How to Get a Car Unstuck from Mud, Sand & Gravel

Worried about getting stuck in the dirt, mud, or sand? Wondering if your car is ok to drive in areas with these road conditions? This article will cover a few tips to keep in the back of your mind for getting your car out of the dirt, mud, or sand. 

You may already know that the optimal road condition for a vehicle to drive on is asphalt, but why is this? 

Asphalt is flat, doesn’t give under the pressure of cars, and usually is uniform with no bumps or irregularities (like potholes). When you press the accelerator pedal on your car, your wheels turn, and the friction between your tire and the road causes your car to move forward. (This is why tread depth matters.)

It’s possible to drive on dirt, mud, and sand, but you have to be able to generate friction between your tires and the surface that you’re driving on to move your car forward. If your car gets into a situation where the tires aren’t able to make contact with the road (such as in rainy weather) or can’t gain traction on the road, your car won’t move. Accelerating in this situation can even potentially make the situation dangerous as your tires turn and dig deeper into the dirt or mud. 

Before we dive into the three most common road conditions you may get stuck in and how to get out, we have two important safety reminders:

Make sure your vehicle is in park, and turn off the engine before you exit the vehicle to assess your situation and dig yourself out.

Make sure no one is behind the vehicle when you accelerate to try to get out of the stuck situation. Accelerating can kick up loose debris, and flying objects can be very dangers to bystanders.    

Tips for Getting Car Out of Dirt, Loose Gravel

Although cars don’t get stuck in dry dirt often, it’s possible to lose traction when driving over loose dirt or gravel, especially if your car has rear-wheel drive. Loose dirt can reduce traction, especially for real-wheel-drive vehicles. So how do you get out of this situation?

• Put your vehicle in "Park" and turn off the engine, then walk around the vehicle to assess why your wheels are stuck in the dirt.
• Try digging away the loose dirt from around your tire. Use a shovel, if you have one, or a tire iron to break up the chunks of loose dirt.
• Pack the hole your wheel is stuck in with something solid, so your tire can grip a solid surface. Pieces of wood, cardboard, or other flat, solid objects are good for this. 
• If you're driving a heavy vehicle with a lot of weight, you might redistribute the cargo toward the side of the vehicle that’s stuck in the dirt so it’s easier for that tire to press down and gain traction.
• Some professionals recommend lowering the tire pressure slightly, which is similar to a technique off-roaders use when driving on beaches. The lower air pressure may increase the grip, depending on the tread of your tires.
• Sometimes, rocking the vehicle can help your car build the momentum it needs to get loose of the dirt. Use caution when rocking a vehicle!
• Try to move out of the dirt slowly. Trying to go fast will spin your tires and cause you to dig your car into a deeper hole.

Of course, if you can’t get your car unstuck from the dirt or loose gravel, you may need to call roadside assistance or a tow truck. Avoid off-road driving if your car lacks four-wheel or all-wheel drive and the appropriate tires. 

Tips for Getting Car Out of Mud

Of all the road conditions that can trap a car, mud is probably the trickiest. Whether it just rained or you’re in a marshy area (or you've gone mudding), it is very easy for cars to get stuck in mud. Mud is slippery, can be deceptively deep, and is difficult to gain traction in. Pressing your foot too hard on the accelerator will only dig your car deeper into the mud as your wheel spins, but your car doesn’t move forward.

If your car is stuck in the mud, how do you escape? 

• Try to slide a wooden board or flat object underneath your tire. If you can wedge a flat, solid object under your tire, when you drive forward, your tire may be able to gain traction. If the mud isn't too deep, this may work with a plank, floor mat or heavy cardboard.
• If a solid flat object isn't available, try to pack gravel, dry dirt, and sticks underneath the tire. 
• Try to dig out the mud from around your tire. However, don’t dig underneath the tire as doing so may make it harder to escape. Aim to flatten the area around your tire and pack the mud down. 
• Use a lower gear on your car as you try to get out of the mud.
• Clear out the mud from your wheel well, as thick layers may prevent full wheel rotation.

Just like with the dirt, you may have to call roadside assistance or a tow truck. Mud is very easy to get stuck in, so if you’re expecting to drive (or park) off-road during or after rainy weather, make sure you’re prepared.

If you frequently drive in muddy conditions, you might consider getting all-terrain tires and carrying recovery boards to help prevent and get you out of sticky situations.  

Tips for Getting Car Out of Sand

Whether you’re on the beach, driving on dunes, or just off-road in the desert, cars can get stuck in the sand in the "right" situation. Sand is similar to loose dirt in that your car usually sinks in sand and can’t build friction. Sand is much finer than dirt, though, and can be especially tricky to get out of. Our tips for getting out of the sand are similar to getting out of dirt.

• Dig around your tires to remove excess sand, and then try packing the sand down to create a hard surface that your wheel can drive across. 
• Try backing up to roll over the tire tracks where your car packed down the sand.
• Slide your car’s floor mats under the wheels so that your tire has a solid surface to turn against
• In certain conditions, you try pouring water on the sand to pack it down, but avoid over-saturating it, as your vehicle could sink further. 

Getting your car out of the sand is all about getting traction or your tires. If you’re planning to drive on the sand, follow the tracks of other drivers, as their paths will likely already have packed down sand! 

How to Not Get Stuck in the First Place!

Use lower gear

Use the lower gears on your car so that you have more torque while driving in difficult road conditions. This helps prevent wheel spin and improves traction. 

Avoid sudden braking/accelerating

Not getting stuck in the dirt, sand, or mud is all about maintaining momentum. Avoid suddenly braking, turning, or accelerating and maintain a steady medium speed so as not to dig down a hole in the road that your wheel could get stuck in. 

Consider mudguards

If you know you’re going to be driving through the mud, mudguards can prevent loose dirt and mud from getting stuck in your wheel well, which can cause mud buildup, which clogs components. This will also protect the underside of your car!

Avoid areas with mud/dirt

Obviously, common sense says, if you don’t have a four-wheel drive and proper tires for off-roading, avoid driving off-road altogether. Besides potentially getting stuck, driving off-road can be dangerous if you’re not prepared (and even if you are prepared!). If you are driving in the dirt, avoid muddy terrain and try to get back on the road as quick as possible. If you know that you'll be driving in these conditions, consider carrying solid planks and a shovel in your trunk. 

Get off-road tires

Need to go off-road in unpaved areas that experience muddy roads? Having a set of proper off-road tires significantly reduces your chances of getting stuck in mud, dirt, or sand. Off-road tires improve traction on uneven surfaces, reducing the likelihood of getting stuck in mud, sand, or loose terrain.

Off-road tires have thicker tread blocks and expel the road debris that would otherwise get stuck in your tires. When selecting off-road tires, consider models with deep tread patterns and reinforced sidewalls to handle rugged conditions.

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