8 Things To Do When Your Truck Is Stuck In Snow

When a snowstorm or blizzard is on its way most people will start their preparations early! This could be anything from stocking up on food, getting extra blankets, or purchasing an endless supply of warm drinks and comfort food to fend off the chilly temperature!

Sometimes, our truck can be the last thing on our mind, and one of the worst parts of a snowstorm is waking up in the morning and finding your truck snowed in. Unfortunately, if your truck is parked on the street there aren't many things you can do to prevent it from being snowed in.

Continue reading to discover the best ways to get your truck up and running no matter how snowed in it is.

#1: CLEAR THE SNOW

The first step to free your truck is to clear the snow from around the tires. A snow shovel is the best tool to use, however, if you don’t own a shovel you can also use an ice scraper or a heavy duty screwdriver.

Remove as much snow as possible from the back, front, and underneath the tire. Next up, clear a path that is long enough for the car to move back and forward. You won't need to move too far, but to gain traction and momentum you will need to clear a nice amount of room.

Before you start trying to maneuver the car out make sure that you also clear out the tailpipes of any excess ice or snow. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if the tailpipe is blocked when the engine is running. This can be extremely dangerous and possibly fatal, so it's important to remember this step!

#2 & 3: MOVE FORWARD... OR BACKWARD

After you have cleared away the snow it's time to get traction. To do this keep the wheels of the vehicle straight, put the truck in a low gear and start moving forward slowly. Then reverse slowly back. It’s imperative not to gun the engine, but instead, keep it slow and steady. This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to free your truck from the snow. Keep an ear out to check if the tires spin and even put your head out of the window to keep an eye on them. If you hear the tires spinning take your foot off the accelerator straight away!

#4: PUT ON THE BRAKES

This may seem counterintuitive, however, applying the brakes while accelerating is a great way to stop useless spinning and help increase traction. Give this one a try but only for a little bit of time. You can cause serious damage to your breaks by doing this for more than a few moments!

If this doesn’t work, try the rocking technique, by moving gently backward and forwards over and over. This can generate momentum that can help you move out. Just like applying breaks, you should only try this for a couple of times. If you do it for too long the rocking method can end up having a negative effect on your transmission!

#5: PUSH WHILE ACCELERATING

If none of these tips has helped, see if you can get a couple of people to help push your truck while you accelerate forward.

If you feel like there still isn’t enough traction, let some air out of your tires. Only let out a small amount, enough that you can visibly see that the tire is lower in air pressure. Sometimes this can work because there is more rubber connecting to the ground. However, this is a hazardous way to drive. Letting air out is only recommended if you can refill the air close by. Otherwise, it’s just too dangerous to drive with tires that are flat.

#6 & 7: CHAINS & TRACTION BOARDS

Featured Product: Rhino USA Traction Boards

Snow chains are a fail-safe way to get your truck out of the snow and moving! If you don’t have snow chains, there may also be some household items you can use to get your truck moving. To increase traction try Rhino USA traction boards, built to create traction in the snow and safely recover a stuck vehicle. Use your shovel to dig under your tires and push just the tip of the traction boards under the tires. In a low gear, slowly drive your way onto the traction boards and then accelerate to get up and out!

#8: YOU ARE FREE!

Hopefully, one of these many options helped you get unstuck. If your steering wheel is shaking, you may have snow still stuck in your tires. At the first chance where it’s safe, pull over and scrape the snow out with an ice scraper, screwdriver, or shovel.  If you released the air pressure in your wheels immediately replace the air.

Whenever there is inclement weather it's important to be prepared and allow yourself plenty of time to troubleshoot these kinds of problems. Good luck and stay warm!

PS. we sell a multi-tool shovel that would be perfect for this kind of job, if you're like me and like to be prepared for the worst to come, you can check it out by clicking here or viewing it below! If not, no hard feelings, thanks for checking out our site and we wish you the best of luck!

FAQ's

What should I do first if my truck gets stuck in snow?

The first thing to do when your truck is stuck in snow is to remain calm. Then, assess the situation and ensure your safety. Turn off your vehicle, check for any immediate hazards, and make sure your exhaust pipe is clear to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. From there, you can follow the steps outlined in the blog post to safely get your truck unstuck.

Who to call when you get stuck in the snow?

Recovery gear can be an essential tool to avoiding calling roadside assistance, towing services, or professional recovery services. With the help of simple recovery solutions such as kinetic ropes, recovery tow straps, survival shovels, and recovery traction boards, you can effectively get unstuck from the snow without having to pay hundreds of dollars for assistance! 

Now, in the event that you haven't purchased recovery gear from Rhino USA, we recommend reaching out to the following options to get your vehicle out of the snow:

1. Roadside Assistance: Many insurance companies offer roadside assistance as part of their coverage packages. Check your policy or contact your insurance provider's emergency hotline to request help. They often provide services like towing, jump-starts, and assistance with getting unstuck from snow.

2. Towing Services: Towing companies specialize in recovering vehicles that are stuck or immobilized. You can call a local towing service to request their assistance in getting your vehicle out of the snow.

3. Emergency Services: If you're in a hazardous situation, such as extreme cold, heavy snowfall, or if there's a medical emergency, it's crucial to contact your local emergency services (911 in the United States) for immediate assistance. They can coordinate a response to ensure your safety.

4. Professional Recovery Services: In some cases, you may need to contact a specialized off-road recovery service or a professional who specializes in vehicle recoveries. These experts have the equipment and knowledge to handle challenging situations.