Pulled car out of the ditch on the way to my job interview

Loadstar · Feb 11, 2014

I have done a lot of good Sam roadside work. Last one was a carhauler ran put of fuel in the middle of nowhere. Saw him walking in flip flops down the interstate with a diesel can a mile from truck, 5 mile from an exit. He was happy to see me. I do not do it much anymore though. Everyone has phones and policies. I have a family that depends on me, I'm worth more than a hood ornament for a texting teen, or coked out trucker. Roadside is a very dangerous place

jejeosborne · Feb 11, 2014

I actually go out on bad days looking to help and find it fun to be out during slick times. Here is the best of this year so far. A 2500 dodge resting on frame. Strapped rear of jeep to a tree and winched out. Never charge because some day I will need help too.

diesel lover · Feb 11, 2014

jejeosborne said:
I actually go out on bad days looking to help and find it fun to be out during slick times. Here is the best of this year so far. A 2500 dodge resting on frame. Strapped rear of jeep to a tree and winched out. Never charge because some day I will need help too. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=360125"/>

so was this a winch out?

MoKelly · Feb 11, 2014

Good for you - that was just plain nice.

Good luck with the job.

MoKelly

jejeosborne · Feb 11, 2014

diesel lover said:
so was this a winch out?

Yes, 8000 lb smitty built with smitty built front and rear bumpers to spread the load. This truck almost flipped over while winching and the owner said keep on going. Rear bumper was about 7 feet in the air at one point. He was a neighbor I have seen hot rodding on the snow for fun, which I am guilty of too, and for that reason requested a cold beer this summer when I see him out. Told him had I not witnessed his foolish driving it wouldn't have cost him that beer. I am going to rethink pulling something that bad out again for fear of damaging the jeep frame. That is a lot of stress going through it.

Bob77064 · Feb 11, 2014

jejeosborne, that picture shows how far the truck was off the raod. Good job winching him out, a tow truck would have charged a lot.

diesel lover · Feb 11, 2014

jejeosborne said:
Yes, 8000 lb smitty built with smitty built front and rear bumpers to spread the load. This truck almost flipped over while winching and the owner said keep on going. Rear bumper was about 7 feet in the air at one point. He was a neighbor I have seen hot rodding on the snow for fun, which I am guilty of too, and for that reason requested a cold beer this summer when I see him out. Told him had I not witnessed his foolish driving it wouldn't have cost him that beer. I am going to rethink pulling something that bad out again for fear of damaging the jeep frame. That is a lot of stress going through it.

I used to drive wrecker in michigan and was also a logger in michigan. I will tell you what a winch will beat everything else when it comes to glazed ice!! Strapping it to the tree and winching out a truck that heavy and stuck was the best thing you could do! Nice work

kw22614 · Feb 11, 2014

It's always good to do the right thing especially when you need it done right and quick....
About 4 weeks ago (Jan 21) we had a good (8") snow which quickly turned to ice. We live on what's turned into a major secondary 2 lane road that gets plowed by 2, 3 or 4 truck plows in tandem about every 30 to 40 mins. About 10:30 that night wifey says she sees lots of lights through the blinds, we look out the front window and see a 3/4 ton chevy van stuck in the front ditch that's just taken out my mailbox - knocked the 3" steel post buried 2 ft completely out of the ground and don't see the box at all. 3 young men where walking around, pushing and trying to rock the van out in the pouring, blowing snow. I quickly put on my coveralls and went out to protect my interests. I was quite upset that they hadn't knocked on the door to announce their presence and dilemma in MY yard. I walked out angry and I could tell they were shaken, could have been my .357 in the holster belt slung over my shoulder. English, it seemed, was their second language maybe even 3rd or 4th. My house is only 25-30 ft to the ditch, so they were all over my front yard. They were from Maryland were working late in my area and trying to make it home in the 'black ice' of the night with hardly any tread on their tires, lost control and slid off the road across my driveway. Anyway the driver apologized for not knocking first and they seemed sincere enough, not beligerant (we're only 40 miles from DC and always read about crazy violence) and offered me his driver's license before I asked and asked if I knew of and could call a tow truck to get him out. He offered to pay for the mailbox and any damage to the yard. Well being late and not wanting to drag out this ordeal I brought out my BX1860 from the garage just 25' from the scene. The other 2 guys blocked traffic and the driver started and put the van in reverse after I hooked my tow chain to his frame - no tow hitch - and to my fel hook. My little BX rocked a couple times in 4X low range and pulled that heavy*** van out of the near 4' deep ditch. The whole thing took maybe 30 min and 15 of that was warm up time for my tractor. When I got his van out on the road I saw my mailbox buried in the snow under where he was stuck - whole, not damaged at all. He was on his way - no cops, no tow truck, no wasted time. Next day, still in sub-zero temps, I reset the post with digging bar and manual phd's and reattached the box - only needed a new piece of plywood to set it on, so didn't even miss one day's mail. Between that and plowing out my 75' long X 12' wide circle driveway with the fel it took me about 3 hours. Best part is knowing just how strong my little tractor truely is.

diesel lover · Feb 11, 2014

Also to not forget here I was dressed nicely for my interview .... Who would have figured huh? I really can't dress nice because something always comes up.

When I was maybe 15 years old I pulled my neighbors 3/4 ton dodge cummins powered truck out of their driveway. I used our 61' ford 601 workmaster. Even with chains on the tires the task was aweful with a 2 wd tractor with no rear weight except for a 3 pt blade. I used a short chain. Knowing what I do now I would have used a snatch strap in the same situation and used it to my advantage. The tractor did not have a differential lock so one tire would spin, put foot on the brake for that wheel and the other tire would spin back and forth. Still better than a 2 wd pickup truck. I was on the road and was trying to pull him out of his driveway. Didn't think it was going to be that difficult when I got there but honestly a huge difference would have been wheel weights and or fluid filled tires.

2 of our tractors have wheel weights and the difference is just night and day!! I can easily say that! The ford 601 we used to have was just so awfully light in the back. If I had to do it again at that time I would have borrowed the neighbors 4 wheel drive JD 4510 with AG tires.

Years later all my equipment operation and practice operating wreckers has really just payed off!! I have been able to pull out VERY stuck semi trucks hooked to two 28 ft trailers on glazed ice with a pay loader, as well as getting a highway plow truck out of the ditch using the same pay loader. Equipment with large tires and weight in those tires really helps in snow and ice. Be safe everyone