The most frustrating part of dune-driving is getting stuck. As soon as the truck starts bogging down, avoid the temptation to simply floor the accelerator as this will just make vehicle recovery more difficult. Put the vehicle in reverse and gently try to back along your tracks, as they provide the most compacted path. When you have reversed a sufficient distance, try going forward again while being careful not dig yourself in. If that is the only trail available, hopefully you will travel further each time you repeat this technique and eventually be able to slowly pass through a particularly soft section.

If you cannot reverse out of trouble, get out of the vehicle and reduce your tire pressure further. Before trying to reverse out, remove the build-up of sand from behind the tires. See if any part of the underside is touching. If it is, clear the sand away to allow the vehicle to reverse out. Do this as many times as needed.

If necessary, continue to drop the tire pressures all the way down to 10 psi. Also, make all your passengers give your car a push as you feather the gas pedal. The tires can be lowered down to 6 psi in extreme cases, but this should be avoided if other means of vehicle recovery are available, as the tire can come off the rim at such low pressures.

If you are still stuck and your tires are down to the minimum pressure, you will have to resort to a snatch strap, winching or jacking to pull yourself out. The easiest method is usually by snatch strap, but this requires on another vehicle doing the snatching. If you are by yourself you will have to resort to winching, assuming your front bumper has one, or jacking up the stuck tire.

© ModernOffroader.com