Growing up, and getting the truck stuck was always a possibility with our family. This was before recovery straps, CB radio(Limited to OTR truckers/licenses), or other now common recovery methods. If you were high tech, you had a winch, for the rest of us.....A logging chain, and a shovel and a 'come-along'. Also any and all available rocks, and wood branches you gathered. 2 wheel drive trucks were easy to find your limits. I had many adventures helping my dad get unstuck from situations which required the above. The secret to getting unstuck was to never bury the truck to the frame rails. Aka...know when to stop and start shoveling
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We always were able to get ourselves out, but it also took time, and a lot of effort. Dad always regretted not getting that 4x4 option, when he got his first truck.
P.S. This was also way way before on-demand air was available, and the service station air hose was just not quite long enough to reach. There-fore any airing down had to be carefully weighed so that tire damage did not happen once you freed yourself. A different era, where the options we now have are much simpler to contemplate.