Pulling stuck vehicles out of the ditch with a tractor

[Thomas]

If I should pull someone out I hook up to draw bar vehicle hooks where they want.

 

[garry1p]

I don't think hooking a tow strap where someone tells you to will get you off the hook, if there is damage to their vehicle and they wanted to pursue damages even if you win you loose with lawyer fees and time off work...

I would think in most cases the person wanting to be pulled out is not qualified to determine where to hook up a strap/chain whatever.

Have I done it, yep with my 4X4 truck but never to the newer vehicles with unibody construction.

 

[LouNY]

I don't tow many but I do, do a few each year. I do not worry about legal implications. I am carefull as to how they hook up their end. And while my insurance is not "towing" insurance my farm policy covers my tractors on or off my property, on the highways, and doing work for hire.
I had heard many years ago to not "charge" for towing but accept "donations" before hooking up.

 

[DarkBlack]

Reading this thread would make a boy scout afraid to help a little old lady cross the street. She could fall down and sue you! Damages, trials!, lawyers!
We as humans should stop helping each other, because….. you could be sued!
No good deed, goes unpunished!
Isn’t that our new societal guidance that is prevalent today?

 

[sdef]

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)?

Another vote for mounting to the drawbar. I use a similar setup mounted to the front bed of equipment trailer for loading disabled vehicle. But I find I have more options using my RAM 2500 4x4 diesel with its front mounted winch. I also have various sized, quality, recovery ropes.

 

[Lena]

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 worked 20+ years with the highways dept here in wv. we were repeatedly reminded not to pull anyone out of the ditch. doing so could cost us our job. People are so grateful when being pulled . but then they have time to think about it and maybe thinking of easy money.

 

[garydc]

I used to hook to my drawbar to tow people out of the ditch. These days with most modern vehicles having few good places to hook up to and people so ready to sue if something goes wrong I offer to call a tow truck for them.

 

[RjCorazza]

The few people that have asked to be towed out of a ditch were so buried that there was no chance of success with my tractor or truck. Easy decision for me.
One neighbor's plow guy went nose first into the ditch at the end of his driveway... Like 45 degrees down, plow first, in 3' of snow. Call a wrecker dude.

 

[tjandrews]

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.

I do the same, though we have a snowblower on the back, rather than a blade. If that's not going to work, and the need is great enough, then the snowblower can be removed in a matter of minutes.
If in 4wd, you are using both axles to pull, so relative strength isn't a factor, but traction is, especially in winter. Most ag tires are designed to have better traction when pulling forward. I don't know much about construction or turf tires. Also, while traction is related to vehicle weight, it isn't the only factor. On an icy or muddy surface, you'll probably lose traction even with 4WD long before you damage the tractor.

 

[John0829]

Times have changed, it is not like it used to be where folks were grateful for the help/assist and could not seem to thank you enough. Now days if you do more than offer to call a wrecker you had best call your attorney first but then everyone has cell phones so they call call for help themselves.

Most I will do is stop to see if anyone is hurt but after that... Sad but it is best to not get involved in anyway.