Winch-Out Service in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado
Sliding off of the road is frightening and frustrating experience. One wheel is spinning in a snowbank, the front end is down in a ditch, or the tires have sunk into soft mud at the edge of a field road. You do not need a tow so much as a strong, controlled pull back onto solid ground. Choice Towing & Recovery provides experienced, 24-hour winch-out service across Larimer and Weld counties. Call 970-482-0159 and we will get you unstuck.
Winch-Out vs. Tow
A winch-out is for vehicles that are drivable but stuck. The operator sets up the tow truck on solid ground, runs a cable to your vehicle, and pulls it back onto the road or a firm surface. If the vehicle is undamaged, you drive away. If the slide into the ditch damaged the vehicle, such as a bent wheel or broken suspension, we can winch it out and then tow it to your shop. Dispatch will ask about the vehicle’s condition so the right truck shows up.
Why Spinning Your Tires Makes It Worse
The natural instinct is to rock the vehicle and hit the gas. In snow, that polishes the snow under the tires into ice. In mud, it digs the tires deeper. On a ditch slope, it can slide the vehicle further down or tip it. If a few gentle tries do not work, stop. Turn on your hazards, stay safe and call us. It is easier and cheaper to winch out a vehicle sitting on top of the snow than one buried to the axles.
How We Winch Vehicles Out Without Extra Damage
A sloppy pull can tear off bumper covers, bend tie rods or crack plastic underbody panels. Our operators use the latest winching and extraction techniques to minimize further damage:
- Rigging to the right points. Chains and straps go on solid recovery points or frame members, not bumpers or suspension parts.
- Angle and direction. The pull is lined up so the vehicle comes out the way it went in, with steering pointed correctly.
- Snatch blocks and redirects when the truck cannot line up straight with the stuck vehicle.
- A slow, steady pull rather than a yank.
- Checking before and after for anything hanging, leaking or rubbing.
Common Winch-Out Situations Around Here
Snow and ice slide-offs. The first heavy snow of the year sends cars into the ditches along I-25, Harmony Road, US-287 and the county roads east of Fort Collins. Highway medians fill up fast during a storm.
Black ice on bridges and curves. Overpasses and canyon curves freeze first. Vehicles slide off at the same spots every winter.
Muddy farm and county roads. Spring snowmelt and summer storms turn unpaved roads in Weld County and around Wellington and Nunn into mud traps.
Driveways and parking lots. A pickup that slid off a steep driveway in the foothills west of Fort Collins, or a car buried by a plow berm.
Trailheads and off-road spots. Vehicles stuck on trails and two-track roads in the foothills. For off-pavement or 4x4 recoveries, see our off-road recovery page.
Winch-Outs After Winter Storms
Big storms bring a flood of stuck-vehicle calls all at once. We run 24/7 through storms, but road conditions can slow every response. If you are safe and warm, let dispatch know. If you are stuck in a dangerous spot, like a live lane or a blind curve, or anyone is hurt or in danger from the cold, call 911 too. While you wait:
- Keep your exhaust pipe clear of snow if you are running the engine for heat.
- Run the engine in short intervals and crack a window.
- Put on your hazards and, if you have them, set out reflectors or flares.
- Use our Send Location page so we can find you in whiteout conditions.
Vehicles in Water or Through the Ice
Some stuck vehicles are not on land at all. A truck backed too far down a boat ramp at Boyd Lake, a car that slid into an irrigation ditch, or an ATV that went through thin ice on a reservoir all need more than a basic pull. Choice has a team experienced in water and ice recovery and can recover submerged vehicles and trailers. Do not wade or walk onto ice to hook anything up yourself. Call 970-482-0159 and tell dispatch exactly what you are dealing with.
Winch-Outs for Trucks, Trailers and RVs
Larger vehicles get stuck too: a work truck sunk at a job site in Timnath, a horse trailer in a muddy fairground lot, a motor home that slid off a campground road. Our heavy duty wreckers can winch out medium and heavy vehicles, and our WreckMaster Certified heavy towing operators handle the bigger rigs. See medium-duty towing and heavy duty towing.
Service Area
Stuck vehicles show up in different places depending on the season. In winter, it is the medians of I-25, the hills west of Fort Collins and the open county roads around Wellington, Nunn and Pierce where snow drifts across the pavement. In spring, it is the muddy farm roads around Severance, Milliken and Lucerne. In summer, it is trailheads, campgrounds and lake access roads near Bellvue, Masonville and Drake. We cover all of it from our Fort Collins and Greeley locations. Choice Towing & Recovery can typically arrive within 20 to 30 minutes of your call in normal conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a winch-out damage my vehicle?
Our operators use controlled winching techniques and proper rigging points to minimize further damage. Damage that happened in the slide itself, such as a bent wheel, is a separate issue.
My car is in a ditch but runs fine. Do I need a tow?
Probably not. A winch-out pulls the vehicle back onto the road, and if it is not damaged, you can drive away.
Can you winch out a vehicle in deep snow at night?
Yes. We work 24/7, including during storms. Response times may be longer when roads are bad.
Can you pull out a truck and trailer?
Yes. Our heavy duty wreckers handle work trucks, trailers, RVs and semis.
How is a winch-out priced?
It depends on how stuck the vehicle is, how far from solid ground, the vehicle size and the setup needed. See towing rates or call dispatch.
Stuck? Call Now
Call Choice Towing & Recovery at 970-482-0159 for a 24/7 winch-out anywhere in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.
