Recovery advice (NOT urgent)

Look for a recovery group on your local Facebook. If you don’t know how, those people live and breathe for recoveries.

 

Some people call them kinetic straps. Yank - stretch - sproing - un stuck.

 

Snatch straps are commonly called kinetic ropes if you are ever interested in getting em. The standard operation is to get a small running start and basically acts like a bungee cord. It’s actually easier on the vehicle doing the pulling and less strain on the frame.

It also helps pull something much heavier than you can with a regular tow strap.

 

Yup, pull from the backside of his truck, pulling from the front is going to be very hard on the little taco and his truck. Back up close to him, within 5 feet layout the snatch strap and and go at a bit of an angle(try to keep it as straight as possible), but aim for the opposite side of the road. Don't goose it, doubtful you have adequate traction to do it and as others have said you'll probably end up sinking or getting stuck. accelerate evenly so you get to a decent speed. you will feel your truck start to slow down as the strap stretches, but then you will start to move again as it rebounds and pulls out his truck, don't let off the gas at this point, you can get pulled backwards(although very rare).

Make sure to have him put his truck in reverse and get the tyres spinning to break and surface friction on the rear wheels. This also works as when you get his tyres up on the bank and he gets traction he will assist you in getting the front end out. I don't mean floor it, just enough to start getting the wheels to break free for him. If he floors it, he will just be creating a bigger problem with his traction and should he gain traction he can take off into the back of your truck or into the other ditch. Speaking from experience here, the guy shot right across the road because he wasn't doing what we told him to do. Usually we switch out the stuck driver for another guy as they are stressed out and not capable of thinking straight at moments like these.

Another option would be to have your truck on the edge of the opposite side of the road, back up equal with him, hook up the snatch straps and go. Same as the other technique, but becareful as your back of the truck will get pulled sideways into him and point you into the ditch by doing this one. Not a big deal, you just have to be aware that you will need to steer driver side while doing this technique.

Make sure he has an adequate recovery points. I have pulled numerous trucks out this winter (F250/f350, Chevy 3500, etc) out of ditches with my taco, and not one of them had a single recovery hitch/gear. And these are trucks that are outfitted for use in the logging/oil and gas industries. Baffles my mind how so many people do not carry recovery gear, I've started carrying a second recovery hitch solely for this reason. Most trucks and cars these days to not have adequate recovery points.

Do do not use the ARB Recovery point and go in reverse Sure it will work, but you want to be moving forwards not backwards, you'll have more control and see where you are going. That point is intended as a recovery point for you and for a winch point with a block.

Keep everyone out of the immediate recovery area. I've seen recovery points break and go flying from hauling people out.

Steve

 

Let us know how it goes OP. We're rooting for you.

 

So an update. We were unable to get his truck out, the ditch he is in is quite deep, we tried pulling back but only moved him along the ditch, not out.

The problem was snow. I couldn’t really pull at the needed angle because the other side of the road had about 2ft of partially melted windblown snow covering it. Very heavy to shovel, but not so dense that I could drive on top of it.

We tried using the come a longs to pull his front end out, but they weren’t up to the task.

All the other equipment worked great, if we had a better angle I’m sure we would’ve gotten it done. I found out that he didn’t start out in the ditch, he initially got stuck sideways on the road. His boss tried to pull his back end down hill but instead of his rear sliding he went backwards into the ditch.

All in all we didn’t break anything, I didn’t also get stuck and his truck is in a slightly better position. He’s going to have to wait til the tractor is available or some of the snow to melt so I can pull across the road, luckily he lives above the restaurant he works at so he can get by with no wheels.

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice!

 

Damn!!

 

You can always try the Hilljack Method...

 

If you can't get him out from behind find someone with a winch so they can pull from the front at an angle.

 

Provided there is a spot for the truck with the winch to secure themselves to. Otherwise with the road conditions, your more then likely to pull yourself into them.

 

Good wheel chucks that bight in should stop the slide but if not you could chain the winch vehicle to another vehicle or two. Just don't do what these guys did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9shuXwkoOIc

 

I'd pull from rear.
Just do it 4lo if the ground isn't too frozen try and dig out the rear a little so he has more space to get momentum

 

Any update, or is it still stuck?

 

Smash the windows, torch it, report it stolen, delete this post, collect some cash. But remember, insurance fraud is a crime.

 

Nope, his mechanic came with a tow truck and winched him out.