Stuck in sand near El Paso: what to do
If your car is stuck in sand or mud around El Paso, stop spinning the wheels right away. Spinning digs you deeper. Dig out around each drive wheel, add traction mats or floor mats, and try rocking gently. If it doesn't move after two tries, call (915) 320-5573. Quick Tow EP connects you with an independent, separately licensed local tow operator who quotes the winch-out and is paid directly.
- The first three things to do before you call anyone
- How to tell an operator exactly where you are stuck
- Which local roads and areas see stuck vehicles
- What a winch-out costs and who sets the price
Step by step
- Stop spinning the wheels. Spinning digs the vehicle deeper into sand or mud and makes a winch-out harder.
- Check whether anyone is hurt or the vehicle is leaning or sinking. If it is unstable, get everyone out and step away.
- Dig sand or mud away from the front and back of each drive wheel with a shovel or your hands.
- Put traction mats, cardboard or floor mats under the drive wheels to give the tires something to grip.
- Try rocking gently: reverse about 6 inches, then forward about 6 inches. Keep your foot light on the gas.
- If it does not move after two tries, stop. More spinning just digs deeper, and heat builds under the hood.
- Call (915) 320-5573 and tell the operator your location, whether you are in sand or mud, and if the vehicle is leaning.
Where do drivers get stuck around El Paso?
Red Sands, east of El Paso, is an off-road riding area where vehicles get stuck in loose sand. The back roads near Hueco Tanks and the Rio Grande arroyos also see stuck vehicles regularly. On the paved side, monsoon season from July to September brings short, intense storms and flash flooding. About 12 inches of moving water can carry a small car, so do not drive into a flooded arroyo or low crossing. Spring, March to April, is dust and wind season with low visibility on I-10. If you pull off the shoulder on I-10, Loop 375, US-54 or Spur 601 to check a map or a tire, watch for soft dirt and sand near the edge. El Paso's average July high is 96.1 F, so heat builds fast in a stuck car.
Who do you call for a winch-out, and what does it cost?
A winch-out is a tow you request yourself, so it is a consent tow. That means the operator you hire sets the price, not the city or the state. Inside El Paso city limits, City Code Chapter 12.54 caps nonconsent tows like police-ordered or private-property tows at $100 light duty, $350 medium duty and $450 heavy duty, plus $25 for dollies. Those caps do not apply to a winch-out you call for. Outside city limits in Texas, TDLR statewide maximums apply to nonconsent tows only. In New Mexico, Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Chaparral and Anthony NM follow New Mexico rules, and no dollar figure is published. Ask the operator for the winch-out price before you agree.
What should you bring and check before the operator arrives?
Stay with your vehicle if it is safe and you have water. El Paso heat is serious, and the average July high is 96.1 F. Tell the operator the nearest cross street, the exit number if you are on I-10 or Loop 375, and any landmark. Mention whether the vehicle is in sand, mud or a flooded arroyo, and whether it is leaning or sinking. If you are on I-10, Loop 375, US-54 or Spur 601, turn on your hazard lights and stay clear of travel lanes. Texas Move Over law requires drivers to vacate the lane nearest a stopped tow truck with lights on or slow to 20 mph under the limit. Check the operator's TDLR license at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch before work starts.
Common questions
Can I get my car out of sand without a tow?
Sometimes. Dig out around each drive wheel, put floor mats or cardboard under the tires, and rock gently. If it does not move after two tries, stop. Spinning digs deeper and can overheat the transmission. A winch-out from a local operator is the safer call when the vehicle is leaning or sitting in water.
How much does a winch-out cost in El Paso?
A winch-out you request is a consent tow, so the operator you hire sets the price. City Code 12.54 caps nonconsent tows inside El Paso at $100 light, $350 medium and $450 heavy, but those caps do not apply to a winch-out you call for. Ask the operator for the price before you agree.
What if I get stuck in Sunland Park or Chaparral NM?
Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Chaparral and Anthony NM follow New Mexico rules under the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code and 18.3.12 NMAC. Texas TDLR caps and El Paso city caps do not apply there. No New Mexico dollar figure is published, so ask the operator or the agency that handled the tow for the price.
Is Quick Tow EP a tow company?
No. Quick Tow EP is a referral line. When you call (915) 320-5573, you are connected with an independent, separately licensed local tow operator. That operator quotes the work, does the work and is paid directly. Quick Tow EP owns no trucks, holds no towing license and sets no prices.
Need a tow in El Paso?
Call (915) 320-5573 to reach an independent, licensed local tow operator who quotes the job and does the work.