My truck is in the ditch!

[square1]

Have to agree with those suggesting you use the tractors as anchors and give them some help with ice melt and / or sand. Is there a ditch on the other side of tjr drive you could set the tractor in to aid its value as an anchor. I've got stuff that was pretty well stuck unstuck with anchors and cable pullers. Its slow hard work, but they do come out. Best wishes.

 

[RjCorazza]

I set my 60 HP, 10,000 pound tractor belly deep in mud one time.
The only thing we had was a 50 HP Oliver,, which would not pull the tractor.

BUT, the Oliver was a great "deadman",, once we spun in the rear tires.
I connected a chain to the Oliver, then to the longest stroke hydraulic cylinder I had.
Next, another chain was connected to the stuck tractor.
Although slow, the tractor came right out.
It only moved 15 inches before the chain had to be reconnected, but,
the repeated cycling of the cylinder was the best we had.
And, the cylinder was much better than a winch.

I was entertaining the thought of using my hydraulic toplink for this very purpose. Back in the day we used a manual hydraulic tool called a port-a-power that could do just about anything (at a snail's pace!). As far as the OP'S dilemma.... Sounds like a go big or go home recovery.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Photos are welcome, but if a vehicle is used as a fixed point for a winch, then I strongly suggest securing (anchoring) the vehicle so that it cannot slide down into the ditch as well as considering the use of a drag line to keep the truck from moving in any direction other than the intended direction out of the ditch.

 

[Snobdds]

Mat tracks and a kinetic rope are a very handy tools...

Throw a set under the recovery vehicle to get going and floor it to get going. Let physics work for you...

 

[k0ua]

This dozer would beg to differ:

Aaron Z

The grousers on that dozer track are completely gone.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Do youhave a post hole digger for the tractor ? if so grab some 6x6 post and get them as deep as you can . Dry pack some concrete in there and wet them down . The next day you may be able to wrap a chain at the bottom of the post , Just an Idea .

 

[MossRoad]

This dozer would beg to differ:

Aaron Z

Boss shows up.... video ends... :laughing:

 

[Looking4new]

Boss shows up.... video ends... :laughing:

Operator is fired!

 

[jack707]

Operator is fired!

He was just having fun

 

[aczlan]

Boss shows up.... video ends... :laughing:

Could be. Just wanted to point out that tracks aren't the be-all-end-all for working on ice and I thought a drifting dozer showed that well

Aaron Z

 

[Looking4new]

Could be. Just wanted to point out that tracks aren't the be-all-end-all for working on ice and I thought a drifting dozer showed that well

Aaron Z

It did.

 

[MossRoad]

Could be. Just wanted to point out that tracks aren't the be-all-end-all for working on ice and I thought a drifting dozer showed that well

Aaron Z

Yes, it showed it very well. I've seen tracked excavators slide a lot on ice. Any regular person would assume they'd work great.... then you see this huge machine sliding down a very shallow slope. Kinda scary.

 

[bcp]

D-10 on ice.

Excavator.
Excavator drifting on ice!!! - YouTube

Bruce

 

[Cougsfan]

Thanks for all the input. I will be back home from sunny, warm, Southern California this weekend. Our football team lost I will re-assess the situation with the truck. I understand we got some warmth in Eastern Wash, and a bit of thawing. I hope it will help.

Removing the plow sounds like a good idea, but from experience of putting it on and taking it off many times, I think it would be a big mistake to try to take it off where it sets. That thing is HEAVY. You have to have it just so on a concrete pad to get it to release freely. Both sides would have to be unlatched at exactly the same time or it would probably hopelessly bind in the mount that didn't unlatch, and the whole magnitude of problem would intensify with a half attached plow. And I wouldn't want to be around it if it did unlatch, even if it was jacked up or supported with a FEL and chains.

I will take some pictures and go down to the local tow shop and see what they think. I think TEG is right. Can't be much worse than a Semi Tractor/trailer in the ditch. I also think Leonz is right in that the block and tackle equipment I have been thinking about is too lightweight.

 

[Cougsfan]

By the way, my 50 hp tractor just spun it's wheels on the surface while the 100 hp (I am told) dug holes with it's wheels. I don't think either have the required Omph to do the job.

 

[airbiscuit]

I think a towing company will know if they can do it. If yes, that's a good thing as they have probably had lots of experience with how things at odd angles move when pulled on. If not, it will be hydraulics or a winch that get you out.

Hydraulics:
Excavator
Front End Loader

Winch
Cable Skidder

In any case, adding some grip to the ice will help. Lots of sand or ashes. Crushed oyster shells (poultry grit) are great because they have sharp edges.

Good Luck!

 

[dragoneggs]

Hey Cougsfan... sorry about your truck and your team. Being a Husky alum I don't often root for the Cougs but I did send my daughter and sent enough personal checks over there for 4 years! Keep us posted and pics, please. Go Dawgs... beat Bama!

 

[crazyal]

Without actually seeing a picture the advice is going to be more general than specific. What I can tell you is snow makes it much easier to pull tires sideways. I personally would try to find a way to get an anchor to pull from so you can pull the front back onto the road. I'm not sure if I would use a tractor as an anchor as once attached if things go wrong it could drag your tractor with it. If the ground isn't frozen (if it is you'll most likely have to bust through it but it could help the anchor) then a land anchor would most likely be what you want. If you have access to a welder and a set of torches you can make one pretty easily.

 

[oosik]

When we were 4 wheeling' in Alaska - we would always carry a double fluke boat anchor with a "pull out" cable. There were very few trees that could provide a good anchor point. Just hammer the flukes into the ground - attach the winch line and "pull" will bury the anchor. The "pull out" cable was used get the anchor out of its buried position without having to dig it out. Provides an excellent anchor point for a Warn 10,000# winch.

 

[LD1]

Several mentions of sand. I am telling you guys, if you burn wood, try some ashes one time. 10x's better than sand.