How many/what vehicles have ya pulled out this winter?

[jrusko]

I pulled out #3 and #4 this morning on the way to work.



A few months ago my friend's 4WD Bronco went off the road and over a lil hillside a few days after I got my BFG M/T 315's put on... pulled him out like nothin



Maybe a month ago, my brother was driving my old 2WD ramcharger on I79 and went off the road and got stuck in a ditch. Next morning I yanked him out.



This morning on my way to work I saw a big box truck on the side of the road with the hazards on. Big one, I guess it was a class 7 or class 8, basically the same cab as a semi, but with an attached box instead of a trailer... I don't know too much about the big trucks though. A couple hundred feet up the road there was a lexus stuck in the snow. Apparently what happened was the lexus slid into the deep snow on the side of the road and got stuck, then the box truck pulled over to help him and got stuck as well.



I started with the lexus... it was buried pretty deep and I didn't have a shovel... the best I could do was loop my tow strap around a rear lower control arm, which made me a lil nervous, but it was the best I could do without a shovel (and wearin decent clothes). Well, when I pulled my truck over, I got into the deep stuff too, so I didn't have much traction... I didn't wanna untie, so I had to work my way back and forth while still tied to him until I got at least 1 wheel out of the deep snow, then I pulled him out pretty quick.



The box truck driver was gonna call a tow truck but I told him to let me give it a shot. This was a lil easier, with him having tow hooks and all, plus I was smart and kept my truck on the road... Threw it in 4-LO and 1st gear, and he was out in a matter of 30 seconds Oo.



I'm still waiting for the "holy grail"... before I die I will pull out a loaded semi with an "oversize load" sign



The box truck driver didn't give me anything, he said he would but he was broke... I'm not too worried about the money though... the guy in the lexus took my name and address and said he's sending me a check, and I think I'm spending it on a tow hook so I don't hafta keep tying that tow strap around my hitch... it's such a biznatch to untie once you tighten it by yankin out 25k lbs or so of truck...

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Only one :{ . We haven't hardly had any snow this year and it SUCKS. I'm soooooo jealous of those in the northeast right now. Halfway thinking about a road trip!

 

[Jff24Gordn]

well ive got 1 ranger stuck in mud where the ditch wasnt froze up. the road was ice covered and he slipped in and it took me a half hour of spinnin on the ice to get him out.



pulled the bumper out on a s10 with a come-a-long after a telephone pole.



and there was a freightliner conv cab that was bobtail that couldnt get out of the parking lot at work.

 

[Proram]

Only 1 so far. (and i feel like such a tool for tell'in you guys this)

A yamaha 700 snowmobile that got way down in a Deeep ditch. Could'nt just pass him and let him there!

No one around to help him. he did offer to pay me though.

said naaa. Did'nt work the truck TOO hard to get him out.



Scott

 

[Got Smoke?]

only 1 but BOY O BOY was it the GREAT ONE!



It was my cousin's phurd F-250 Diesel (pre-powerjoke) :-laf



The morning that TN got the bad snow (Thursday Jan 16th) my work sent me to Dekalb county from Wilson @ 9:30 (real bright! but it was clear @ time)



Well 1/2 way there it started, when I got there it was a mini blizzard.



On the way home the cell DIED so when I got back to my truck my work had closed and my truck was the only one left.



Plugged in my phone on car charger and there was my cousins voice mail saying "I'm only going to say bring a chain" :-laf :-laf :-laf



It was not very easy either, I was pulling uphill and after I spun away all 7" of snow down to solid earth... ... . it really was solid! solid ICE! Anyhow I backed up and jerked his truck 3 times before I got him up to solid enough ground that he could manuver.



By the way it was a 4x4, but he had burnt his front axle up!



P. S. Pics to come, gotta finish dispossible camera

 

[Johnboy3]

I've pulled out around 15 so far this year. I don't know how much more of this winter I can take.



Aren't nylon yank ropes amazing??

 

[illflem]

In this day and age be very careful helping someone out. I've heard of quite a few cases of the good Samaritan getting sued for damage caused when pulling a rig out and even getting nailed for damage that they didn't do that happened when the rig got itself stuck. Even if you do it for free you can still be held legally liable for damage.



Unfortunately this sue happy attitude has reduced my helping hand to just folks I know. If I don't know them I'll offer a ride or call for a tow truck.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I like to help the other guy, whenever I can, but I think Bill is right about being carefull with the help. There was one time that I wouldn't help a woman who drove into the ditch, out front of my swamp shack, on a dry day. She was stuck pretty good and I knew my 2wd would pull it out without huffing, on dry pavement, but I also knew there was no way I could drag her butt out without ripping something from it, so I offered to call a pro. She was ****** at me and told me she couldn't afford no tow truck. Oh well. .



Doc

 

[apkole]

1 Durastuck so far. Not enough ground clearance on that truck, so anticipate many more to come.





Illflem,

Good point. I was just thinkin' the same thing as I read these posts.



Time was we would hook up a tractor or pickup to help a poor soul stuck in the ditch. Times have changed. During our little storm last week, I specifically instructed my employees and subs not to hook up or push anyone. We are a snowplowing service, not a tow service.



Helping out a fellow snowplower seems to carry little risk. I avoid towing out these newer cars - no good place to hook, too much plastic and fiberglass.



Andy

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by illflem

In this day and age be very careful helping someone out. I've heard of quite a few cases of the good Samaritan getting sued for damage caused when pulling a rig out and even getting nailed for damage that they didn't do that happened when the rig got itself stuck. Even if you do it for free you can still be held legally liable for damage.



Unfortunately this sue happy attitude has reduced my helping hand to just folks I know. If I don't know them I'll offer a ride or call for a tow truck.

Exactly why I keep release forms in my console.



If I was to get into a situation where it was someone I didnt know and there was a possibility of me damaging their vehicle they have 2 choices... ... . sign the release or call a wrecker

 

[lgibson]

You do need to be carefull these days. A few years ago I was heading to Texas on I40. Between Flagstaff and the New Mexico border I must have pulled out a dozen or so cars and trucks. About 100 miles into New Mexico I was passed by a Trans-am and he had a semi riding his rear, less than 8 feet behind. This is on a road with standing snow and they were doing a good 50 mph or so. The car spins out and goes into the ditch and the truck keeps going. From my angle I thought the truck just hit him, but he did not.



As I stop to help the guy, the truck stops up the road some then takes off. I pull the TA out without any problems, and we headed down the road. He spins out again, I pull him out again.



20 or so miles down the road I stop at a truck stop and the TA guy is there and the Highway Patrol was talking to him, and he points me out.



Long story short the trucker radioed in saying I ran the TA off the road, and he, the trucker, did not stop because the traffic was too bad and it was icy. The Highway Patrol jerk wrote the TA driver a ticket for some BS and said he was going to arrest me after I told him where he could stick that ticket. :-{}. Looking back I don't know how I did not get arrested or shot after the things I told him.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I pulled out a CTD once. It was a 3500 2wd and he had rammed a 3' deep drift that went accross a county road. I couldn't get by him to hook on his back end and there wasn't much to hook on the front end. I always make people hook their end on themselves. Anyway I pulled him through the drift, it was like dragging an anchor. I had never had full turbo spool up in 1st gear before . He was real happy to be out of trouble, but I had taken out his front air dam in the process. He didn't care, just glad to be out of the drift. I've seen him around town a few times since and he has taken the air dam off.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

Only one :{ . We haven't hardly had any snow this year and it SUCKS. I'm soooooo jealous of those in the northeast right now. Halfway thinking about a road trip!

No problem Steve, time for a roadtrip. We have plenty of shovels to go around.

 

[Camara]

My son pulled out a Bronco (4wd) and a Honda Civic (by the bumper). I pulled out my R400 Mack Sander. Ran out of sand and got stuck on the ice.

 

[Camara]

If you guys set out on a road trip, PM me. I could stand a visit from other members. It would be apleasure to meet you. Oops, better tell my boss (wife). We officially broke the snowfall record from the blizzard of 78 by . 6 inches.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Might want to bring the boat.

I don't know about Mass but I had mid forty temps today with snow melting big time. The forecast is for heavy rain on saturday. Could be the vehicles will be stuck in water not snow.

 

[skobylenski]

Well, mother nature decided to hit us again #@$%! #@$%!

I don't know if this counts as pulling someone out, but it was a pull.



Was going to see my girlfriend last night, and along the way there's a pretty good hill. It was sleeting/hailing/snowing/raining, all around general **** you off weather. Anyway, this hill was one big sheet of ice. 4 wheel drives were making it fine, but the small Hundai/Toyota/Honda type cars were slipping all over the place. I had one in front of me by 3 cars, so when they started to slide backwards and sideways down the hill, I decided it was time to step into action. I pull up in front of them, pull out the tow strap, and start looking for a place to hook on. Of course, being a new Toyota, it had NOTHING to put a small hook on. I don't think you could even get a J-hook anywhere on the front, or an axle strap for that matter. Finally I just put the hook around the front suspension - I figured it was okay, as it was only up an icy hill, not out of a ditch or anything - I get back in, throw it into 2nd - yes, I started in 2nd, 4hi just fine - and gave the rather dumbfounded and thankful family a freindly tow up the hill.



It's times like this that I wish I ran a towing service - those guys were raking it in last night.



Hope everyone in the Northeast - and everywhere - is safe.



Scott

 

[willyslover]

#3 yesterday... still believe in helping someone out who is in a pickle... . but always wonder if this is the one LOL

 

[EricBu12]

On a trip up to Idaho, in Noth Salt Lake, there was an older chevy 4x2 that slid off into the side, I stopped, and brought out my strap and chain and in 4 high, I pulled an out he came. He had power so he was able to help himself when he got traction. Took 30 seconds!!

I was driving on 1/8" of new snow as well on the shoulder... .

 

[Jeff H]

Usually when it gets to that point. I myself barely get around. I've had 2 failed attempts so far. Freakin rains then freezes then turns into a nice skatin rink. So tempted to get some chains.

If ya don't wanna get sued. I refuse to hook the chain to there vehicle. They must do it them selfs.

Theres more than enough tow trucks around here. I'm not in the business of stealing business. Beside they have all those flashy lights. So people can see something is going on.