Winch Out & Off-Road Recovery in Gilbert, AZ

You tried to pull a U-turn and your front wheels slid into the drainage ditch along Higley Road. Or you were off-roading near San Tan Regional Park and your truck is now axle-deep in soft sand. Maybe you slid off a wet road during monsoon season and your car is sitting at an angle in a wash. Whatever happened, your vehicle is stuck somewhere it shouldn’t be, regular towing won’t work, and you need someone with a winch and the experience to use it without making things worse.

Thompson’s Auto Repair & Towing provides winch-out and off-road recovery services across Gilbert and the East Valley. When your vehicle is stuck in a ditch, mud, sand, or an embankment, we use heavy-duty winch equipment and proper rigging techniques to pull it back onto solid ground safely. No additional damage, no panic, no guesswork. We’ve been handling recoveries like this for over 30 years, and there’s very little we haven’t seen. And if the recovery reveals damage to your vehicle — bent axle, broken tie rod, damaged undercarriage — our full-service repair shop is ready to fix it.

Why Choose Thompson’s for Winch Out & Recovery

Winch-out recovery is where skill matters more than equipment. Any tow truck has a winch on it. But knowing where to attach the cable, what angle to pull from, how much tension to apply, and when to stop and reassess — that’s the difference between a clean recovery and a vehicle with a ripped-off bumper or a bent frame rail.

Bryan Vivian’s team at Thompson’s has performed hundreds of recoveries across Gilbert and the East Valley. Desert terrain, monsoon flooding, construction site mud, residential drainage ditches — we’ve pulled vehicles out of all of it. Our operators take their time to assess the situation before they start pulling. They identify the proper recovery points on your vehicle (tow hooks, frame rails — never the bumper or suspension components). They consider the ground conditions and the angle of the pull. Then they execute a controlled, steady extraction that gets your vehicle free without turning a stuck situation into a damaged one.

Once your vehicle is back on solid ground, Thompson’s doesn’t just wave goodbye. We check for obvious damage — fluid leaks, misalignment, bent components, undercarriage scrapes. If something needs repair, we can tow it to our shop and fix it. That complete service, from stuck to repaired, is what sets Thompson’s apart from companies that only know how to pull a cable.

How Winch Out & Recovery Works

Call Thompson’s at 480-418-9206. Give us as much detail as you can: What kind of vehicle? Where exactly is it stuck? How deep? Is it on an angle? Can you see the wheels? Is anyone still inside? The more we know, the better we can prepare.

We dispatch the right equipment. Standard winch-outs use our tow trucks with built-in winch systems. More complex recoveries might require additional rigging, snatch blocks (to change the pull direction), or even a second truck as an anchor point. We come prepared.

Our operator assesses the scene. Before anything gets hooked up, our team walks the site. They check the ground conditions, the vehicle’s position, and identify the safest recovery plan. Sometimes the obvious pull direction isn’t the best one — an experienced operator knows the difference.

We attach the winch cable to proper recovery points. This is critical. We connect to manufacturer-designated tow hooks or structural frame points. We never attach to bumpers, axles, or suspension components that could break under load. We use protective sleeves on the cable to prevent damage to body panels.

Controlled extraction. Slow, steady tension. The operator monitors the cable angle, the vehicle’s movement, and listens for any sounds that indicate a problem. If something isn’t right, we stop, reassess, and adjust. Rushing a winch-out is how vehicles get damaged.

Post-recovery inspection. Once the vehicle is on solid ground, we do a quick walkaround. If it’s driveable and undamaged, you’re good to go. If there’s damage, we can tow it to our shop for repair.

When You Need Winch Out Service

• Ditch or drainage channel — Slid off the road into a roadside ditch, a common issue during monsoon season and on Gilbert’s rural roads
• Mud or soft ground — Construction sites, unpaved roads, and areas near washes where the ground gets saturated during heavy rain
• Sand — Desert terrain near San Tan Regional Park, Queen Creek, and the undeveloped areas south of Gilbert
• Embankment or slope — Vehicle went over the edge of a raised road or parking lot and is sitting on a slope
• Flooded wash crossing — You tried to cross a wash during monsoon season (please don’t do this — but if you did, we’ll get you out)
• Off-road stuck — Went wheeling and exceeded your vehicle’s capability. Four-wheelers, trucks, Jeeps — we recover them all.
• Parking lot mishap — Drove over a curb, high-centered on a median, or got wedged against a bollard

Monsoon Season Recovery

Arizona’s monsoon season (June through September) creates some of the most dangerous driving conditions Gilbert sees all year. Flash floods fill washes and low-water crossings within minutes. Roads that were dry five minutes ago are suddenly covered in water and mud. Vehicles get stuck, swept off the road, or mired in saturated soil that looks solid until you drive onto it.

Thompson’s handles a surge of recovery calls every monsoon season. If you’re stuck in flood-related conditions, stay in your vehicle if the water is rising and call 911 first, then call us. If the water is stable or receding and you’re just stuck in mud, call us directly. We’ll get to you as quickly as conditions allow.

Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Every year we recover vehicles from washes and low-water crossings that drivers tried to power through. It’s never worth the risk. But if it’s already happened, we’re here to help.

Service Areas

Thompson’s winch-out and recovery service covers:

• Gilbert: Power Ranch, Agritopia, Val Vista Lakes, Morrison Ranch, Seville, San Tan Village area, Heritage District, and all neighborhoods — including rural roads south of Gilbert
• Common recovery areas: San Tan Regional Park surroundings, Queen Creek Wash, construction zones along the 202 Santan corridor, undeveloped desert east of Power Road
• Nearby cities: Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Tempe, Scottsdale, east Phoenix

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the winch damage my vehicle?

Not if it’s done properly, and we do it properly. We attach only to designated recovery points, use protective cable sleeves, and apply tension gradually. The goal is to extract your vehicle in the same condition it was in when it got stuck — we don’t add damage.

How much does a winch-out cost?

It depends on the complexity. A simple ditch extraction is less than a multi-hour off-road recovery in difficult terrain. We’ll assess the situation and give you a quote before we start pulling. No hidden fees.

Can you recover a vehicle that’s underwater?

We can recover vehicles from shallow water and flooded washes once conditions are safe. If the vehicle is in deep or flowing water, we coordinate with emergency services first. Safety comes before recovery — for our team and for you.

My vehicle was stuck and now it’s making strange noises. Can you fix it?

Yes. Getting stuck can damage suspension, drivetrain components, exhaust systems, and undercarriage parts. If something doesn’t seem right after the recovery, we can tow your vehicle to our repair shop and address whatever was damaged.

Do you recover vehicles from desert trails and off-road areas?

Yes, within accessible limits. If our tow truck can reach your location, we can perform the recovery. For extremely remote locations, we may need to coordinate with other equipment. Call us with details and we’ll figure out a plan.

Stuck? Thompson’s Will Get You Out.

Don’t make it worse by spinning your wheels or having a buddy try to yank you out with a chain. Thompson’s Auto Repair & Towing has the right equipment, the right training, and 30+ years of recovery experience. We’ll extract your vehicle safely, check it for damage, and fix whatever needs fixing.

Call 480-418-9206 for winch-out and off-road recovery. Available 24/7 across Gilbert and the East Valley.