight of your buddies vehicle and the stretching action acts like a rubber band and "snatches" you out.

 

You might need to make a few runs at it, and you want to make sure you are on the gas when that strap gets tight so you have your wheels moving when you pop up out of the holes your in.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Steve

[jefffoxsr]

Thanks.

 

I did order a 30 foot strap today from summit racing, but I don't recall seeing the word snatch there.

 

I ordered the one with hooks.

 

How do you attach the ones with loops to the trucks?

 

Where can I get one like you described?

 

Thanks.

[srlbotanical]

Like I mentioned above, the ones with hooks are not good for yanking on. If the hook comes lose, it can become a projectile.

 

I have a 97, and my hooks in front are open so I can slide the loop right on. In my signature you can see the receiver shackle bracket that I made to hook up the rear.

 

Sometimes these straps are listed as "recovery straps" we have always called them snatch straps.

 

Here is a real nice one at summit:Pro-comp Strap from Summit.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Steve

[ZZ327]

usually 4 wd, or 4 low if need be, and the hammer down gets me out.

 

Rock it drive /reverse, repeat at first to get some motion. Actually starting out slowly throttle up on the gas pedal helps me get traction too, usually snow or mud. Once you get moving DONT STOP, FLOOR IT!

 

( That has especially worked when I was pulling someone out, Just flooring the pedal at first got me no where!)

I usually dont use straps if I get stuck, Ive never had a chain break on me