If your truck is stuck in snow, what to do first is stop spinning the tires and check that the tailpipe is clear of snow before you sit there with the engine running. Then dig, rock gently, and use four wheel drive low where your truck has it. Whether you drive a new Ram 1500 or a Jeep, the order below works in a farm yard, on a grid road or in a rink parking lot after a storm.

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Most of the time a stuck truck comes out with ten minutes of patience. The trouble starts when a driver spins the tires deeper, or sits in a running truck with snow packed around the exhaust. Our Manitoba winter driving guide covers the season; this page is the few minutes after you stop moving.

Key Takeaways

• Stop spinning. Spinning the tires polishes the snow under them into ice and digs the truck deeper.
• Clear the tailpipe first. Winnipeg Police Service tied a 2025 death to carbon monoxide after snow blocked a vehicle's exhaust. Clear the exhaust before you run the engine, and crack a window.
• Dig, then rock gently. Clear snow from in front of all four tires and from under the truck, then ease between drive and reverse the way your owner's manual describes.
• Use 4 Low for the pull out. Four wheel drive low gives slow, controlled torque. Our 4 High vs 4 Low guide explains when each one fits.
• Know when to stop. If the truck is high centred on packed snow or sliding toward a ditch, stop and call for help.

Step 1: Stop Spinning and Look

The moment the tires spin without moving the truck, take your foot off the accelerator. Every extra second of spin melts and polishes the snow under the tire into ice, and the truck settles lower.

Put the truck in park, set the parking brake and get out to look, if it is safe to step out. You are looking for three things: how deep the snow is in front of each tire, whether the frame or axles are sitting on packed snow, and which way the ground slopes. A truck that is resting on its frame needs digging before anything else will work.

Step 2: Clear the Tailpipe Before You Wait in a Running Truck

This is the step that matters most. In January 2025, Winnipeg Police Service said it believed a man died of carbon monoxide poisoning after snow blocked the exhaust pipe of a vehicle stuck in a snowbank, and it urged anyone running the engine of a stuck vehicle to make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow.

So before you sit in the cab with the heater on:

• Clear the snow from around the tailpipe and from under the back of the truck, wherever the exhaust exits.
• Crack a window on the side away from the wind for fresh air.
• Run the engine in short stretches to stay warm rather than idling for a long time, and check the tailpipe again if snow keeps falling or drifting.

Carbon monoxide has no smell. A headache, dizziness or drowsiness in a running vehicle is a reason to shut it off and get fresh air at once.

Step 3: Dig Out and Add Traction

Clear snow from in front of all four tires, in the direction you want to go, and from under the truck if the frame is touching. A short path of a metre or two in front of each tire is usually enough to get rolling.

Then give the tires something to bite. Traction mats, sand, kitty litter or the floor mats from the cab can all go under the drive tires. That is why a small shovel and something gritty belong in every winter kit; our winter emergency kit for a truck in Manitoba lists what to carry.

Step 4: Rock It Gently

Rocking means easing the truck back and forth between drive and reverse so it builds a short track and climbs out. Ram's owner's manuals describe this as "Freeing A Stuck Vehicle" and set limits on how fast the wheels may spin and for how long, with a pause between rounds so the transmission does not overheat. The figures differ by model and year, so read that section in your own truck's manual before you try it.

The manuals also describe setting the electronic stability control to its partial off mode before rocking, because the system's wheel spin control can fight the rocking motion. Turn it back on once you are moving.

Keep it gentle: light pressure on the accelerator, let the truck roll as far as it will, shift, and roll the other way. Keep everyone well clear of the tires while you try. Ram's manuals warn that a fast spinning tire can fail and injure someone nearby, so nobody stands beside or behind a turning wheel. If each rock goes a little further, keep going. If it is digging in deeper, stop and dig again.

Step 5: Use 4 Low for the Pull Out

If your Ram or Jeep has a two speed transfer case, four wheel drive low gives the tires slow, steady torque, which is what you want to crawl out of a rut without spinning. Shift into it the way your owner's manual describes for your truck, then ease out at walking pace. Our guide to when to use 4 High vs 4 Low explains the difference and when to shift back.

Once you are on firm ground, shift back to two wheel drive or 4 High for the road, as your manual says.

When to Stop and Call for Help

Stop trying and call for help when:

• The truck is high centred, sitting on its frame on packed snow, and digging does not free it.
• The truck slides sideways toward a ditch or another vehicle each time you try.
• You are on a highway shoulder with traffic going by.
• Anyone in the vehicle feels unwell, or you cannot keep the tailpipe clear.

If anyone is hurt, feels unwell or is in danger, call 911. Otherwise call your roadside assistance provider or a tow truck, and tell them where you are and how the truck is sitting. Stay with the vehicle in a storm. A truck is easier for rescuers to find than a person walking across an open field in blowing snow.

After You Get Out

Snow and ice packed inside the wheels can throw them out of balance and make the steering shake at highway speed. Knock it out of the wheels and the wheel wells before you drive far. If something feels different afterward, such as a new vibration, a pull to one side or a warning light, book with our service team and ask them to take a look.

FAQs

What should I do first if my truck is stuck in snow?

Stop spinning the tires, then check that the tailpipe is clear of snow before you sit in the running truck. After that, dig out in front of the tires, add traction and rock gently.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning if your vehicle is stuck in snow?

Yes. Winnipeg Police Service tied a January 2025 death to carbon monoxide after snow blocked a vehicle's exhaust pipe, and it urged drivers to clear exhaust pipes of snow before starting or idling a vehicle.

Should I use 4 Low when stuck in snow?

If your truck has a two speed transfer case, 4 Low gives slow, steady torque that helps you crawl out without spinning. Shift into it the way your owner's manual describes, and back out of it once you reach firm ground.

How do you rock a truck out of snow?

Ease between drive and reverse with light accelerator pressure so the truck builds a short track. Ram's owner's manuals set limits on wheel speed and time and call for pauses between rounds, so read that section in your truck's manual first.

When should I stop trying and call for a tow?

Stop when the truck is high centred on packed snow, slides toward a ditch, sits on a busy highway shoulder, or anyone feels unwell. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or in danger; otherwise call roadside assistance or a tow truck. Stay with the vehicle in a storm.

The Bottom Line

A truck stuck in snow usually comes out with patience: stop spinning, clear the tailpipe, dig, rock gently and use 4 Low. The carbon monoxide step is the one never to skip. If you are shopping for a truck built for Manitoba winters, browse new Ram 1500 inventory and see the four wheel drive systems listed on each window sticker.

Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie