Getting Unstuck, By Myself... Vol 1 :)

[frodobaggins]

Well, as some of you may have read, I screwed up and got stuck in a hole in my yard.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/33874-earning-her-keep-well-almost.html

Well, I'm broke, just bought a bunch of tools, deuce, m105, medical bills etc.
So calling the big tow truck, >$250, is out of the question.

I have access to only one 4wd, and its not big enough (Ranger).
No winch, etc.

What I do have is some big timbers, a bottle jack, a shovel, a sledge, and
some time away from the TV.

Tools.

 

[frodobaggins]

I had to stop, it got too dark and "Lost" was on

Those huge timbers under the truck were about 150 ft away. I had to roll them on
my hands and knees to get them to the deuce. While my lazy neighbors boyfriends
watched. Just wait until they need help...

Progress, Day 1:

 

[grounded]

slow and steady wins the race...


lesson here learned boys and girls. GET A WINCH!!!!

 

[rat4spd]

Man, you really made a mess of that yard.

 

[FreightTrain]

Been to the Mangus school of offroading too?Must have been a big class this year by the looks of it!

 

[Recovry4x4]

Question, is there any way to go backwards? If you can beg, borrow or steal enough chain and cable, the back duals make a pretty cool winch. I'd also be considering chaining about a 14" piece of 4x4 to each front tire and see if that helps pull it out. If you have some time, you can get it out!

 

[M543A2]

I found out the hard way a winch does not always help. I was in the woods with my M-37 getting a load of wood. After I had a nice load on it, I started out and fell into a soft spot. I had a big smile on my face as I pulled out the winch cable to a nearby tree, knowing this was going to be fun. I got hooked up, got in the truck, put the winch in gear, and promptly sheared the pin. No smile now. I found the winch brake housing had somehow gotten water in it, frozen and stuck the brake solid. No smile now goes to big frown and some words. I had to call the wife on the CB to bring the tractor!
Regards Marti

 

[M543A2]

Another good one was when my friend and I got a 2 wheel drive pickup stuck on a big rabbit hunting trip. We did the jacking and boards under the wheels trick. We were working on the last front wheel, had the corner up high on the bumper jack, and I was just done putting the last board under the tire. I stood up, said "Jeez, Kyler, this is a lot like work", leaned on the fender, and in so doing pushed the front of the truck sideways off the jack and boards right back into the muck! Needless to say we had to repeat the whole process, but with a bit of an aggravated mind set!
Regards Marti

 

[DUG]

I'm surprised Rat hasn't told the 72 Blazer-stuck-at-the-sandpits-front-axle-in-the-water story yet. Or don't go wheelin after 40 hours of cross country driving.

 

[No.2Diesel]

Hi,

Thank you for using your noggin' for this self recovery. It looks like your off to a good start. All you need is jacks & wood and you can do anything......

.........."its the wood that makes it taste good!"

 

[frodobaggins]

Question, is there any way to go backwards? If you can beg, borrow or steal enough chain and cable, the back duals make a pretty cool winch. I'd also be considering chaining about a 14" piece of 4x4 to each front tire and see if that helps pull it out. If you have some time, you can get it out!

I know about the rear wheels trick, however I am unclear about what
kind of cable etc to use, so I decided to try this.

As for the 4x4, I was going to try that, but I didn't have quite enough chain.

I was thinking of filling under the tires with large gravel, what do you guys think ?

Any suggestions welcome.

 

[DUG]

Gravel under the tires might just do the trick. Anything you can get a little traction on. Once you start her moving, you should make it.

 

[1stDeuce]

You're on the right track!! The first step you haven't mentioned is that you need to get out a tire guage and drop all the tires to 15PSI. Well, I usually stop at about 20 in the fronts. That'll keep it from trenching again when you do get ready to get out.

As for filler, you can use gravel, sand, anything that won't turn to mush when it's wet and you put weight on it. Judging by the pics you sent, you did quite a bit of spinning before you stopped, so you may want to jack up the rears too, and toss some sand or gravel under them so the truck doesn't have to climb out of those holes too... Then keep it on the grass and if it spins, STOP and drop more air out. It'll do WAY better with the tires aired down, as it keeps them from trenching by preventing whats underneath from following the tread channels and squirting out the sides.

C

 

[DUG]

You're on the right track!! The first step you haven't mentioned is that you need to get out a tire guage and drop all the tires to 15PSI. Well, I usually stop at about 20 in the fronts. That'll keep it from trenching again when you do get ready to get out.

As for filler, you can use gravel, sand, anything that won't turn to mush when it's wet and you put weight on it. Judging by the pics you sent, you did quite a bit of spinning before you stopped, so you may want to jack up the rears too, and toss some sand or gravel under them so the truck doesn't have to climb out of those holes too... Then keep it on the grass and if it spins, STOP and drop more air out. It'll do WAY better with the tires aired down, as it keeps them from trenching by preventing whats underneath from following the tread channels and squirting out the sides.

C

Good point - airing down is the best way to go. When I was stationed in Hawaii at Barking Sands we used to get people coming by the house looking for help getting unstuck on the beach (it was an open base and we had the 1st house with a 4 x 4). Even the kids knew to ask - Did you air down yet?

I wouldn't get off the couch until they assured me they were down to FIVE (yes 5) PSI. If they worried about making it to the gas station to air up later, I always reminded them the tide was coming in and they weren't getting to the gas station as is anyway. 3 out of 4 times airing down got them out. The other 1/4 got me plenty of free beer!

 

[davidkroberts]

why not just wait until the ground is dry? Then just drive out like normal?

 

[dm22630]

why not just wait until the ground is dry? Then just drive out like normal?

It is bottomed out. The axles are sunk in the mud.

I just LOVE ndt tires!

 

[frodobaggins]

why not just wait until the ground is dry? Then just drive out like normal?

Front Diff was a foot in the ground...

 

[frodobaggins]

I just LOVE ndt tires!

Well, I'll never need to rent/buy a ditch witch

 

[davidkroberts]

wow you really got stuck huh?

 

[BEASTMASTER]

now theres a guy that knows how to get STUCK!!!!