Pulling stuck vehicles out of the ditch with a tractor

[In.the.Piñons]

With winter coming up I'm sure someone is going to go off my road, into the ditch, and get stuck. I used to recover using a Jeep with a winch, but it I no longer own it. My tractor has a hitch, but my rear blade is most likely going to be in the way. So where's the best place to attach a shackle to the front of the tractor? Also, my tractor, with the rear blade attached is about 10,500lbs, what's the heaviest vehicle I should be trying to recover? Any other tips for using a tractor to recover stuck vehicles (this is my first tractor)?

 

[ruffdog]

I attach to the rear drawbar when possible. Just raise the rear blade all the way up and run the cable/strap/chain under it. The rear axle is much stronger that the front is to pull from. Front receiver hitches can be bought or made for the front.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I attach to the rear drawbar when possible. Just raise the rear blade all the way up and run the cable/strap/chain under it. The rear axle is much stronger that the front is to pull from. Front receiver hitches can be bought or made for the front.

This is what I do; I run it under the box blade and attach it to drawbar.

 

[LouNY]

With winter coming up I'm sure someone is going to go off my road, into the ditch, and get stuck. I used to recover using a Jeep with a winch, but it I no longer own it. My tractor has a hitch, but my rear blade is most likely going to be in the way. So where's the best place to attach a shackle to the front of the tractor? Also, my tractor, with the rear blade attached is about 10,500lbs, what's the heaviest vehicle I should be trying to recover? Any other tips for using a tractor to recover stuck vehicles (this is my first tractor)?

I just attach the stretch rope or chain to the back blade, is it the recommended method? nope, will it tend to lift the front wheels? yep at times.
You can attempt to gently pull anything that you care to. I have to be careful on a paved road not to spin as I am running very good aggressive tire chains that will be rough on pavement if the tires spin.
I just ease into things and gently pull to my max pull, no banging or slamming just a nice pull.

Yes you certainly can go under a back blade and attach to your drawbar, that would be the recommended manner to hook and pull from.

 

[bcp]

I did it often long ago. But modern cars are so delicate, and with people and insurance companies looking for someone to take the blame, I don't any more, with a few exceptions.

Bruce

 

[WranglerX]

Prefer to pull from draw bar in rear, or tow/pull ring attached to of front chassis..... Use a "dynamic recovery strap" and not just "tow rope"....

 

[LouNY]

Prefer to pull from draw bar in rear, or tow/pull ring attached to of front chassis..... Use a "dynamic recovery strap" and not just "tow rope"....

I almost never pull from the front of a tractor, I may hook to a bucket to pull with but not the front of a tractor. Most do not have heavy enough of a frame rail to take a hard pull.
Many (large) stuck tractors have been broke from being pulled from the fronts. Most large farm tractors and often other large self propelled equipment will have a tow cable attached to the proper pull points. Many large tractors it will be attached to the drawbar and extends to the front of the tractor as a pull point.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

Thanks guys. I will see what I can manage, attaching to the rear hitch with the blade raised. If I can't get enough clearance, I'll try attaching directly to the boom of the blade and go carefully. At some point I would like to get a hydraulic top link which would enable me to get that rear blade right out of the way.

I do used a dynamic recovery strap and, if possible, request stuck person to attach it to their vehicle, in the hopes it absolves me of any liability. Maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part?

 

[etpm]

Thanks guys. I will see what I can manage, attaching to the rear hitch with the blade raised. If I can't get enough clearance, I'll try attaching directly to the boom of the blade and go carefully. At some point I would like to get a hydraulic top link which would enable me to get that rear blade right out of the way.

I do used a dynamic recovery strap and, if possible, request stuck person to attach it to their vehicle, in the hopes absolves me of any liability. Maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part?

Every modern car I have seen has a towing point on the front and rear. Sometimes the towing point is hidden, like on my 2006 Scion Xb. There is a little hatch that must be removed and then the towing bar must be screwed into the hole revealed by the hatch removal. The towing bar is kept with the spare tire. Anyway, if you are gonna tug someone out look for the towing point. Just tugging on the car in a random spot could twist the unibody out of square.
Eric

 

[TractorTYMe]

Wonder if my 10k logging winch could be used in a pinch for such task?

 

[Gordon Gould]

Wonder if my 10k logging winch could be used in a pinch for such task?

That is what I use. Farmi JL501. Nice slow controlled pull and yo can see what is happening. Last pull was a Spectrum truck installing fiber optic on our road last February.

gg

 

[tacticalturnip]

The lower control arm is a good place to hook to. I wouldn't get a running start, it can break, but it's one of the sturdiest points to a modern automobile. This is where a tow truck would winch and tie down to.

 

[ning]

I definitely wouldn't do the attachment to someone else's vehicle myself.
I doubt that's enough to keep you out of a lawsuit if they turn out to be litigious, but at least it's their fault that the brake lines got torn out

I remember seeing the after-effects of someone trying to tow a car by attaching to the tie rod!

 

[big bubba]

as a precautionary note given that winter's approaching as OP mentioned
i've lived on dirt roads for decades, & invariably getting stuck in a ditch or mud is part of the turf. however, if someone's stuck deep in the wet mud & the vehicle is towed next morning after hard freeze,,,,,wait till it thaws!

i've witnessed (fortunately not my own) a rear axle buried in frozen mud become partially disengaged by a logging truck attempting retrieve it, proceed with caution, good luck

 

[deserteagle71]

I definitely wouldn't do the attachment to someone else's vehicle myself.
I doubt that's enough to keep you out of a lawsuit if they turn out to be litigious, but at least it's their fault that the brake lines got torn out

I remember seeing the after-effects of someone trying to tow a car by attaching to the tie rod!

Some years ago I worked at a remote minesite - 80 miles to the nearest town. 18 wheeler got stuck in the desert a short distance from the mine and requested assistance so the mine sent down a big 'ol Cat 988 loader. Trucker already had his chain hooked to the truck so when the loader backed up to it all he had to do was loop it around the tow point of the loader. The loader started pulling...and pulled the entire front axle out from under the 18 wheeler. Rest of the truck didn't move. Silly trucker had wrapped his chain around the front axle instead of around the frame!

 

[ruffdog]

Every modern car I have seen has a towing point on the front and rear. Sometimes the towing point is hidden, like on my 2006 Scion Xb.

Most of those "towing points" you are talking about are tie down points used during transportation. You see a lot of those on imports that come over on big ships. Look in the manual....many times they state that those points should not be used as "tow points".

 

[Captain Dirty]

I admire your desire to be a Good Sam, but remember: "No good deed goes unpunished."

The safest advice is the title of another thread, "Don't Do It" for the reasons bcp stated.

I did it often long ago. But modern cars are so delicate, and with people and insurance companies looking for someone to take the blame, I don't any more, with a few exceptions.

You did state you have experience recovering using a Jeep and winch and even dynamic recovery straps, but your question about weight indicates limited experience. The force required to recover a vehicle may be a fraction of or a multiple of the vehicle's weight depending on the situation. Procede cautiously and deliberately.

 

[fatjay]

This is what I do; I run it under the box blade and attach it to drawbar.

I do exactly this, but it's a grading blade.

 

[dodge man]

I’d keep the phone number of a towing/recovery company handy. I have pulled people out but I find a lot of vehicles do not have a good place to pull from.

 

[ruffdog]

I’d keep the phone number of a towing/recovery company handy. I have pulled people out but I find a lot of vehicles do not have a good place to pull from.

^^Agree. I can make some fresh coffee for them while they wait for the tow truck. There is a SMALL chance I'll pull them depending on many factors though.