Getting Your ATV Unstuck

Nothing makes a fun ATV ride grind to a halt quite like sinking into the muck. The good news is that retrieving your quad should be relatively simple if you’re prepared. Follow this guide from the experts at Windy City Motorcycle Company to get back on the trail as soon as possible.

1. Use a Winch

Getting your ATV unstuck is so much simpler if you have a winch on hand. All you need to do is attach one end to the front or back of your vehicle and the other end to another vehicle, and your ATV should be out in no time! If you’re riding alone, you can use a hand-powered winch called a come-along in place of a traditional winch. Either way, don’t forget to pack tow straps to go along with your winch. 

2. Create Your Own Anchor

If your winch isn’t a come-along and there are no suitable vehicles on hand to pull your ATV out, use a tree or other heavy object to create your own makeshift anchor. If there aren’t any heavy objects in the immediate vicinity, your best bet is to utilize a small steel rod with an eye bolt or a set of ice-climbing anchors. 

3. Bring a Shovel

If using a winch won’t work for whatever reason, you can instead use a collapsible shovel to try to dig your ATV’s tires out. If all goes well, your ATV will gain the traction it needs to allow you to drive out of the mud. 

4. Tilt Your ATV Back and Forth

If you don’t have a winch or collapsible shovel, you can instead try rocking the ATV back and forth with your body weight. By leaning into the motion, you might be able to inch the quad forward enough to allow it to find purchase on the ground. 

Shop ATVs at Windy City Motorcycle Company. We have several dealership locations, including Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan. We’re proud to serve areas like southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois