Mega cab rescues first gen CTD!

[BHolm]

I did my good deed for the day yesterday. I was headed up Red Mtn Pass for some snowmobiling (over 2 feet fresh ) when about half way I up I came across a red 2wd first gen CTD pulling a trailer with some kind of machine on it. They were trying to climb a snow covered section on a hill and had lost traction and even slid back some. I offered my services. I pulled ahead to the switchback and unhooked my little trailer. We hooked up with the mega in 4 lo and it easily pulled him up to where it was flat and the pavement just wet. Easy save for the mighty mega!



Granted they should not have been on the road like that. Snow tires or chains were posted required and they had neither. Texas plates are also a giveaway in this country, they hadn't spent much time driving through the mtns near as I could tell. Sometimes a guy has to do what a guy has to do though, so no lecture from me, just a "good luck" and off they went.



I was impressed with how effortlessly my truck pulled him, uphill, on some pretty greasy wet snowpack. No tire spining, no need to jerk him to get rolling, just an easy roll on and up we went. Somebody was smiling on me because as soon as I got unloaded the skies cleared, sun came out and it was in the upper 40's, a perfect day. Who says there's no such thing as karma

 

[MMcClane]

On behalf of a fellow Texan you have my thanks for helping that guy out. You are right about snow experience. If he was from South Texas he probably has never seen snow much less driven it it. Thanks again to you and the Mega Dodge.

 

[Buffalo]

BHolm,



Good story!!! Nice of you to help someone out without demanding compensation. Could happen to any of us, at anytime, also.



When I purchased my first new Dodge/Cummins ('91. 5, 4X4), I was very curious about just how strong this truck was.



Happened to be at the local grocery store & noticed quite a commotion at the entrance to the parking lot. To get from the street, past the sidewalk & to the level of the parking lot, was a short, steep climb.



A pick-up with the longest fifthwheel horse trailer (with living quarters) that I'd ever seen had gotten high-centered on the sidewalk area. A car with emergency lights on the roof was blocking traffic while a lifted 1/2 ton Chevy 4X4 was trying to pull him off. The Chevy just spun the tires & bounced around while the tires were trying to get traction. He couldn't budge him, at all. Finally, gave up & unhooked.



I had walked over to see what was happening. The towing pick-ups rear wheels were about 4" off the ground. The owners were trying to locate a towing company to pull them off the ridge. Being curious as to what my truck would do, I volunteered to try to pull them off the ridge. By now, it had started raining, also. The Chevy owner told me I was wasting my time even trying.



I was a bit worried about embarrasing myself & the Dodge but, had already volunteered. I got the truck, put it into 4-Low, hooked up to the pick-up & easily pulled him off the ridge. I was surprised at how well the Dodge performed, especially with what was now a wet road with limited traction.



I don't know how much they weighed but, if memory serves me right, they had nine horses in the trailer plus 3 or 4 people & were headed to the Arabian Horse Show, in Scottsdale.



The driver of the pick-up (gas powered) was very impressed with the pulling power of the Cummins powered Dodge (as was I).



Another time, I was in the White Mtns. of Eastern AZ. & came across a father & son in an SUV that were buried to the frame in mud. The son was driving & just had to go through the mud. This was a remote, back in the woods, area. Not much help out there. Their SUV was a tag-along, towed behind their motorhome.



I hooked up to him & had a heck of a time trying to get him out. Aparently, there is a suction created underneath a stuck vehicle in mud. This extraction was quite a bit tougher than the huge horse trailer.



After getting him unstuck, the father sent the son over to me with a good quality cigar & a one hundred dollar bill in his hand. He said I had my choice of one or the other. I told him it was kind of fun pulling him out & that there was "no charge". He insisted that I take something for my efforts so, I took the cigar (which was really good). If the Forest Service catches you tearing up a muddy road, there is a $100. 00 fine, by the way.



If you can get traction, these trucks pull really well.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[TowPro]

Would you have stopped to help if it was a Ford or Chevy?

 

[Buffalo]

TowPro,



I know you're just kidding but, In my case, the horse trailer was being towed by a large Ford Dually, 2-wd, Crew Cab, I believe. The SUV was a foreign make, Toyota Forerunner, I believe.



If I was in their situations, I don't think I'd care if they were driving a Yugo. Especially, if they were able to get me out.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Highfinance97]

BHolm and Buffalo



Both of your storys are awesome, there is not to many people out there that will go out of there way to help someone like we would. Reading your storys actully gave me chills, its such a good feeling when you help out someone like that.



I got a short story, not as good as yours and not as good of an ending but...



The other day i was in my car and i see this 3rd gen towing a 3 axle deckover, he must have hit somthing hard because his quarter panel was banged up and his 3 right tires were flat. they actully were in threads, So being the eagle scout and loyel CTD owner that i am, I turned around to tell him to bring the truck to my house and we could work on it. Well i lost him looked for a bit but no luck but i did my best. LOL





Michael

 

[Buffalo]

Highfinance97,



Good For You!!!



You, at least, tried. Can't do more than that.



In my first story, the Chevy guy told me it was useless to even try. I was almost inclined to agree with him but, tried anyway. Turned out to be an easy pull for the '91. 5 W-250. It was well worth the effort because, for the first time, I found out just how strong this truck really was. I gained a lot of respect for that truck & learned what it was really capable of.



The Chevy guy & the stuck (Ford) guy learned something that day, also. I think we were all impressed with the mighty Cummins.



This reminds me of another story. My buddies (Chevy Z-71, 1/2 tons, now Duramax's) & I were camped up in the White Mtns. & a logger, just up the road, with a 1-ton Chevy Dually, 2-wd with side rails on the bed, had backed off the road, a bit, & was cutting & loading firewood for the winter. He had parked in what turned out to be somewhat of a muddy bog. Dry on top but, muddy underneath the surface.



He hadn't noticed that the truck started to sink from all the weight. He couldn't get out. So, he walked over to our camp seeking some help. My Chevy buddy said, "Have we got the truck for You!!!", & pointed to my '91. 5 W-250.



I warmed it up, a bit, & pulled out onto the gravel road, which, was dry. We hooked up a number of tow ropes & I was able to get him out. Wasn't easy but, he was out of the mud.



He was really happy because he thought he was going to have to unload all that firewood, to try to get out, & then have to move it to the road & then reload.



Once again, everyone was impressed, including me, with how strong the Dodge/Cummins is.



The guy didn't have much money but, offered me some, which, I turned down. It was a lot of fun to see just what the truck was capable of. On his way out, he stopped & gave me a small Crucifix, which, I keep in my trailer, now, as a reminder.



Frankly, just watching these trucks perform as they were intended is more than enough compensation, for me.



As a joke, a number of years ago, one of my employees got a small St. Joseph statue & made a tow rope out of string & hung it over the statue's shoulder & gave it to me. I guess I had an unusual number of "rescues" to report.



Now that I think of it, twice, I rescued hot air balloons out in the desert. One time, we tied a rope to the basket of the baloon & the other end to the rear bumper on my 1977 Toyota Landcruiser. They inflated the balloon & I drove them out to where their chase vehicle was. This was after dark & they were going to have to spend the night with the balloon out in the desert. This was a commercial, champagne-flight balloon ride & the customers were scared to death. I got to share the champagne after I got them out.



Boy, this thread has been fun. I'd forgotten what a great time i've had. Thanks for bringing this subject up. BTW, does anyone remember what the topic of this thread was. I think I may have "hi-jacked" it.

Joe F. (Buffalo)

Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[BHolm]

The thread wasn't "about" much of anything, so you didn't hi-jack it Nice to see there are others willing to lend a hand because I never know when it will be me next. And yes, I would have pulled a ford or chevy too :-laf



I just try and imagine what it would be like to be these guys, obviously a long way form home. 10 long mtn rd miles from a very small town, and the only guy within 30 miles who has a wrecker is on vacation in Mexico. I know they didn't have cell phone coverage, and everybody else was just passing them by. Like you guys mentioned, no skin off my nose, I rather enjoyed it and wouldn't ever have though to charge them for it.



Nice to hear the other stories, nice to be in good company in what can be a cruel world.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Nice stories guys. I've got none to share, just wanted to give you guys an 'atta boy'. It's nice to hear that there are good people left in this world.



Jeff