Getting stuck off-road can be stressful, but a few clear details can help a recovery team understand what they’re heading into. Before you call, gather information about your vehicle, exact location, surrounding terrain, and the route a recovery vehicle may need to take. Don’t put yourself at risk to collect it: stay in a safe place, avoid unstable ground, and use your phone’s map or location tools when possible. Accurate information helps the team plan its approach.
Describe Your Vehicle
Share the vehicle’s make, model, year, and type, such as a pickup, SUV, side-by-side, or dirt bike. Mention important modifications, including a lift, oversized tires, roof rack, or added equipment. If you know the vehicle’s approximate weight or have a manufacturer’s specification, include it. These details help the team consider what recovery equipment and vehicle capacity may be appropriate.
Explain what happened and how the vehicle is positioned. Say whether it is stuck in mud, sand, snow, or rocks; whether a wheel is damaged; and whether it is leaning, high-centered, or partly submerged. Tell the team if it can start, move, steer, or shift into neutral. Be clear about anything that could affect safe access, such as a leaking fluid or unstable load.
Pinpoint Your Location
Provide the closest trail name, road, park entrance, landmark, or intersection, along with your map coordinates if available. A dropped pin from your phone can be more useful than an approximate address in remote areas. Check that the pin marks the vehicle—not your last stop or the trailhead—and share the coordinates in a format the recovery team can use.
Describe how you reached the location and how far you are from a road or trail entrance. If your phone signal is weak, send a text with your location and a short written description when possible. Note any nearby signs or distinctive landmarks. Stay put in a safe spot unless the team advises otherwise, so you can direct them when they arrive.
Explain the Terrain
Describe the ground around the vehicle and the route leading to it. Mention steep slopes, loose rock, deep ruts, mud, sand, snow, water crossings, narrow switchbacks, or low branches. Include recent conditions you have observed, such as rain, flowing water, or a trail surface that is getting softer. Don’t guess about depth or stability; say what you can see from a safe position.
Tell the team whether there is room to turn around, set up a winch, or position another vehicle. Flag nearby hazards such as drop-offs, trees, fences, power lines, or other people on the trail. If you can safely take photos or a short video, capture the vehicle and approach route from a secure location. Never walk onto a slope or into water just to get a better view.
Clarify Access and Safety
Explain any gates, locked roads, private property, trail restrictions, or vehicle-width limits that may affect entry. Share gate codes or access instructions only with the appropriate recovery team, and confirm whether you have permission to bring a recovery vehicle onto the route. Mention low-clearance obstacles, tight turns, or sections where a large truck may not fit.
Tell the team how many people are with you and whether anyone is injured, cold, or otherwise in need of urgent help. Keep everyone away from tensioned straps, cables, and the path of moving vehicles. If there is an immediate medical emergency or another serious danger, contact emergency services first. When speaking with South Bay Recovery, give a callback number and keep your phone available for follow-up questions.
A useful recovery request gives the team a clear picture of the vehicle, its exact location, the ground around it, and any access limits. Take notes or share a safe photo rather than approaching hazards for extra details. When you’re ready to arrange help, contact a recovery provider and keep your phone nearby so the team can coordinate the next steps.