What Is a Winch Out?
A winch out is pulling a stuck vehicle free with a cable or strap and a powered winch on the tow truck. We park on solid ground, run the line to a safe recovery point on your vehicle and pull slowly until it is back on firm footing.
If your car is not damaged, you can drive away. If it is, we can load it onto the same truck and tow it to a shop.
Signs You Need a Winch Out
- Your tires spin in mud, sand or wet grass
- You slid off the road into a ditch or a drainage swale
- A wheel dropped off a curb, ramp or driveway edge
- You are stuck on a building lot or unpaved road
- Your car is high-centered on a curb or median
- You drove into a flooded low spot and the water has gone down
Winch Out Options
Most winch outs end with you driving away. If the car is damaged, we move it with Flatbed Towing. If you slid off the road in a crash, see Accident Towing. Small machines stuck on a job site are covered on Equipment Transport. If your battery died while you tried to rock free, ask for a Battery Jump Start too.
Getting Stuck in North Texas
North Texas clay soil turns to slick mud after a hard rain. It is common to get stuck on new building lots around Princeton, on unpaved shoulders, at parks near Lake Ray Hubbard and in grass lots at events.
Flash floods can push cars off low roads. Never drive into moving water. Once the water drops, we can pull your car out. In winter, ice can slide cars off ramps and into ditches.
What to Expect When We Arrive
- The driver checks where your car is and finds a safe spot for the truck.
- We find a solid recovery point on your vehicle, such as a tow hook.
- We run the winch line and use snatch blocks if the angle is tough.
- We pull slowly while you or the driver steer.
- We check for damage. If the car is fine, you drive off. If not, we tow it.
What to Do While You Wait
- Stop spinning your tires. It digs you deeper and can damage the car.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- If you are near traffic, get out on the side away from the road.
- Tell dispatch how deep the car is and what it is stuck in.
Winch Out Cost
The cost depends on how stuck the car is, how far the truck must be from it and how long the pull takes. A simple pull from a soft shoulder costs less than a deep ditch recovery. Call dispatch for a quote.
Who Needs a Winch Out
Drivers who slid off wet roads, builders and buyers on new home lots, people at rural events and parks, delivery drivers on unpaved roads and anyone who misjudged a ditch in the dark.
Why Drivers Choose Towvana for Winch Outs
We use proper recovery points, not bumpers or suspension parts. We pull slowly to avoid damage. Eight locations in Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Irving, Garland and Princeton mean a truck is closer, including near the new building areas of Collin County.