Before winter settles in around Kamloops, do three things: put a basic emergency kit in your vehicle, get your winter tires on, and save a local tow truck number in your phone. If you do slide off or break down, make yourself visible, stay warm, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and call for help. I've been towing out of Kamloops since 2010, and this is what I'd tell anyone heading into a winter on these roads.
Winter in the Interior doesn't give much warning. One cold snap and a battery that was fine yesterday won't turn over. One icy on-ramp and a careful driver ends up in the ditch. A little preparation now makes those moments a lot less stressful.
What should I keep in my vehicle for a Kamloops winter?
Put a small kit together now and leave it in the vehicle until spring:
- Warmth. A blanket (a heat-reflective one packs small), a spare toque and gloves, and boots you can actually walk in.
- Light and power. A flashlight, and a charging cable or power bank so your phone still works when you need it.
- Traction and digging. A small shovel, an ice scraper and brush, and sand, kitty litter, or traction mats to put under the tires.
- Visibility. Road flares or a reflective triangle, and a reflective vest in case you have to stand beside traffic.
- The basics. Booster cables, a first aid kit, a jug of washer fluid, water, and some food that keeps.
Two habits are worth as much as the kit: keep your tank at least half full when it's cold, and charge your phone before any highway drive.
Do I need winter tires around Kamloops?
If you drive the highways, yes. From October 1 to April 30, winter tires are required on most BC highways outside the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island, and that includes mountain passes like the Coquihalla. A few lower routes end the requirement on March 31. Signs mark the designated stretches, and the province keeps the full rules and route maps online.
To count as a winter tire, a tire needs the M+S marking or the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol, and at least 3.5 mm of tread. The province recommends the mountain and snowflake tire for cold weather, so if you're buying new, that's the one to get. Chains on summer tires don't count, but a set of chains is still worth carrying for the worst days on a pass.
Before you head over the Coquihalla or out the Trans-Canada, check DriveBC for closures and conditions. The summit can be a different season from Kamloops.
What should I do if I slide off the road or get stuck?
Stay calm and work through it in this order:
- If anyone is hurt, or your vehicle is blocking a lane, call 911 first. Then call for a tow.
- Make yourself visible. Turn on your hazard lights. If you can safely step out, put a flare or reflective triangle well behind the vehicle so other drivers get some warning.
- In a storm or bitter cold, stay with your vehicle. It's your shelter, and it's far easier to spot than a person walking a dark highway.
- If you run the engine for heat, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and crack a window. A buried tailpipe can push carbon monoxide into the cab. Run it in short spells to save fuel.
- Don't keep spinning the tires. If a couple of gentle tries don't get you moving, you'll only dig in deeper. Make the call instead.
- Send a GPS pin. Drop a pin in your phone's map and send it with your call. On a dark stretch of highway where every pullout looks the same, a pin gets help to the right spot.
There's a longer version in our post on staying safe while you wait for a tow truck.
Which winter problems can be fixed on the spot, and which need a tow truck?
Plenty of winter calls don't end in a tow. Around Kamloops and the surrounding area, these are the ones we can usually sort out where you are:
- Dead battery. Cold is hard on batteries, and a boost gets most vehicles going again. I carry a portable booster that reaches into parkades and tight spots a truck can't. Battery boosts →
- Locked out. Warming the car up with the keys inside is a classic winter lockout. Vehicle unlocks →
- Flat tire. Cold drops tire pressure, so check yours when the temperature falls. If you do get a flat and have a good spare, I can put it on. Tire changes →
- Out of fuel. If the half-tank habit slipped, we'll bring enough gas or diesel to get you to a station. Fuel delivery →
If it won't start after a boost, or it won't move at all, that's a tow. I run a flat deck, so your vehicle rides on the deck instead of being dragged, which matters for AWD and 4x4 vehicles in particular. Towing services →
One more seasonal one: if your RV trailer still needs moving for the winter, call me now, before the roads turn. I hold a transport plate, so a trailer without its own plates can still move. RV and trailer hauling →
Why save a local tow truck number before winter?
Because the worst time to start searching for a tow company is while you're standing on a cold shoulder with a dying phone. When you call a national roadside line, you get a dispatcher who has never seen the road you're on, and the job goes to whoever is nearest. When you call us, you get the person who's coming to get you.
Sixteen years of towing in Kamloops means I know these roads, and which hills catch people out when they ice up. In winter I stay close to town, so when you call from around Kamloops you're calling someone who's nearby. Phil's Towing is family-owned and fully insured, and I answer my own phone 7 days a week, 6 AM to 7 PM. Here's more on towing in Kamloops.
Frequently asked questions
What hours can I call?
I answer my own phone 7 days a week, 6 AM to 7 PM.
Can you tow an AWD or 4x4 vehicle?
Yes. Dragging an AWD or 4x4 with its wheels on the road can damage the drivetrain, which is one reason I run a flat deck. The whole vehicle rides on the deck.
What's the best way to tell you where I am?
Send a GPS pin from your phone's map app. In the dark or in falling snow, a pin is far more reliable than a description of the nearest landmark.
Will ICBC or BCAA cover a winter tow?
If you have ICBC Road Star coverage, or you're a BCAA member and don't want to wait, you can call us and submit our invoice for possible reimbursement, so keep your receipt. Check the details with your own coverage.
Do you go out of town in the winter?
In winter I mostly stay in and around Kamloops. If you're further out, call and I'll tell you straight whether it's a trip I can make.
Need a tow this winter? Give us a call.
Get the kit in the vehicle, get the tires on, and save the number now. If winter catches you anyway, get safe first, then call. Tell me where you are and what happened, and we'll take it from there.
📞 250-319-8004, 7 days a week, 6 AM to 7 PM
