Polaris Ranger Crew Stuck in Swamp Two Weeks Now....

sfloggie · Aug 3, 2013

Wel....still trying to get the Polaris out, and it did not move today because some guys a week ago appeared to have broken my winch and two electical winches which we needed today. Trying again next Saturday. Attached are some photos and maybe a poor video in which I was falling most of the time! Jim

sfloggie · Aug 3, 2013

Here are a few others.

whistlepig · Aug 3, 2013

Can you fix the winch? Looks like you have a roller Fairlead on the front.

sfloggie · Aug 3, 2013

We are going to try Saturday. We did not expect the broken cable, so we did not bring the tools. It appears the guys pulled the cable full length and then tried to pull out. The end of the cable is connected to the winch by what looks like an "eye-bolt" and it broke off.
We have to take off the "bush-guard" to get to the winch.
The mud is like quick sand. It did move enough I could see it is stuck on and between small stumps. We plan to pull-lift and have a winch pull it to the left at the same time. What an experience..every will loan my equipment again! Thanks, Jim

DIXIEDOG · Aug 3, 2013

That's pretty stuck but looking at it I can't believe it can't drive out....I would have expected if you jammed some staggered logs under the tires and used 4 wd along with a light pull from the winch that it would pull right out. I would have thought with mud that much like quick sand it would have sunk in deeper by now. I wonder what type of damage there will be when it finally gets out?

Code54 · Aug 3, 2013

Can you hook high up on one of the trees to the side or slightly behind with a come-along and lift it first, then block up the wheel and pull it forward?
Good luck and if you have a snatch block it maybe worth taking with you!

whistlepig · Aug 3, 2013

So they got it stuck and then broke the winch? That's not a fair fight. It appears that you are outnumbered.

sfloggie · Aug 3, 2013

DixieD, You are right that it should have sunk more in back. It is held by the stumps just under the area between the front seats. We are going to try the lift rear and pull forward next weekend. We have a front strap with "come-along" high up a tree to the front right as we hoped to pull it slight sideway and then forward. This did not work because of it being stuck or weged between the stumps.
So next weekend we are going to run chain high up two trees near the rear, stage a boat lift "thinga' ma duche" with a hook and rachet to lift the rear with slack in the chains between the trees so it can come forward.
I should have taken a photo of what the guys (last week and who got it stuck) used to bring parts out to retrieve it. It was a plastic Matel wagon. They got tied of getting it stuck and left it. Photo to follow.
I told the guys helping me today (two great local farmers about what these guys did..whch he could also see). The Father asked where they were today and I said they were not speaking to me because I got mad. He said.."too bad they did not stop speaking to you sooner!" Photos next week and I hope success. Jim (maybe the spelling will improve by then!)

whistlepig · Aug 3, 2013

I have gotten some things unstuck by wrapping chains and/or straps around axles or tires and then let the tires or axles operate as a winch. I was pretty desperate when I did this. It was my last resort.