Off-Road Recovery Gear for RVers & How to Use It

Off-Road Recovery Gear for RVers & How to Use It
Tips to be prepared for the road less traveled.

By: Peter & Kathy Holcombe

There is nothing more satisfying than venturing deep into the backcountry and finding that perfect spot—smack in the middle of nowhere—with no one else in sight. But getting to those idyllic locations often involves navigating rough, remote roads where help can be scarce or non-existent. That’s why a complete recovery kit is essential before heading off the beaten path. With the right tools and some preparation, you can be fully self-sufficient in the event of a mishap.

Before You Leave: Plan Your Route Wisely

The most important preparation you can do before venturing off the pavement is to ensure that your vehicle is in good working order. Check the tires for signs of wear. Check your fluid levels and top off any low reserves. Make sure that you have a full-sized spare tire that is fully inflated and in good condition. Also, be sure that you know how to change a tire.

The next step is to ensure that your vehicle is suitable for the route that you are choosing. We like to use an app called OnX to check. It is a mapping app with a lot of helpful information for RVers. It delineates public and private land so that you can ensure that you are, in fact, camping on public land. (It is your responsibility to know and follow all regulations and best practices when camping on public land.) 

OnX also has an overview of the trail, a recommended vehicle type, and a rating system for dirt roads that indicates the difficulty level of the trail and has user reviews that provide current information about hazards and obstacles. It’s a great resource to get a feel for a particular dirt road before you set out. If we still have questions about the difficulty of a particular stretch of road, we search for YouTube videos that show the route, so that we can make a more informed decision about whether or not a particular trail is reasonable for our vehicle and skillset.

There are countless videos that showcase classic off-road routes where you can get a good feel for the road conditions. Here is one of our favorites through Idaho along the McGruder Corridor, one of the most remote wilderness areas in the lower 48 States: 

Recovery Scenarios & Gear Recommendations

Once you have a thorough understanding of your planned route, you should have a pretty good feel for the types of hazards that you will be facing and, in turn, what kind of situation you might find yourself in. Here are some things to consider …

Taking Your RV Off-Road in Sand

Ah, there is nothing sweeter than finding a gorgeous and desolate stretch of beach and parking your RV right on the sand with an oceanfront view … that is until you find yourself stuck in the sand with the incoming tide lapping your tires. But there are a couple of things that you can do to minimize the risk of getting stuck in the sand. 

The easiest prevention is to deflate your tires to a minimal pressure before driving onto the sand (in our Winnebago Revel, we typically air down to 20 psi for deep sand). This increases the surface area of the patch of tire that is in contact with the sand and gives you more traction. This is where an air compressor comes in extremely handy. Just deflate your tires when you leave the pavement and reinflate them when you are back on terra firma.

Remember, it is always a good idea to get out of your vehicle and walk through the sand to test how firm it is. If it is deep and soft, it is advisable to look for a better location to drive out onto the beach.

In this episode, you can see an example of how we help our friend Jorge escape deep sand on a remote beach in Baja, Mexico:

If you do find yourself driving through deep sand, it is important to keep your momentum until you reach a more solid surface. If you find yourself stuck in the sand, take your time and carefully weigh all of your options. Once you are stuck, there is no need to rush, so taking your time to come up with a well-thought-out plan will prevent you from making a mistake and compounding the problem. 

Remember, sometimes, the best way out is simply to reverse your course and back out of the situation exactly the same way that you came in. Often, all it takes is a shovel to clear any sand that has built up under your vehicle or around your tires. 

Recovery Gear for Sand & How to Use It

Our favorite shovel is the DMOS Delta Pro with the aluminum mount. If that doesn’t do the trick, then you might need to use some traction boards. Our go-to traction boards are MaxTrax Extremes, and we typically carry six boards so that we have some extras to leapfrog. 

To use a traction board, simply clear away the sand in front of or behind the tires so that there is not a steep step that your vehicle needs to climb up and over as you drive away. Then snug the traction boards in front of (or behind) all four tires. Once the wheels begin to spin, the motion of the tires will draw the traction boards underneath and use them as a solid platform to escape the sand.

Once you start moving, keep up your speed and don’t stop until you get to firmer ground. You may need to repeat this process several times before you completely escape a long stretch of deep sand. 

Tips for Sand Recovery in an Off-Road Van or RV

• Air Down: Drop tire pressure to 20 PSI (or lower if needed) to increase surface area and traction.
• Air Compressor: Must-have tool for airing back up before returning to pavement.
• Scout the Surface: Get out and walk the beach—test the firmness before driving in.
• Momentum Matters: Once committed, keep your speed up and don’t stop until you reach solid ground.

If stuck in sand:

• Use a shovel (we love the DMOS Delta Pro) to clear sand around tires and underbody.
• Deploy traction boards (we carry 6 MaxTrax Extremes) to create a solid path.
• Reverse out the way you came, if possible.

RV Driving in Snow and Ice

Retreating to your cozy home on wheels after a day on the ski slopes is a great experience. However, trying to pull out of the parking lot to hit the local restaurant, and realizing you’re stuck up to the axles in deep snow is not.

Before you head out into winter conditions, be sure to consider the following:

First, make sure your all-terrain tires are in good condition. If you find yourself frequently driving in the snow and ice, you might want to consider studded tires and/or chains. Thankfully, weight often equals traction, so the weight of your RV is often an advantage. 

If we know that we are going to be driving in winter conditions, we often bring kitty litter or sand. If you find yourself stuck on a slippery surface, sometimes throwing a little kitty litter in front of each tire will give you enough traction to move past the slippery patch and onto a better surface. 

You can also use a small hatchet or axe to cut small evergreen branches to lay in front of the tires and create more traction. Just like in deep sand, you can also use a shovel and traction boards to remove any built-up snow underneath the vehicle, or to make a smooth ramp to drive up out of a snowy ditch. It is also helpful to have a tow strap aboard in case you need a little extra help from another motorist to get you out of the ditch. 

Make sure that you have a winter survival kit in the event that you get stranded for longer than expected. Some items to include are: hats, gloves, warm coat and boots, sleeping bag, etc. 

Winter RVing Tips:

• Equip your RV with all-terrain tires in good condition.
• Consider studded tires or chains if you frequently drive in snow.
• Carry kitty litter or sand to add instant traction on ice.
• A hatchet, axe, or saw can help you gather evergreen branches for emergency traction.
• As with sand, shovels and traction boards can work wonders in snowy conditions.
• Pack a tow strap with shackles in case you need help from another vehicle.

Read more winter RVing tips here.

Driving Through Unexpectedly Rocky Terrain

Sometimes, in spite of thorough research, you find yourself on a rougher road than expected. There might be a rocky step that you need to drive up or a stretch with larger rocks that litter the roadway. This can be particularly difficult for RVs with low clearance, or with long and low departure angles. 

In some cases, you may simply need to turn around if the vehicle is not capable of the maneuver. But, often times, when we encounter deep ruts or steep ledges, we break out our shovel and use nearby rocks or logs to fill in difficult obstacles and smooth out the road. However, we do also have a Winnebago Revel with off-road features.

Tips for Rocky Terrain:

• Watch for low-clearance risks and long departure angles.
• Stop and assess if you hit a steep ledge or deep ruts.
• Use a shovel and nearby rocks or logs to build up the trail and level obstacles.

When we were driving through Costa Rica, we drove up a winding mountain road to get to a point where we could see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from one vantage point. Getting in was no problem, but coming out up a steep rocky slope proved to be problematic.

You can watch how we used our shovel and winch to help us up the steep, rocky slope:

Getting Your RV Out of Mud

Muddy terrain is the most difficult of all and is the hazard that left us scratching our heads and wondering if we would have to abandon our beloved Revel on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia last year when we became hopelessly stuck up to our axles. The locals came in and taught us that with a good sturdy jack and a lot of rocks and logs, it is possible to lift the vehicle up out of the mud and then shove whatever you can find underneath the tires … in our case it was about 50 small boulders. 

You can watch the whole episode of us extracting ourselves from a terrible quagmire in the video below:

Tips for Mud Recovery:

• A sturdy jack is essential—use it to lift the vehicle and create a path.
• Gather rocks, logs, or even boulders to stuff under your tires for traction.
• Go slow and methodical—rushing can worsen your situation.

Essential RV and Van Recovery Gear Checklist

Here’s what we never leave home without:
✅ Shovel (DMOS Delta Pro is our favorite, but any full-sized shovel will do the job)
✅ Traction Boards (6 MaxTrax Extremes is our preference)
✅ Air Compressor for tire deflation/inflation (we like the ARB Dual Compressor)
✅ Tow Strap with soft/hard shackles
✅ Kitty Litter or Sand (for ice)
✅ Hatchet or Axe
✅ Sturdy Jack

Final Thoughts on Preparing for Off-Road RV Adventures

A bit of research and the right gear can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major ordeal. With good tires, a reliable air compressor, and a full recovery kit, you’ll be prepared for most off-road surprises—whether it's beach sand, mountain snow, muddy riverbeds, or rocky trails.

The backcountry is waiting—go find that perfect spot and get there (and back) safely.

Want more tips? Read our guide to backcountry RVing.