How to Get A Car Stuck in Sand Out?
No one likes to get in unnecessary trouble; especially when one is driving on the road. Sand, mud, debris, and other kinds of trails often create difficulties for the drivers. No matter how many years of experience the person has in driving a vehicle, there always remains a chance of the car getting stuck on a sandy road. With the summer season approaching, people will be flocking to the beautiful beaches or will plan adventurous excursions. Roads leading to beaches or desserts often have too much sand that is enough to get your car stuck in the sand.
Knowing how to tackle this situation can prove to be highly beneficial. Let’s take a quick look at the practical ways that are sure to get your stuck car out of the sand dune.
Shovel
When the tires of your car get stuck into the sand, then it becomes necessary that you remove the accumulated sand around the tires. Trying to speed up in such a situation will make things worse and the tires may sink even deeper into the sand. A car stuck in a dessert can only be taken out if you dig out the sand around the tire areas.
When following this step, keep in mind that you are digging around the tire areas with the intent to create a gradient. It will become difficult to move the car without a gradient. A shovel will be your best companion in such a situation, as it will make things easier and faster. If you don’t have a shovel, then a takeout cup can also serve the purpose.
Carpet or Cardboard
Once you remove the accumulated sand in the tire areas, you should focus next on creating traction. Cardboard or a carpet will be perfect for this purpose. All cars have carpets, so that can be used to create traction for the tires. To move the car stuck in the sand, simply take the carpet and wedge it securely beneath the tire.
If you don’t want to use the car’s carpet for this purpose, then make sure you always carry cardboard in your vehicle. The cardboard tends to serve the same purpose as that of the carpet in this case. In case of emergencies, where the driver is neither having the carpet, nor the cardboard, some sticks can be gathered from around the surrounding area to create a gradient and provide traction to the vehicle.
Tow Straps
Having a tow strap in your car can save you from a number of unpleasant situations. One of the best and useful ways to get the car stuck in a dessert out of the sand is by using the tow strap. An ideal scenario will be one where you can pull your vehicle using the tow strap by attaching it onto a nearby vehicle. If there are no vehicles around, then ask the accompanying passengers to help. You can accelerate when they are pulling the car using the tow strap.
Many drivers have found it useful to use tow straps, as it has helped them immensely. But make sure, the tow strap doesn’t have any hooks. The hooks attached to the tow strap can break easily while pulling, so avoid such straps. If you find any vehicle and manage to strap your car to it, then attach the tow strap directly to the frame and not the bumper, else the bumper may rip off while you accelerate.
Accelerate Harder
If all the relevant steps have been taken, then the only step remaining is to accelerate harder. Slow acceleration can reduce the traction effect, making it difficult to take out the car stuck in the sand. You can also pump gas to get the car tires up, but steady acceleration will still give better results.
In Conclusion
Dig sand around the tire areas, create traction, use a tow strap, and accelerate harder. These steps are sure to get your car stuck in a desert out. However, even after trying all these steps, if you still fail to take the car out of the sand, then taking professional help will be the only option left. You can call a professional and reliable towing service provider, and ask them to provide assistance at the earliest. If you don’t find the towing service provider, then you can also call your car insurance provider. They usually have details of towing professionals, so they can connect you with the nearest professional towing service providers.
To ensure a safe journey, a driver should always keep some items in the car. A shovel, spare tires, traction mats, rope, tire pressure gauge, couple gallons of water, and tow straps are a few of them. The equipment can come handy during situations of emergency, and if used correctly, can help your vehicle come out of the sand.
7 Safety Tips That You Need to Consider While Refueling a Vehicle
Every vehicle needs to be refueled from time to time. Therefore, all car owners must know how to get their vehicle safely refueled whenever needed. Usually, refueling is carried out at service stations and hence car owners must follow some safety tips and take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents.
Some common precautions that most people know about is that they should not strike a match or light a cigarette while refueling a vehicle. This is because the fuel is highly combustible and inflammable and the slightest contact with fire is extremely dangerous and life threating. However, these common precautions are just the tip of the iceberg as many more safety measures are required if you want to ensure your own safety and that of everyone around you while getting your car refueled at the service station.
Seven Safety Tips to Take into Account When Refueling a Vehicle
1.Turn Off the Engine
You must at all costs remember that before you start refueling the car, the engine must be turned off. Not only is it unsafe to refuel a car without turning off the engine first, but it is in fact illegal. You must also ensure that the keys of your vehicle are out of the ignition when you’re refueling your tank. This is important as it ensures that someone sitting in the car doesn’t accidentally turn the key and cause the engine to come to life when you’re filling your tank.
2. Avoid Anything that Involves Lighting a Fire
Activities such as smoking, striking a match, or using a lighter when you’re refueling a vehicle can be very dangerous. This is because petrol is highly combustible and a fire could start at any moment if the fuel comes into contact with even the smallest spark. Therefore, any activity that involves the lighting of a fire should be avoided when you are in at the refueling station. You must put out any cigarettes you’d been smoking before entering the service station.
3. Don’t Use a Cell Phone
Mobile phones and other types of electronic gadgets should also be avoided when you are inside the service station refueling your car. This is because cell phones have been known to cause sudden sparks. These sparks might cause a fire if they happen to ignite the petrol vapors. Moreover, using a cell phone when filling a tank could also cause a distraction, which might lead to over-filling and other problems due to neglect.
4. Be Mindful of Static Electricity
Static electricity is very dangerous as it can ignite the petrol vapor if it comes in contact at the service station. Static electricity can be generated due to the friction created when you slide across the seat to get down from the car for vehicle refueling. Therefore, it is essential that you should discharge any static electricity to the best of your ability before you start refueling your car. Static electricity is usually created or produced by friction and can be discharged by touching metal.
5. Be Careful With Petrol
If you plan to store some of the fuel in a container for future use then you should ensure that the container is kept in a ventilated area out of the reach of children. You must also not dispose of extra or unwanted petrol in a park or drain or any type of water body. You can consult the staff of the local service station about safe disposal methods for petrol if you are unsure. You must also use an approved and labeled container made of metal or plastic to store petrol so as to prevent leakage.
6. Keep Children Away
No matter what circumstances you are in, children must not be allowed to refuel the car or touch the pump nozzle while vehicle refueling. Not only would that be hazardous but it would also be illegal, as only people aged sixteen or older are allowed by law to refuel a car. Younger children can often be unpredictable and may distract you when you are filling up the tank with petrol if they are allowed to venture near the vehicle at this time.
7
When you park your car in a service station and go inside the store to pay for the fuel or purchase any items, you should ensure that you have locked the car and that no valuables are lying about on the seats. If the car is left unlocked and unattended after refueling, it becomes an easy target for thieves and other miscreants to steal items left on the seats, such as purses and smartphones. You must also lock the car while filling the tank, particularly when traveling alone.
In Conclusion
You must always be wary of situations that may prove dangerous when refueling a car, such as spills and leaks. The staff at the service-station is usually trained to perform emergency evacuations and maintain the strictest safety standards at all times, however, you must also stay vigilant and not rely entirely on the staff members. By following the above-mentioned tips, you can keep yourself and your co-passengers safe when refueling a vehicle in a service station.
What To Do If Your Car Gets Stuck in a Ditch?
No driver would want his car to get stuck in a ditch. But as it can happen to anyone and at any time, it is crucial that the driver is well-informed about the actionable steps that can help him get out of the troublesome situation.
If you find your car stuck in a ditch, then it may have happened due to several reasons. Driving on a road that has potholes, water accumulated due to floods, defense driving, and driving in an intoxicated state are some of the possible causes behind it.
The driver needs to be cautious in this situation, as many potential risks may be involved. The methods and tactics used for pulling a car out of a ditch should be selected according to the type of situation that one is in. To ensure that you are always prepared to deal with these situations, read ahead.
Getting stuck due to human error
As told at the beginning, the reasons why your car was stuck in a ditch can be varied. Apart from human error, inclement weather may also be a reason behind it. If the car gets stuck in a ditch due to human error, like distracted driving, defensive driving, intoxicated driving, and others, then the driver needs to act wisely.
If the car got stuck due to drunk driving, then it is best that the driver doesn’t take charge of the wheels again, and call someone for assistance. If the situation is not favorable, and due to defensive or distracted driving, minor injuries occurred, then the driver along with the other people sitting in the car should call for immediate help. In case of bad weather, do call the roadside assistance service for a quick rescue.
Here are some other actionable steps that the driver should take to improve the situation.
Ensure Everyone’s Safety
When the car gets stuck in a ditch, instead of making efforts to pull the car out of ditch, the driver should first ensure people’s safety. Do check whether everyone in the car is fine. Exercising safety norms should be the first and foremost responsibility of the driver. Once it is done, start assessing the situation by turning on the hazard lights.
It is done to signal to other drivers that they should steer clear so that the chances of other road accidents can be diminished. If your car is stuck on a trail that has loose soils, wet mud, snow, and other such elements, then be sure to put on your parking brake. In case, the car got stuck in a dangerous position, the driver should immediately call the emergency services for help.
Adjust The Car’s Weight
Pulling a car out of ditch that is somewhat flat is not that difficult. If your car got stuck on a road that has ongoing traffic, then make sure you check for oncoming vehicles before attempting to get your car out in order to ensure safety. Moreover, if you have put on the parking brake, then make sure you undo it.
If the vehicle still fails to come out of the ditch after multiple attempts, then alter the car’s weight. If the car is carrying something heavy, then take it out of the car for some time. Lightweight vehicles are easy to maneuver; hence your chances of success may significantly increase.
Try to Gain Traction
If the car got stuck in dense snow or wet mud, then try to increase the weight inside the vehicle for gaining better traction. You will require traction to gather the required force to get out of the ditch. Pouring sand around the tires might be a wise option. You can also use kitty litters, flattened cardboard boxes, the car’s floor mat, and other similar items instead of sand.
If you don’t want to use your car’s floor mat, then try to search for a gas station or a convenience store nearby. You can place any of the aforementioned items behind the rear tires, if your car is a rear wheel drive. You can put the items ahead of the front tires if your car is a front wheel drive.
Call a Towing Company
Calling for professional assistance is one of the most common and effective ways to get the car stuck in a ditch out of it. If you don’t want to spend money on professional towing services, then use the tips shared above. However, if you fail to pull the car out of the ditch with the above-mentioned tactics, then calling the towing company will be the only option left.
If you are unaware of any towing services nearby, then you can call your car insurance provider, and take the contact details of a suitable towing company from them. Almost all the car insurance providers keep a contact list of reputable towing companies, so you can reach out to them for assistance.
In Conclusion
All the tips mentioned above are sure to help you. But it should be noted that having a calm and organized approach will be best. Never attempt any of the shared tips while you’re in a panicked state, as it won’t help in such a situation. When the car gets stuck, first ensure that everyone is safe, and wait for a few minutes. Calm down and compose yourself before trying any of the tips to get the car out of the ditch. A calm and composed mind will help you the most in pulling the car out of the ditch.
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Vehicle Out of Gas on Road? Do this!
When people say that knowledge is power, they are not wrong, especially when your car has run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Knowing what to do and how to get fuel in the middle of the road will help you gain security and confidence in such tough situations.
Staying prepared with the helpline number of a fuel delivery service will help you when you are stranded on the road with no fuel in the car. However, there are many who feel that such steps are not necessary and fail to take such precautions before starting their journey. However, it is extremely important to keep such resources handy, especially for those undertaking long road trips during the winter and summer seasons.
To help handle such tough situations, we have put together a guide that will help you if you happen to run out of gas on the way to your destination and will also help you get fuel delivered to your location.
Steps to Follow When Your Car Run Out of Gas
- Slow Down the Car:
Once you get the indication that you running low on gas, it’s time to lower your speed. No more accelerating to touch 90 mph. It is high time to put your calculating skills to the test. Start calculating how many miles you can cover on a gallon of gas on the highway to reach the nearest gas station for a fuel refill. If you are lucky and your calculations are right, then you will reach the gas station smoothly.
However, once the engine is starting to run out of fuel, it is best to alert other cars on the road that you are slowing down by turning on the car’s hazard lights and using the horns. Try pulling the car over to the side of the road so that you can stop there once the gas runs out completely. This will not only keep you safe from the other speeding vehicles on the
- Determine Your Location:
Once you have stopped your car on the side of the road, try to figure out your location. This is extremely important information that will help you determine where the nearest gas station is. If there are none nearby, you will need to inform the roadside fuel delivery service about your exact location, so that they can deliver the fuel to you.
In case you have a smartphone with you, then turn on the GPS tracking system to get the location. However, if your phone is low on battery, then you can also determine the place by the below-mentioned markers:
- Last passed exits on the highway or freeway
- Business markers like billboards
- Geographical markers like rivers and lakes
- A roadmap.
However, it is best to always carry a portable charger with you wherever yougo.
- Call for Roadside Fuel Delivery Service:
When all else fails, call for a reputed roadside fuel delivery service to help you out of the situation. Before contacting a fuel delivery service, close all other applications and the data connection, which could be draining your phone battery. Keep in mind that you will need to keep your phone switched on until the delivery personnel successfully arrives at your location. Roadside fuel delivery services employ professionals in this industry and they know
- Be Cautious When Approached by Strangers:
While you are trying to figure out how to get fuel in the middle of the road, you might encounter some good Samaritans trying to help you. If they offer you a ride to the nearest gas station, it is best not to take the offer, for the sake of your own safety. However, there are various other ways in which you can accept their help, for example:
- Ask for their cellphone to make a call to a fuel delivery service, if your smartphone has run out of battery,
- Ask them to lend some gas if you are carrying a hose and a container,
- Ask them to get you some fuel from the nearest gas station,
- Ask for details on the location where you are currently stranded.
Preparing For the Next Time
Now that we have presented you with a guide to deal with running out of fuel unexpectedly, it is time to focus on preparing for any such incidents in the future. No one can guarantee that such a situation will not happen again, which is why you need to carry the following things with you in the car:
- A map of the region you are driving through,
- A powerful flashlight,
- Portable battery and charger,
- A hose and a container,
- The phone number of a reputed fuel delivery service. If they have an app, then you should ideally install it on your smartphone.
In Conclusion:
Always keep an eye on your fuel tank and do not ever ignore the low gas light when it starts blinking. If you are on a long road trip, then it is best to always travel with a full tank rather than to make many stops on the way for fuel refills.
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