Gravel Truck Stuck, Power Trac Pulls it out?

[BobRip]

I got 20 tons of gravel delivered today, and the truck front wheels went off of the driveway towards the swamp side after dumping the gravel. Just a couple of feet, but the wheels went down about 8 to 10 inches in the soil. Just to see what would happen, I got all of my "getting unstuck tools" (Good video by that name, by the way). I hooked up the come along and was actually able to move the truck a little, with the help of the truck engine. I did not even bother trying the Power Trac. I figured if one come along would move it, adding more might work. I connected the Hi-Lift jack up in pull mode and after an hour or so of putting gravel behind the truck wheels, gravel under the front wheels (where possible) and tightening and retightening the jack and come along, it was unstuck. The Power Trac, I used it to move gravel out from behind the truck so it could back further, bring gravel to the truck front wheels, and bring the equipment from my garage to the truck. I initially did not think that tools that would only pull about 15,000 lbs total could move a stuck truck weighing 40,000 lbs. The driver and his assistant were very pleased with the help. They said usually when they get stuck, most people just walk away. Sorry, we were so busy I did not take any pictures.

 

[SpringHollow]

Just think of the times cars get stuck and a couple of people pushing along with some appropriate shoveling gets them out. You are not trying to lift 40,000 lbs, just help the truck get over the resistance of what it has dug itself into. On level smooth concrete, a few people could probably pull the truck.

I would have tried my PT first or my truck. The pt's ground contact is not the best but may have been sufficient especially since I have not removed the chains. I think I posted here that I used it to pull a car out of a ditch - i was pulling uphill and the car's undercarriage and front wheels were buried in the mud. The car came out very easily.

Ken

 

[BobRip]

Just think of the times cars get stuck and a couple of people pushing along with some appropriate shoveling gets them out. You are not trying to lift 40,000 lbs, just help the truck get over the resistance of what it has dug itself into. On level smooth concrete, a few people could probably pull the truck.

I would have tried my PT first or my truck. The pt's ground contact is not the best but may have been sufficient especially since I have not removed the chains. I think I posted here that I used it to pull a car out of a ditch - i was pulling uphill and the car's undercarriage and front wheels were buried in the mud. The car came out very easily.

Ken

The PT can pull about 800 pounds, with the 8000 lb come along I could barely move the truck, and the truck was helping. I don't think 800 lbs would have done anything. Remember the front wheels were sunk in the dirt. There was also some uphill grade, not a lot though.

 

[SpringHollow]

With mine, i was pulling a car that had to weigh 3000 lbs, buried in a ditch and mud and pulling uphill. But mine is a pt1850 and i was using my welded hooks.

Just looked up what I had from PT:
Trailering capacity (which is a little different but gives you an idea):

Allowable Drawbar Pull:
425 900 lbs
1430 1,800 lbs
1445 3,000 lbs

Trailer weight on flat concrete:
425 9,000 lbs
1430 18,000 lbs
1445 30,000 lbs

Trailer weight, 20 degree slope, concrete surface:
425 2,000 lbs
1430 4,000 lbs
1445 6,700 lbs

Trailer weight, 20 degree slope, smooth dirt:
425 900 lbs
1430 1,800 lbs
1445 3,000 lbs

Ken

 

[ponytug]

Great numbers Ken!
Your numbers are certainly consistent with my 1445 experience. I've
a) towed a stuck 1 ton truck with a 12,000lb trailer (~20,000lb total) out of deep gravel on flat ground- no problem.
b) pulled a 2400lb chipper around on dry slopes
c) been pushed around by a 2400lb chipper on wet mud on a 10% slope.

The latter was a little scary, since the chipper was in control, until it stopped sliding, and I got either above it or below it to push it straight up the slope. Needless to say, it has been repeated.

All the best,

Peter

 

[BobRip]

With mine, i was pulling a car that had to weigh 3000 lbs, buried in a ditch and mud and pulling uphill. But mine is a pt1850 and i was using my welded hooks.

Just looked up what I had from PT:
Trailering capacity (which is a little different but gives you an idea):

Allowable Drawbar Pull:
425 900 lbs
1430 1,800 lbs
1445 3,000 lbs

Trailer weight on flat concrete:
425 9,000 lbs
1430 18,000 lbs
1445 30,000 lbs

Trailer weight, 20 degree slope, concrete surface:
425 2,000 lbs
1430 4,000 lbs
1445 6,700 lbs

Trailer weight, 20 degree slope, smooth dirt:
425 900 lbs
1430 1,800 lbs
1445 3,000 lbs

Ken

Good data Ken. Which PT do I get to pull 40,000 pounds up a 3 degree slope, with half in mud? Next time I get gravel, the truck is staying on the driveway.

 

[MossRoad]

I think it all depends on rolling resistance. I had my daughter tow my van home about two blocks with her driving the PT425 and me operating the van. The van weighed over 5K. No problems at all on dry pavement. Then one winter, the van got stuck in the driveway on about an inch of ice. The PT425 had a heck of a time pulling it over that one inch bump. Just couldn't get it over on a straight pull. We had snatch strap, so I had her get a running start and we were able to jerk it over the bump.

 

[SpringHollow]

Good data Ken. Which PT do I get to pull 40,000 pounds up a 3 degree slope, with half in mud? Next time I get gravel, the truck is staying on the driveway.

Good idea lol. Remember the truck is helping. If the truck were dead, it would be all over.

Ken