Pulled out a guy yesturday, 3/4 Chevy 2wd, dump trailer, AND a NH loader tractor

[diesel lover]

Well, Yesterday I was driving through my area and spotted a guy with a truck stuck in his own driveway. It was a newer Chevy 2500 Duramax diesel 2wd, with a gooseneck Dump Bed AND a New Holland Loader tractor inside the dump bed trailer. He had been trying to drive through his driveway and onto the road when he lost traction and slid sideways due to his rear wheels pulling him to the right of his driveway. We had been passing by when I noticed. His driveway was in the shade and had thick ice that froze, melted and refroze. I backed into his driveway and asked if he needed help. He replied with "was it that obvious?" I had grabbed my hitch and shackle and threw him my 20 foot 2 inch recovery strap.

My truck is a 2000 Gmc 1500 4wd with a 4.8 liter v8. Last winter I got stranded twice and needed assistance to get home. I had a 1997 Ford F150 with a 4.2 V6 and 2wd. Growing up in michigan I know everything about bad weather, but other drivers driving slow in front of me/ stopping randomly and causing me to loose all momentum had cause me to loose all traction last winter even with weight in my bed.

I had offered to help this guy because his trailer was so close to sliding into the trees on his driveway. When possible I help people in need because they have helped me when I needed help sort of a karma kind of deal.

If the option was available I would have hooked up two straps in the length of 30 to 35 feet +/- so I could have been on pavement and pulled him 10 times easier but with traffic coming quickly from the left side of the road it was far too dangerous. I tried to pull him with out a tug but it was not moveable at all. I backed up a small distance and gave it one planned tug and let the strap stretch, I applied the throttle and pulled it out of his spot. There was a car coming from the left so I had to back up off the road. When I did my strap came off the front hook of his truck. Had to rehook the strap and now had my front tires on the road, at this point I got a full pull out of it and pulled the truck, trailer and tractor onto the road! It was very stuck. He gave me a firm handshake and said he sure appreciated my help and Him and his wife had been talking about getting a 4wd truck to pull his tractor but hadn't yet.

A few things here, I don't push my vehicles more than they need to be. When using a stretching rope, or strap Its ALL about technique and not how much you can tear up your vehicle. I made sure to secure my end to a closed shackle and his was on the factory hook on the front of his truck. I gave one firm tug on his truck and did not give more throttle than needed. No need to damage anything of mine in the process. I am normally tugging on a more moveable object. Something that is either lighter or moves a small amount. When I gave the tug on his truck/ trailer combo It felt like the other end of my strap was hooked around a telephone pole! It had much less movement on it.
Surprisingly my half ton with a small V8 pulled out his heavy combination. Heres my estimates on the weight, 7/8000 pound chevy duramax, 3/4000 pound dump trailer and a 4/5000 pound trailer. My truck is a short bed single cab around 5000 pounds.

Last winter I worked for Old Dominion freight line as a truck mechanic and during the winter I plowed their lot using a WA 180 komatsu Pay loader. OD operates a large fleet of single drive axle trucks. Some of the worst are their single drive axle trucks pulling two pups (28 foot trailers). Single axle trucks are a nightmare when its -10 or -20 F with thick un removable Ice. OD did not purchase the proper recovery straps. If they had a 100,000 pound strap life would have been easier but we had to use chains. During which I had to pull out several stuck truck and trailer combinations, a pickup truck, and both of their highway plow trucks used to plow the 40 acre lot. One time a Chevy top kick was plowing the entrance to their lot last year and had slipped one set of duals into the ditch. Even with chains on the tires it was no match for the conditions. I had to remove the 20 foot box off the payloader, drive through the gate and precede with caution to pull him out. I had the 3/4 ton plow truck follow me to block off the road.

 

[bigtiller]

how about some info on that strap you used?

 

[diesel lover]

how about some info on that strap you used?

Of course. Had it for six years now and its held up really well. Its made by Erickson Manufacturing. A 2 inch by 20 foot looped recovery strap and load ratings are 18,000 pound breaking strength and 9,000 pound maximum vehicle weight. Its worked really well and I purchased in at tractor supply in 2009. Now tractor supply sells the same thing as walmart. I would like to get a rope like 30 foot bubba rope at some point in time. They really have a softer stretch and stretch more than straps.

Erickson Manufacturing Ltd.
2

I would highly recommend these. They make up to a 10 inch wide 125,000 pound strap for heavier pulls. Lower quality straps do not stretch as much. The more stretch provided the safer it is on your vehicle and the more momentum can be built up.

 

[s219]

I have a strap that looks very much like that one, may be it in fact. Has worked well for random tree work pulling trees of houses, etc. I use it at the end of my logging rope to take the abuse. I have only pulled out a couple of people, but what I noticed is that in 4WD low with an auto transmission, you can really apply a lot of grunt getting people out when going slow and steady. I'd like to get a better rear hook or shackle for my truck though. Probably one of those drawbars with clevis for the trailer hitch would be best.

Anyone know if it's OK to pull someone in reverse? I thought I remembered hearing that this was potentially bad for the transmission.

 

[Billrog]

I also use a recovery strap but after having the back of my truck ran into twice because the drivers have their car floored and can't stop in time once their out. Now I have them apply the emergency break put it in neutral and get out then I pull them onto the rd.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a strap that looks very much like that one, may be it in fact. Has worked well for random tree work pulling trees of houses, etc. I use it at the end of my logging rope to take the abuse. I have only pulled out a couple of people, but what I noticed is that in 4WD low with an auto transmission, you can really apply a lot of grunt getting people out when going slow and steady. I'd like to get a better rear hook or shackle for my truck though. Probably one of those drawbars with clevis for the trailer hitch would be best. Anyone know if it's OK to pull someone in reverse? I thought I remembered hearing that this was potentially bad for the transmission.

Pulling in reverse used to be the preferred way because your gearing was lower. Now with these modern 6 or more gear transmissions you more than likely have lower gearing in forward.

If towing in reverse I always use the passengers side tow hook just in case something gives way and comes through the windshield.

Chris

 

[AGRIMAN]

Around here we are pretty much known as the free wrecker service. No, we don't have a wrecker we pull with our trucks and sometimes the tractor(s) what ever it takes to get them out.

It always seems that we are pulling something or some one out of the mud. It's not uncommon to get a call in the middle of the night from friend(s). My son got a call at 3am last week to go pull and ambulance out of a guys yard.

I don't like pulling in reverse. I'm not worried about breaking anything (if it can be broke, I have done it) but you can't get a hard pull in reverse. I still do it on a lite pull, but if it's going to be a hard one, I had much rather pull forward.

The biggest part of pulling some one is getting the timing right. If they are asleep at the wheel it can make it much harder. If you are pulling dead weight, don't be afraid to tug on it some and remember to work your steering wheel back and forth. Let that dog hunt.

There's nothing wrong with a strap and I have used them, but I prefer a chain.

 

[mikehaugen]

Seems to me if you are pulling someone lower than you (like in a ditch) you would dig in better in reverse. Unless of course you have a lot of weight in the back of the truck.

 

[Ford850]

Rural King carries the Erickson straps. I've been thinking of buying one but haven't decided on a size. 20' or 30'? 2" or 3"? After reading this, I think the 30' would have more material to stretch. And I think 3" might be overkill for most jobs, and probably restrict some of the stretch on lighter pulls.

 

[wmonroe]

Well, Yesterday I was driving through my area and spotted a guy with a truck stuck in his own driveway. It was a newer Chevy 2500 Duramax diesel 2wd, with a gooseneck Dump Bed AND a New Holland Loader tractor inside the dump bed trailer. He had been trying to drive through his driveway and onto the road when he lost traction and slid sideways due to his rear wheels pulling him to the right of his driveway. We had been passing by when I noticed. His driveway was in the shade and had thick ice that froze, melted and refroze. I backed into his driveway and asked if he needed help. He replied with "was it that obvious?" I had grabbed my hitch and shackle and threw him my 20 foot 2 inch recovery strap. My truck is a 2000 Gmc 1500 4wd with a 4.8 liter v8. Last winter I got stranded twice and needed assistance to get home. I had a 1997 Ford F150 with a 4.2 V6 and 2wd. Growing up in michigan I know everything about bad weather, but other drivers driving slow in front of me/ stopping randomly and causing me to loose all momentum had cause me to loose all traction last winter even with weight in my bed. I had offered to help this guy because his trailer was so close to sliding into the trees on his driveway. When possible I help people in need because they have helped me when I needed help sort of a karma kind of deal. If the option was available I would have hooked up two straps in the length of 30 to 35 feet +/- so I could have been on pavement and pulled him 10 times easier but with traffic coming quickly from the left side of the road it was far too dangerous. I tried to pull him with out a tug but it was not moveable at all. I backed up a small distance and gave it one planned tug and let the strap stretch, I applied the throttle and pulled it out of his spot. There was a car coming from the left so I had to back up off the road. When I did my strap came off the front hook of his truck. Had to rehook the strap and now had my front tires on the road, at this point I got a full pull out of it and pulled the truck, trailer and tractor onto the road! It was very stuck. He gave me a firm handshake and said he sure appreciated my help and Him and his wife had been talking about getting a 4wd truck to pull his tractor but hadn't yet. A few things here, I don't push my vehicles more than they need to be. When using a stretching rope, or strap Its ALL about technique and not how much you can tear up your vehicle. I made sure to secure my end to a closed shackle and his was on the factory hook on the front of his truck. I gave one firm tug on his truck and did not give more throttle than needed. No need to damage anything of mine in the process. I am normally tugging on a more moveable object. Something that is either lighter or moves a small amount. When I gave the tug on his truck/ trailer combo It felt like the other end of my strap was hooked around a telephone pole! It had much less movement on it. Surprisingly my half ton with a small V8 pulled out his heavy combination. Heres my estimates on the weight, 7/8000 pound chevy duramax, 3/4000 pound dump trailer and a 4/5000 pound trailer. My truck is a short bed single cab around 5000 pounds. Last winter I worked for Old Dominion freight line as a truck mechanic and during the winter I plowed their lot using a WA 180 komatsu Pay loader. OD operates a large fleet of single drive axle trucks. Some of the worst are their single drive axle trucks pulling two pups (28 foot trailers). Single axle trucks are a nightmare when its -10 or -20 F with thick un removable Ice. OD did not purchase the proper recovery straps. If they had a 100,000 pound strap life would have been easier but we had to use chains. During which I had to pull out several stuck truck and trailer combinations, a pickup truck, and both of their highway plow trucks used to plow the 40 acre lot. One time a Chevy top kick was plowing the entrance to their lot last year and had slipped one set of duals into the ditch. Even with chains on the tires it was no match for the conditions. I had to remove the 20 foot box off the payloader, drive through the gate and precede with caution to pull him out. I had the 3/4 ton plow truck follow me to block off the road.

That was nice of you to stop and help. When dealing with snow and ice it's only a matter of time till getting stuck and a friendly neighbor to stop and help is priceless. Snow and ice doesn't seem to care about truck brand or if you are late. I would say you have some good karma headed your way.