How to get a car out of sand
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How do you get a car out of sand?
In Australia lots of people head to the coast all year round. However some people drive their four wheel drives where they shouldn't and end up getting bogged in sand on the beach or on a sandy river bank.
Many tourists, for instance backpackers to Australia who hire cars and four wheel drives go for a drive down to a vehicle friendly beach and find themselves knee deep in sand.
So you've got your car bogged in sand? Want to know some simple things you can do to recover a bogged car without tools? Right first thing is stop accelerating hard because this will just dig the tyres in further.
Make sure that only the driver is in the stranded car. And ensure that any other people are at least 3-5 metres away from the car.
If you have a four wheel drive vehicle make sure it is in low range.
Next let the air out of the tyres so they are about half. The front tyres are important as they will be the first moving out of the sand. What this will do is 'flatten' the surface area of the tyre to the ground to give you more traction. Think how a tank moves.
Next, get who ever is around e.g. kids or friends to start digging under the tyres but the trick is also dig about a metre in front of each tyre. Make sure any obstacles are removed from under the vehicle as well e.g. rocks, logs, branches.
Next, accelerate slowly not hard. Once you get going the trick is to keep moving, keep the momentum going so you get to safe ground. It may need a few attempts and you might even find reversing out is easier if ground is more solid to the rear of the car. Once you're out of the bogged sand head to the nearest service station (gas station) and fill the tyres back up with air.
My biggest piece of advice though for getting out of bogged sand is to take some recovery gear with you before you head out. It's amazing how many people don't. Essential gear is a snatch strap and a small shovel and of course a mobile phone. Winches on other vehicles to get you out may snap if used in sand so a snatch strap is best.
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Yep good advice Dave. Chunky four wheel drive tyres also seem to make it worse because they chew into the sand easier than highway tyres. But obviously 4x4 tyres are better for extreme four wheel driving.
very true... many 4x4 are taken by the ocean each year because they can not be removed from the sand before the tide gets them. Here in California... it happens a lot.
Yeah we get a lot of 4x4 vehicles bogged in remote beaches or some of the popular spots such as Fraser Island and Stradbroke Island which are in Queensland.
Harry... your hubs amaze me... I really must brave the flight to Australia sometime soon.
Australia is a long way but certainly worth the trip!
I was from MtSurprise FNQ I sepcialise in free camping and have a web site of free camps in OZ, also do publik speaking also play music and am on the road 9 months of the year. Liked your hubs. Caravandrifter
Wow, looks like we're into the same stuff. Thanks for the feedback, happy camping!
Awesome article. It's amazing how many people get their car stuck in the sand. It's always fun to pull small cars out with my jeep. You are right about the snatch strap by the way. If for some reason it does snap or break (which is unlikely) it isn't as likely to do as much damage or harm as a cable.
Thanks precision. The main message is that people should be prepared with recovery gear in case they get their car stuck in sand, mud or wherever. A few helpful hints though above might make it a little easier to get the car out. Helps if you have a 4x4 of course.
I agree with you, I let the tyres down before entering the sand, and have very rarly got bogged, too many people go at it like a bull at a gate and wonder why they get bogged. I carry a compressor to pump them up again quickly. Most motor shops have them for round the $100 mark.
Compressors are a great idea especially if you're going on a long trip and won't be near a service station for a while. You might get the car out of the sand or mud but driving with flat tyres will most likely to lead to a puncture and that causes more headaches.
davenmidtown Level 7 Commenter 4 months ago
Good article... also avoid turning sharply while driving as it causes extra pressure which can bury the wheels again.