Pulling stuck vehicles out of the ditch with a tractor

[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.