Someone posted about Joshua Tree National Park and it brought back memories of us getting our big Freightliner and 5th wheel stuck in the sand. We were boondocking (camping without hookups), easy since we had a full solar setup and a large water tank. We followed a hard packed road in, then went a bit downhill on the side of the road to a flat spot. Mistake! We should have gone UP the hill! There was just enough slope that once the rear tires settled into a soft area, we weren’t going anywhere.
Thank goodness we had cell service and our roadside assistance plan sent someone to the rescue.
That wasn’t the only time the truck got stuck but I don’t have any photos of the second time. I wish I did. We were parking in a large open area for boondockers in a National Forest. There were several folks already there and most had ATVs for exploring. Well, we got stuck in a muddy soft spot and had no idea how we would get out. This time we had no cell phone service!
One of the folks already there came over on his ATV and offered to help. They tried several things under the tires, but nope. Finally he offered to pull us out. Hubby was incredulous. Our rig was huge and heavy, but the guy insisted he could do it and had done it before. With nothing to lose, they hooked it up and I stood outside to watch in shock. It may have been slow, but that ATV did pull our huge rig out of the muddy spot! We were good to go and found a save place to park.
Have you ever gotten a vehicle stuck and wondered how you would get out?
My A-Z this year are random thoughts, ideas, and whatever pops into my mind for the letter of the day. As in previous years, I will keep it short and sweet.
Till next time…
I once got a car I was test-driving stuck! So embarrassing, especially since I didn’t end up buying it. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Oh my, that would be embarrassing! I hate test drives…salesman in the back judging me. LOL! Thanks for stopping by!
On the test drive note…we tried out a Suzuki 4 speed manual once and had to have the sales guy ride with us. After husband drove then I took a turn to see how I liked it, too. I heard from the backseat “She’s a good little driver!” I almost stopped and threw him out.
How condescending! I’ll bet he thought it was a nice thing to say. LOL!
Barbara and I were driving out to a tidal island, following the causeway markers but they led us into a big puddle (which the residents knew to drive around) . A family came by and pulled us out and we became friends…
Wow! So glad someone came along that could pull you out and doubly glad they became friends! Thanks so much for dropping by!
We’ve never gotten stuck before. However, I do remember driving down a tarred road that turned to dirt that turned to one lane that turned to brush scraping the sides of our little Miata convertible and wondering if we were just going to be lost forever somewhere. No way to turn around and I even had to get out and guide him over rocks and roots. It eventually widened again, but it was scary. GPS said it was a road…
Yikes! I would have been in a panic. We’ve had the GPS do us wrong so many times. The worst was putting us onto dirt or gravel roads when we were riding the motorcycles!
I think those roadside assistances and that guy with the ATV were amazing. I don’t drive but if I’m struck, I would be grateful to anyone who help me even if they are paid to do so.
Have a lovely day.
Those guys were amazing, technically they weren’t supposed to help us because we were off the road but they said if their cable would reach, they could get us out. And they did!
I’ve never gotten a vehicle stuck but I’ve been with guys who I was sure was going to get us stuck but managed to get us out. Glad you had folks around who could help you.
I was definitely glad we could get help both times!
That sounds like an adventure, especially the second time. Thank goodness for the good samaritan! I haven’t driven in twenty-five years (hard to believe), but even when I did, I didn’t get stuck. I wasn’t an adventurer. 🙂
I’ve personally never gotten stuck. I forgot one other stuck adventure that was terrifying. This was our first year together and we were in the Smokies vacationing at a time share. We went out on the Harley trike and when he went to turn around on a narrow road, the front wheel caught on the downslope. He was holding with the brakes and I jumped off to push it backwards but could only help him hold it before it slide down the steep hillside. Fortunately two guys in a pickup came by, saw up and stopped to help. Scary!
That does sound scary. So glad someone came along!
That sounds like a fun experience! Not getting stuck, of course, but going to Joshua Tree and boondocking like that! I don’t think I’ve ever gotten my car stuck, but I’ve gotten a fair amount of flats I’ve had to change! Now I have roadside assistance through my insurance company though, so I hope I remember to use it next time that happens!
– Allison
https://lightningflashwriting.blogspot.com/
Roadside assistance is a wonderful thing – most of the time. LOL! We’ve had good luck but I have friends who have had to wait hours for someone to show!