Don’t worry; it happens to all of us. We go out with our buddies on the weekends to hit some new trails (or make some new ones), and without fail, someone gets stuck (or close to it). Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but other times our choices get us stuck in a rut.

We hear it all the time. The best treatment is prevention. The best way to get out of the ditch is to never find yourself in one, to begin with.  To break it down we’ll break this piece into two parts covering prevention and how to get… “unstuck" once the inevitable happens. So let’s talk about prevention.

Prevention

Tires

– Picking the right type of light truck/ off-road tires to mount to your wheels is pivotal to keeping yourself moving on the trail. If you’re somebody whose primary goal is to rip apart the trails every weekend, then you may be looking for an MT (Mud Terrain) or even an Extreme MT tire. This will ensure the tire is designed to dig through the mud, grip through gravel, and master any obstacle the trail throws your way.

 MT tires, like the Accelera MT-01 and Armstrong Dessert Dog, are designed with reinforced shoulders and aggressive tread blocking to resist punctures and grip through slippery or unstable ground.

An extreme MT tire, like the Accelera Badak X-Treme, still features reinforced shoulders and sidewalls. However, the tread blocking is so aggressive it may steal lunch. These suckers rip through any challenge that stands between them and the trail’s end.

Knowledge

This part seems pretty vague, and that’s because it is. First, you gotta know your truck and how it works. Have you ever heard a truck owner talk about how they know their truck and how it “feels?” What they are talking about is that they are accustomed to the truck’s steering, its performance in each gear, and understanding how the truck sounds and drives in each gear as well as when to switch gears.

Just knowing how your truck works is part of it. Knowing the trail and what obstacles lay ahead helps you understand what you need to be prepared for. For instance, you may know about a rut that’s hard to see or simply know that the trail is unstable. Driving strategically is just as if not more important, as anything else.

Knowing how to drive over or through different obstacles is pivotal in keeping yourself from calling your buddy to come back and tow you out. Almost always, the best way forward is slow and methodical. Keeping your gears low will ensure you don’t dig yourself into a rut or sling shale out from underneath you. Understanding how the ground will react to your rubber will make you a better driver, keep your wheels spinning, and you having fun.

Features

This section covers the different features of your truck that keep you moving through difficult terrain. The first and most obvious is being equipped with 4-wheel drive. This will ensure that power is given properly to each tire, ensuring the most traction possible in off-road situations.

Another helpful feature is an aftermarket lift may be beneficial in certain applications to allow for more clearance over some challenges in the path. For instance, a tree or a large trench can cause scrapping or “bottoming out” when navigating the trails. A reasonable lift will keep you off the ground and prevent damage to your undercarriage.

Conclusion

Obviously, getting stuck while out riding is not a completely unpreventable situation. However, there are definitely considerations to make to keep yourself from getting stuck. Whether that means buying the right off-road tires, lifting your truck a few inches, or taking a hike through the trails ahead of time to make notes of problematic terrain, prevention is the best solution. If for no other reason, not getting stuck will save you from constantly buying your buddy a case of cold ones for having to pull your ass out of a ditch.