From desert landscapes with sand dunes to snowy mountains filled with pine trees, Utah is a state with a wide variety of terrain and weather conditions. While this diversity is a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts, it can be a nightmare for everyday motorists. Unfortunately, Utah’s natural beauty proves to be problematic every now and then.
But have no fear, winch services can save the day when you find yourself stuck in a sticky situation.
What is Winch Towing?
Winch towing is an off-road recovery service. It refers to the process of removing a vehicle from an area other than a roadway. So when a car, truck, or ATV gets stuck in snow, mud, sand, or water, winch towing utilizes an off-road recovery tow truck to retrieve the vehicle.
What is a Winch?
An off-road recovery tow truck is a type of tow truck specially fitted with a winch. A winch is a device that adjusts the tension of a cable or rope wrapped around a drum.
When used as part of an off-road recovery, the winch releases a rescue cord that a tow truck operator then attaches to the trapped vehicle. Once hooked to the vehicle, the winch retracts the cord to extract the vehicle from its entrapment.
When is a Winch Used?
Winches come in handy in a number of circumstances.
Snow and Ice: Snowy weather is wonderful when you want to ski or snowboard, but it can sure leave you in a bind if you get caught in a snowdrift. Tires need traction to turn, and snow and ice decreases traction. Deep snow is particularly difficult to get out of, and at times, you will have no other option than to seek the help of a winch if a blizzard gets the best of your vehicle.
Mud and Sand: Once again, tires need traction to make a vehicle go. Mud and sand interrupts that traction. Mud is heavy, sleek, and slippery. It’s one of those surfaces that can quickly turn dangerous and make your vehicle slide into a compromised position.
Additionally, mud easily accumulates on tires and caked-on mud diminishes traction. When you lay on that gas pedal in an attempt to get yourself out of a muddy situation, it tends to only make matters worse. You end up digging yourself into a deep hole. Similarly, spinning your tires in sand will dig your vehicle into a hole that only winch services can save you from.
Water: Winch services are even for vehicles submerged in water. While weather disasters that result in flash floods are often the reason for water rescues, lakes are a common culprit as well.
For example, backing up that boat into a lake can turn disastrous under certain circumstances. Perhaps the boat launch area is covered in slimy algae and the tires lose traction. Maybe the weight and momentum of putting a heavy boat into the water pulls the tow vehicle into the lake. Various water situations can lead to the need for winch services.
Ditches and Uneven Terrain: Come rain, snow, sleet, hail, or no weather at all, ditch recoveries are a regular occurrence. Ditches are full of inclines, declines, rocks, and more. This uneven terrain creates a lack of friction between a vehicle’s tires and a firm surface.
Why Hire Winch Service Experts?
An off-road recovery gone wrong can cause serious damage to your automobile. Winch services require a specific skill set and knowledge base to perform properly. Receiving help from an expert trained to operate a winch could save your vehicle from incurring costly damage.
Vehicular damage is just one consequence of a poor recovery attempt, though. If winching is not carried out correctly, it can result in serious injury or death. There is a right way and a wrong way to use a winch, and you run the risk of harmful or fatal repercussions if you do not know what you are doing with a winch.
Hiring an off-road recovery expert trained to operate a winch is the best way to safely and securely retrieve a vehicle. Plus, sometimes vehicles need a quick repair in order to get back on the road, and many off-road recovery tow truck operators can help you with some simple roadside assistance, too.
If In Need of an Off-Road Recovery Service in Utah
Winching is a specialized service, and not all Utah towing companies have the necessary equipment required to perform off-road recoveries. Before you hire just any tow company, you must make sure they have the right equipment to perform your specific type of tow request.
Here at Roadside Rescue, we offer winch services, tow services, and roadside assistance options. In fact, all of our tow truck drivers are WreckMaster certified in off-road recoveries and towing. With our large fleet of trucks, our service area expands across five counties—Weber, Davis, Tooele, Salt Lake, and Utah counties.