Rear-mounted winch?

[Andy2dotO]

Hiya. I've recently gotten a 4500Z to clear and maintain very hilly property in central California. So far, it climbs and descends with considerable control, and I'm making serious progress clearing out the poison oak that has made this acreage untouchable to date. Hooray.

Still, I keep finding myself in this position:


I've read the advice about using the mower deck to lift the front wheels and shift them out of the path of the tree, but on this slope (which, in this picture, looks negligible -- it's not. It's about 20 degrees) that just doesn't work for me. Loose ground isn't helping at all.

I've finally learned the lesson (after cutting down two trees to free the tractor): Don't try to mow close to the uphill side of the tree -- it's just too easy to slide into this position on loose steep slopes.

Still, I keep thinking that if I had a rear-mounted winch, I could pull the rear end uphill just enough to clear the stump, and refrain from cutting yet another oak down. If you look at it, I have plenty of anchor points at my disposal.

Anyone ever mounted a winch to the back of their Ventrac 4500? If so, any advice? If this is a dumb idea, can you help me understand why?

Thanks!

 

[bcp]

I had the same happen with my BX once. This pulled the whole tractor sideways about 3 feet.

Maasdam 4 ton cable puller



A mounted winch will often be in the wrong place, and sometimes pulling only one end will not work.

Bruce

 

[Andy2dotO]

Thanks, Bruce. I had a come-a-long and a few ratchet straps tied off to high points trying to drag it uphill, but just couldn't get enough "oomph" on them to make a difference. Still, it was a tiny winch and simple ratchet straps.

I should upgrade my come-a-long, and find some better anchoring material.

That looks like a great option. I'll never stop thinking "This is a job a machine should be doing," but won't shy away from putting some elbow grease into the effort.

Thanks again,

A2.O

 

[CobyRupert]

Cut the tree down!

Yep, been there, done that,
...with a Steiner that I drove doing lawn care around condos/golf course one summer.
My problem wasn't a tree like that, but I'd slide sideways down and be along the edge of the condo. The tractor had dual tires on each corner & I couldn't turn one way or the other without rubbing the condo, and not being able to turn enough to get away. Solution was to disconnect the mower & then be able to turn enough without banging it.

 

[Andy2dotO]

Yep. That's where I ended up. Eventually, I'm gonna get wrapped around one of the trees I, or more importantly, my wife loves. I need an alternative, and it looks like a better hand winch is the ticket so far.

Locked around a condo? They'd just have to fire me -- I'd screw that up in an instant.

 

[lennyzx11]

I hate it when that happens!

 

[Andy2dotO]

Gah! So, fess up. Did you...
A. Cut the tree down or
B. Remove all attachments, destroy your back moving them, reconnect, and tell nobody until now?

Either way, this makes me feel better. Thank you.

 

[oosik]

Either a heavier come-a-long or Hi-Lift jack to move the rear over. The convolutions of attaching an electric winch will be a difficult situation. OR, just be more careful when mowing on the high side.

 

[johara1]

Man, just lift the machine up with the hydraulic and articulate away from the tree and set it down articulate the other way, and do it a again and again til you are free...... same as in a ditch or sunk in the mud...... jim

 

[Andy2dotO]

Either a heavier come-a-long or Hi-Lift jack to move the rear over.

Agreed! Upsized hand winch and better rigging materials inbound!

The convolutions of attaching an electric winch will be a difficult situation.

I was initially looking at hydraulics, and chatting with a fabricator I'm lucky enough to know locally. Seemed feasible, but we both questioned how effective this would be.

Just be more careful when mowing on the high side.

Well, yeah. Obviously I screwed up trying to squeeze around that tree on that slope. I'll learn eventually.