What to do when stuck in sand or mud
Padre Island, Mustang Island, and the National Seashore eat vehicles weekly. The first thing to do is stop making it worse.
What you'll learn
- Why spinning the wheels digs you deeper - fast
- The airdown-and-drive-out move (safe only in certain conditions)
- How traction mats work and when to use them
- When to stop trying and call a winch-out
Step by step
- Stop spinning the wheels immediately. Every 10 seconds of spin drops you another inch.
- Check if anyone is hurt or if the vehicle is unstable (leaning, sinking). Step away if so.
- Dig the sand or mud away from the front and back of each drive wheel.
- Slide traction mats, cardboard, or floor mats under the drive wheels.
- Try to rock back-and-forth gently - reverse 6 inches, then forward 6 inches.
- If it does not move after 2 tries, stop. Call for a winch-out.
On South Beach and down-island past Packery Channel, a winch-out is far cheaper than a broken transfer case. Recovery mats and come-along rigs ride on the truck.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Towing and roadside across Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. The line takes calls 24/7.
Keep learning.
Jump-start a dead battery safely
Jumper cables are simple until you hook them wrong. Do it right and you'll avoid sparks, ruined electronics, and a tow you didn't need.
Change a flat tire on the side of the road
The difference between a 20-minute shoulder stop and an hour on the phone with a tow company is knowing where the spare and jack live before you need them.
Prepare your vehicle for a tow
A few minutes of prep before the tow truck arrives saves time, avoids damage, and makes the whole call go faster.