A square ended shovel, bucket and gravel and you will also comply with "Colorado's Chain Law" when it is effect.

Ask someone who feeds stock to save you the synthetic 50# feed bags. Place what ever you need as far back in the vehicle as possible.

Roofing shingles have worked for me as emergency "traction mats" when stuck. Drove right out over them.

I'm a fan of multi-tasker items, so I use my car mats. They don't take up any extra space nor are they an additional cost.

Has anyone actually USED their car mats to get out of snow? My sister tried it, and she said the mats were just zinged out from under the wheels.

If you've done it, what's the trick?

Sue

I would imagine that the effectiveness of the car mat depends greatly on the condition of the snow and the type of car mat. For example if the snow were packed, but not completely solid, the rubber traction tips / points / pokey things on the bottom side of many car mats should dig in and provide some traction. I have not tested floor mats in snow myself, but I have used regular house carpet while stuck in mud and it helped a little.

On one of Ray Mear's shows in the desert, he tied the "sand ladders" (or whatever they were called) to the vehical when getting out of soft sand, so they would be dragged behind and he could wait for a convenient spot to stop and pick them up.

No idea if this approach would be useful on snow.

eeph

http://www.portabletowtruck.com/

I have a set of these and tend to work on icy roads, which is the only situation i have used them in.

Usally, i just dig out the tires and wedge the shovel under the back tires to use as traction.

It does vary on the type of snow/ice.

During the winter, I put WeatherTech rubber mats on top of the carpeted factory mats. Usually I just use the rubber mats, but once I used the carpeted one with the carpet side on the snow. The carpet side helped grip the snow.

I don't think the really thin aftermarket vinyl mats would work, not enough "weight" and lack of nubs/spikes for traction.

I'm not a snow person, I try to avoid the dreaded white stuff if at all possible (but I do carry chains year around, just in case). But, I have been stuck in sand and mud, and have used cool cushions (anyone remember them, they seem to be gone from most stores) for traction. In my experience, if what you put under the wheels for traction zings out, you have given the engine too much gas. Most people tend to do that, floorboard the throttle, thereby digging themselves in deeper. A light touch on the throttle is the way to go.

The heartache I have with traction mats is that, assuming that you want to keep them, you have to stop and go back for them, often getting stuck again in the process. Once I get going I like to keep going...

"...On one of Ray Mear's shows in the desert, he tied the "sand ladders" (or whatever they were called) to the vehical when getting out of soft sand, so they would be dragged behind and he could wait for a convenient spot to stop and pick them up.

No idea if this approach would be useful on snow..."

I have thought of that myself, and the only problem I see with it is front wheel drive, which many of todays vehicles have. That could require some perfectly placed ropes or whatever, to allow the "mat" to free the front wheels, but not go far enough back to tangle with the rear wheels...