Emergency Truck Traction Devices that are NOT Tire Chains?

I’m not talking about tire chains.

I’m wondering what are some of the best emergency tire devices to get unstuck when in snow.

I know that there are at least devices that go on your tires and some are traction devices that go on the ground.

What are some of the best Emergency Traction Devices that are NOT Tire Chains?

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Floor mats

A shovel and a lot of swearing.

Carry a bucket of sand mixed with coarse salt. It might even provide enough ballast to give you traction before you get stuck.

Lightweight kitty litter, buy the stuff in a jug. Works well I have helped a few people with it.

Kitty litter. Got buried this morning wanting to park on opposite side of the field. Let alone, kitty litter saved me and a shovel. Got to sweaty in the process. Sat in bow stand for 1.5 hours. Then this -3 set in. I just walked out. Hoping not to get stuck again

I put these in my Explorer when driving on the ice. Kitty litter also works well

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Insta-traction as mentioned above.

Tree branches.

Cam White wrote:

Insta-traction as mentioned above.

Have you used these with success?

Turkey grit.

usmarine0352 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Cam White wrote:</div>
Insta-traction as mentioned above.

Have you used these with success?

Yep. Work very well. My boss even bought a couple sets for our semis to try out.

Sand socks filled with fine pea gravel.

I have heard good things about these and am thinking of ordering some. Got stuck one too many times last year.

Aboxy17 wrote:

I have heard good things about these and am thinking of ordering some. Got stuck one too many times last year.

Check around. I see these online anywhere from $35 to $150.

Aboxy17 wrote:

I have heard good things about these and am thinking of ordering some. Got stuck one too many times last year.

Even if $170 they pay for themselves if you use them 1 time because that’s what a tow costs to get unstuck.

MX1825 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Aboxy17 wrote:</div>
I have heard good things about these and am thinking of ordering some. Got stuck one too many times last year.

Check around. I see these online anywhere from $35 to $150.

Where do you see them for $35?

Got a link?

As I was sliding into the river Saturday I realized I had forgotten to pack my shovel and chisel for the winter months… so the windshield ice scraper was to the rescue!

Shovel and a Hemi is still undefeated for me.

I run Maxtrax, always have a set in the truck, and have the minis for the quad. They have saved my butt more than once in mud and snow. You can get cheaper variants from fleet farm.

I keep all of the following in the back of my truck through Winter:

1. 5 gallon bucket of wood ash (offers some immediate traction, also helps melt ice rapidly with dark color and grit while not damaging stuff). We spread this on our 1200′ gravel driveway after driving down all the small snowfalls. It beats plowing constantly after you get windrows going and still provides traction.

2. tow strap and shackle

3. recovery boards (~cheapest $75 set on Amazon)

4. shovel

I probably get “stuck” 3-4 times a winter myself pushing the limits and have always been able to get myself out. I’ve helped get 2 small suvs out of the ditch this year without using a shovel using the things listed above as well.

Hate to be “That guy”, but why not tire chains? I get that they are a pain and must be used sensibly, but very hard to beat in some cases. Mine go in my truck pretty early into the snowy season along with a snow shovel. Dirt shovel, small telescoping shovel, medium axe, good tug strap n clevices, 12v air compressor, n lots of other goodies never leave my truck. 3 things I learned hunting out West in the winter, carry chains always, temporarily airing tires down increases traction, and lastly n most importantly—use your head. Set of chains n aired down tires are very hard to beat in icy conditions, but these newer trucks are not very accommodating for chains, a good 12v air compressor is a good investment.

I just carry sand, but if I’m really stuck a ratchet strap itself will work in a pinch (only have had to do it twice in my life)

Put the ratchet itself right onto the tread of the tire and cinch it down.

There’s a 50/50 chance it’s junk once you’re out (might have to cut it off), but it works and only costs $10-20 if you break it.

I have heard the ratchet strap works. If my tire chains could talk—well I don’t have that much beer left, they have miles on them. Few times I probably didn’t use my head.

27eyeguy wrote:

Hate to be “That guy”, but why not tire chains? I get that they are a pain and must be used sensibly, but very hard to beat in some cases. Mine go in my truck pretty early into the snowy season along with a snow shovel. Dirt shovel, small telescoping shovel, medium axe, good tug strap n clevices, 12v air compressor, n lots of other goodies never leave my truck. 3 things I learned hunting out West in the winter, carry chains always, temporarily airing tires down increases traction, and lastly n most importantly—use your head. Set of chains n aired down tires are very hard to beat in icy conditions, but these newer trucks are not very accommodating for chains, a good 12v air compressor is a good investment.

Because I don’t own a truck and have to borrow my bros or someone else’s if I borrow a shack.

Everyone has different size tires and some guys have oversize tires.

These fit most average trucks and I can bring them with me no matter whose truck I’m using.

I went with these instead of the boards because they take up much less space.

Also, got the 4 pack so I can our them on all 4 tires or 2 one 1 truck and 2 on a truck pulling me out if need be.

May still buy some boards.

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Gotcha. Please report back how those work out if you use them. I would consider them for my good truck.

usmarine0352 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>27eyeguy wrote:</div>
Hate to be “That guy”, but why not tire chains? I get that they are a pain and must be used sensibly, but very hard to beat in some cases. Mine go in my truck pretty early into the snowy season along with a snow shovel. Dirt shovel, small telescoping shovel, medium axe, good tug strap n clevices, 12v air compressor, n lots of other goodies never leave my truck. 3 things I learned hunting out West in the winter, carry chains always, temporarily airing tires down increases traction, and lastly n most importantly—use your head. Set of chains n aired down tires are very hard to beat in icy conditions, but these newer trucks are not very accommodating for chains, a good 12v air compressor is a good investment.

Because I don’t own a truck and have to borrow my bros or someone else’s if I borrow a shack.

Everyone has different size tires and some guys have oversize tires.

These fit most average trucks and I can bring them with me no matter whose truck I’m using.

I went with these instead of the boards because they are take up much less space.

Also, got the 4 pack so I can our them on all 4 tires or 2 one 1 truck and 2 on a truck pulling me out if need be.

I have chains for my truck but based on this thread I purchased two like the ones you did, but then I bought 2 of the Instatraction chains as well. I thought the steel gripper on the Instatraction might be better when I’m stuck on ice. I hope I never have to use either of them!

The Ice Show is always a great place to see new tech-anyway this guy showed me a foot long thing that could be dropped into a 10” hole. Pulling on it the thing would grab onto the underside of the hole then you could winch your vehicle onto better traction- he said that usually when you are stuck you are only a foot away from where the traction is good. Does that sound good? Have not been stuck in a while but got stuck bad once in Canada with 3 other vehicles-we got out, but it was not good.

tim hurley wrote:

The Ice Show is always a great place to see new tech-anyway this guy showed me a foot long thing that could be dropped into a 10” hole. Pulling on it the thing would grab onto the underside of the hole then you could winch your vehicle onto better traction- he said that usually when you are stuck you are only a foot away from where the traction is good. Does that sound good? Have not been stuck in a while but got stuck bad once in Canada with 3 other vehicles-we got out, but it was not good.

I’ve never tried this since it don’t have a winch on my truck, but I believe a 6×6 timber (5.5×5.5″ nominal) fits into an 8″ hole.

Again, never tried it myself, but according to my math it would work (with the hypotenuse of a 5.5″ timber being 7.78″)

I always have a high lift jack in my truck, and know you can use them for winching, but have never tried that either.

tim hurley wrote:

The Ice Show is always a great place to see new tech-anyway this guy showed me a foot long thing that could be dropped into a 10” hole. Pulling on it the thing would grab onto the underside of the hole then you could winch your vehicle onto better traction- he said that usually when you are stuck you are only a foot away from where the traction is good. Does that sound good? Have not been stuck in a while but got stuck bad once in Canada with 3 other vehicles-we got out, but it was not good.

Don’t see to many winches on trucks these days, but like bmann said a 4×4 or 6×6 timber works in that case. And a few other products I’ve seen. But for as being a 1ft away from traction then I guess it depends where your stuck.