Learn how to deal with getting stuck off road - Toyota of Clermont has tips!

1. How to get your car unstuck
when you go off road
Here in Central Florida, we have a lot of opportunities to take things off the pavement. Whether
you’re hitting the beach in New Smyrna or exploring trails in the woods of Ocala, there’s always
adventure to be had off road. However, one of the risks of taking things off the pavement is
getting stuck. Toyota of Clermont is here with tips to help you get “unstuck” in the trickiest of
situations. Read on!
If you find your Clermont Toyota stuck in the sand
Hitting the beach in your vehicle is great - you can drive right to your spot and you don’t have
to hike down the beach with all of your gear. It does, however, run the risk of you getting your
ride stuck in the sand. Use these tips if you find your wheels spinning:
• Don’t continue to press the gas; this will just dig you into a deeper hole.
• Try digging your wheels out a little bit and moving the loose sand away from them so they
can reach the firmer, packed sand below. This may give you better traction.
• No luck? Time to break out your floor mats. Yes, they’ll get sandy, but using your floor mats is
an easy way to regain traction in off road situations. Stick the under the front of your

2. Clermont Toyota’s tires so the tires can grip the mat and move you forward. You’ll want to
accelerate evenly but not too slowly.
The best way to avoid getting stuck at the beach is to drive closer to the water’s edge (but not
in the water) where the sand is firmer. You should also avoid taking sharp turns or slamming on
the gas and brakes.
If you find your Clermont Toyota stuck in the mud
What about the mud? If you’re out on the off road trail and find yourself stuck in a sticky
situation, here are the steps you should take to get your Clermont Toyota free:
• Just like you would in the sand, stop pressing the gas down. This only causes your wheels to
spin and can actually get you MORE stuck than you already are.
• If you know you’re hitting the trails or going off road, carry a bag of kitty litter with you. It
sounds weird, but it can give your tires the traction they need to get unstuck. Dump litter in
front of your power tires - this would be the front tires in a front-wheel drive car and the rear
tires in a rear-wheel drive car - and then accelerate evenly (resist the urge to hit the
accelerator hard).
• Still stuck? This is a good opportunity to break out a tow rope. However, make sure you’re
using a legit tow rope that’s strong enough to pull your car out, and also be sure to hook it to
the right spots on each vehicle (not places that can be damaged like the bumpers or
suspension).

3. Have questions still about getting off road? Call Toyota of Clermont! We’re here to help seven
days a week at (352) 404-7000.