Bury a tire to get out

[seak]

I have zero experience with this. But, here's a video from a guy who seems to know a thing or two about vehicle recoveries. He demonstrates several methods for extricating your vehicle from the sand, including burying a spare tire. That looks like a last resort to me.

 

[DannyB1954]

try this Pooe man's mud tires.

 

[broken ed]

Lots of ideas here, but haven't seen an "earth anchor" brought up.

https://www.amazon.com/MTB-Anchor-P...r&qid=1559853494&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

They come in different sizes and types depending on your needs. You'll need a crow-bar to screw it into the ground. I used to carry one with a (yes) a come-along, but it is a one person operation.

I used to have a come-along made by Yale, the old lock company, that used roller chain, like the kind used on a motorcycle but much larger chain. I think it had a 6,000 pound capacity. It could lift and entire car into the air. I once suspended my car between two trees with it.

Anyway - you can buy an earth anchor and light weight come-along for less then $100.00 that's strong enough to pull a car or pickup (without a trailer).

 

[1shemp]

Hey,this will work.I know for a fact because I saw it on the Red Green show."We are all in this together.Keep your stick on the ice"I have no idea what that means.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Lots of ideas here, but haven't seen an "earth anchor" brought up . . .

Those 'earth anchors' are only rated for axial load (2400 lbs for 30" model in compact ground).  No rating given for out-of-line holding but it would be much less.

Use the right tools for the job.

 

[Doubleone]

....Can sometimes use floor mats or a long piece of carpet depending on soil and moisture. They make plastic tread plates specifically for off-roaders too. Technique is to rock it back and forth D to R then gas it out. Also, a snatch strap works really good, almost like a big rubber band. A rescue car takes off and when the tension pulls up on the strap it just plucks the stuck car out. Best to use a strap with soft loops on the ends because the metal hook type can become lethal projectiles, same with land anchors that pull out suddenly from rocky terrain.

 

[highdesertranger]

" Technique is to rock it back and forth D to R then gas it out."

yeah, every tried to do that on a newer vehicle where you have to apply the brake to shift into reverse or drive.

highdesertranger

 

[wagoneer]

One of my luxuries is a 25 ft steel link chain.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

....Can sometimes use floor mats or a long piece of carpet depending on soil and moisture.  They make plastic tread plates specifically for off-roaders too . . .
 Also, a snatch strap works really good, almost like a big rubber band . . .

Know what you are doing.  There is enough energy in a snatch strap to pull bumpers or suspension parts off, bend an axle tube or cut you in half if it breaks.  Tie only to the frame; preferably with an equalizer to both frame rails.  And the loops can cinch so tight that you have to cut the strap to get it off.

Mats and carpet can work in dry situations, not in mud.

Good traction boards are expensive.  The cheap ones break when you need them.

 

[highdesertranger]

hahaha spiff it seems you talk from experience. highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

Once an old man flagged me down in a rusty old truck that was stuck with his strap already attached to the frame and once hooked up to my jeep told me to give it all my little jeep had. Turns out he was caught on a large rock and both rusty frame rails broke. I now air down tires first and use the strap as a last resort after making sure there are no big rocks to hang up on.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

hahaha spiff it seems you talk from experience.  highdesertranger

It is only by the grace of God that I am alive with all body parts attached.  I probably tried every stupid recovery trick in my youth.

Good point bullfrog:  Always let the person you are pulling attach it to his/her vehicle.  And be clear on what you are going to do and what can possibly happen.  The towing vehicle can be damaged too.

 

[broken ed]

Those 'earth anchors' are only rated for axial load (2400 lbs for 30" model in compact ground).  No rating given for out-of-line holding but it would be much less.

Use the right tools for the job.

You are of course right when you say use the right tool for the right job. For those that don't understand, earth anchors, they get there strength from pulling at an angle, the sharper the angle the more it will hold. Earth anchors are relatively easy to pull straight up out of the ground. In the few times I've got stuck I didn't need the full capacity of an earth anchor. One one time maybe only took 500 or so pounds of force to free me. Another took much - much more when I run accost a hidden underground spring and sank up-to the axles (4-wheel-drive Toyota with 31 inch all-terrain tires). In that case a earth anchor would not work; instead I used my come along with several chains and a tow strap to hook to an electrical tower. Yup - not suppose to do that, but after pulling backward, then forward I was free and no one was coming to help.

The strongest earth anchors I've seen are not for vehicles, they are for mobile homes. They are used to anchor the home down using hurricane straps. One - or even two of these working together can pull a lot. As the name implies, they are made for hurricanes.


I pulled many times over people out then I've ever got stuck with my small Toyota 4x4. Many people, including a full size Dodge pickup in a ditch didn't think I could do it. In his case I didn't even lock in the hubs. I don't drive (much) anymore - but if I see you stuck I'll try and help you too. Just jumped off a motorcycle with a spare battery (deep cycle) for my mobility scooter. Also jump a SUV, and my 12 volt air pump has helped two more people this year. I believe it's important to be able to help yourself, but also others. You never know when it will be paid back to you.

 

[Doubleone]

Yeah, lots of fail videos on youtube where folks try to winch or extract a vehicle. One I remember seeing was an entire front bumper flying off a stuck vehicle and decking a bystander. Hopefully the guy wasn't killed; I know it hurt just to watch.

 

[Homeless in Canada]

Drive a sidewalk pin into the ground with a sledgehammer. A sidewalk pain is basically a 4 ft long iron nail about 1 inch thick that's used to support concrete forms. If you drive it into the ground deep enough you can tie a chain or strap low to the ground and give you something solid to pull yourself out

 

[highdesertranger]

always remember to get your pin back out and that's going to be a lot harder then driving it in. do not leave it there. highdesertranger

 

[Homeless in Canada]

To pull the pin out wiggle it from side to side.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have found that anything you can dive into the ground that gives you the strength to pull a vehicle out is almost impossible to get back out. wiggle it from side to side doesn't cut it. highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

I have a hard enough time getting my 18" stakes out that I don't drive in but about a foot. Takes a lot of beating sideways to get it so I can twist it with pliers to get it out. Can't imagine anything longer.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

To pull the pin out wiggle it from side to side.

Anything that comes out of the ground that easily will come out of the ground easily while you are attempting a pull, usually at the worst possible time.  Getting it out is more work that putting it in.

I would not ever use a hand winch (come-a-long) with a self driven anchor!  If something fails dangerous projectiles are going to come flying back along the line of the wire rope with enough force to cut you in half.