My truck is in the ditch!

[cycle_gator]

Happy you got it out. Right tool for the proper job . The only thing better than a good tractor is a great neighbor.
I have spent lots of time in the area. Very familiar with Boyer Park and still have friends in the area.

 

[hawkeye08]

As soon as I saw the pictures, I thought about lifting it and putting it back on the road... then read that the farmer did that.. glad it worked out.

Back in '96 when eastern Washington had that really bad ice storm, we were without a functioning generator, called Costco, they had one left (turned out to be display unit or it would have been gone also). We got it and on the way home were in a headon crash that totaled our 3/4 van and the full size Chevy pickup that hit us. We were stopped and he was going about 60mph. The State Patrol was kind enough to call a tow truck, first two were not able to tow us. They hooked up and as soon as they lifted the front of the van, the tow truck just slide to the side. The third tow truck was a semi, he picked up the front and said, Where do you want it? We had it taken home so we could get our belongings out. He didn't even unlock the brakes, literally dragged it 5 miles to our yard. When the insurance came to tow it in and look it over, the guy crawled under the back and loosened the bleeders to release the brakes. Roads were good by then so no problem with regular tow truck.

Successful towing requires equipment that can handle the task and someone that can solve problems. Your farmer had the right tools and knew how to solve a problem.

 

[Nick D]

Glad to hear that you finally were able to get your truck free. Thank God for that farmer.

 

[Cougsfan]

These Yokohama are indeed lousy tires. These don't even have 30K miles on them and they probably should be replaced. They are not worn to the wear marks yet, but are to the point they underperform (as if they ever did perform). I would never buy another set of Geolanders.

This truck has been my second truck for several years now. It gets maybe 1,000 miles a year, if that, on it. Mostly just working around the place, plowing snow on our 2 mile long private road and doing things I'd prefer not to do with my Toyota (like hauling firewood, or a trip to the dump). My wife (who is the Chairman of the Budget Committee) has been hounding me to sell it because of the cost for license and insurance, but I don't want to because it is really nice to have an extra, beater truck like this that always starts and runs good, and I won't get overly upset if it goes in the ditch. So, right or wrong, I am reluctant to put a whole lot of money into it.

This is my third year plowing our road with it and the first time I have had any sort of difficulty. But we have had way more snow this year than in years past. And this incident was a on a strange driveway to a new house. So at this point I guess I'd rather spend $200 for another set of chains than $1200+ on a set of tires. If that doesn't cut it, I will spring for some tires.

 

[aczlan]

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They showed up on the preview, but not after I pushed the reply button(???)
Anyhow and update; Went to the tow shop and the guy said he was 80% sure he couldn't get it out. He gave me the name of a heavy duty tow shop in Spokane. Called them and they said $500/hr and it would be 3 hours just in getting there and back.... Forget that.
So I went to visit an introduce myself to a dryland farmer who lives on the other side of the ridge from us (1 mile as the crow flies, 10 miles by road).
Without hesitation he hopped in his 125 hp 4wd Case and plodded through the snow and came over the ridge. He hooked on to the back, lifted it about 2' off the ground while I backed the truck back on to the road with him dragging me. Absolute piece of cake! Took about 2 minutes followed by 15 minutes of BS'ing. I gave him a healthy tidbit of cash and he was tickled pink. Don't know why the guy with the 100 hp couldn't do the same. But it is out and I am happy.
I am moving the chains to the front and putting a scoop or two of gravel in the back.

Odd, I saw them earlier on my phone.
On the bigger tractor, that sounds about right. As they say, there is no replacement for displacement.

Aaron Z

 

[dragoneggs]

Glad to hear that you finally were able to get your truck free. Thank God for that farmer.

Gotta love farmers! They are do'ers.

 

[Thomas]

Made new friend everyone safe and happy no damage to pickup...great ending. :thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

Good to see you got the truck out. Right equipment is always nice!

 

[Deadman]

Before you replace the tires, how much weight do you have in the bed of the truck?

I plow with a full bed full of Green Firewood. It makes the truck twice as stable. My buddies all plow with no weight and they all end up in the ditches and stuck and hung up on piles of snow. Knock on wood, I've yet to be stuck in 5 years.

 

[leonz]

If you purchase the new chains from tirechains.com or another supplier you can purchase the chain repair tool and spare cross chains and cross chain connector links and save a lot of money.

You could always ask the chain supplier how much a set of dual tire chains would cost you as long as your investing in new chains.

You may want to consider adding cross links making the old set 2 link snow chains sets.