Posted 2012-05-05 9:04 AM (#143709) Subject: Winch on medium duty truck?
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Grant Twp., MI
OK --- picture this - medium duty truck - not 4 x 4 - heavy loaded trailer - grassy field - with sand....buried truck....so how to avoid this next time - or is it even possible to pull through wet grass or other off-road situations with this type of rig...tried everything - finally un-hooked trailer - guy had a heavy tractor and sorta "winched/pulled" truck out...tried gently rocking the truck - tried lowest creeper gears...(has new tires) and nothing worked...thank God I was not in a super remote forest camping. Any help from you medium duty drivers? Would a winch on my front bumper help - so if no one was in camp I could possibly pull myself out? (Truck/trailer combo about 30,000#'s) Course didn't help my mood when my hubby who doesn't drive this rig - said that I didn't know how to drive and it was my fault - I was backing into a spot and I did have it in place but he just wasn't happy and wanted me to pull forward and move it over "just a little"....it wasn't a pretty fight
Posted 2012-05-05 12:07 PM (#143712 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
If your truck and trailer weigh 30+k then I say stay on the gravel/crushed stone/hard surface.... Stay off the grass areas... Seen a M2 2wd truck come to the horse show pull up and park in a grass area with no problems, they showed out of the trailer all day, come time to leave truck won't move.... All the wheels had settled during the day, I gave them a nudge to rock them enough to get them moving. The bermuda grass was pretty much what was keeping them above ground, one set of duals had began to spin through the root structure. Had both sides gone down, it would have taken alot more winch than you would have wanted to bolt to the front of that Freightliner...
Posted 2012-05-05 9:43 PM (#143716 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
The problem with most attached winches is they are defined by ROLLING WEIGHT capacities...if you are in axle deep...you ARE NOT a ROLLING WEIGHT...initially...
Posted 2012-05-05 10:28 PM (#143717 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
One thing you might want to consider is the actual mounting of the winch. Many require a much heavier bumper installation, onto which the winch with its side rollers and fair leads can be affixed. This can add a great deal to the cost. The wiring, because of the heavy draw of the winch's motor, will dictate a dedicated electrical system just for the winch.
You will need something to which to attach the snatch block, land anchor or fellow truck owner. Sky hooks aren't always available, and unreliable at best.
A careful precursor inspection of your parking situation, might be more beneficial than depending on aids to help in a bad situation. Wet grass can trap a dually on a flat open field. A rain storm can change the footing situations in minutes.
Carrying a long, heavy nylon tow strap will help if you need extrication. It works much better than a chain. It's lighter, stronger, stretches, and less expensive. It will not damage a vehicle like a chain, and in the longer lengths, much easier to store and handle.
Posted 2012-05-06 7:45 AM (#143720 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
I had the very same situation happen a couple years ago with our C4500. My gross weight is 28,900. After a week of camping the trailer settled into the ground just enough I couldn't budge it. I'm not faulting you but the first thing to keep in mind, if you can't move the trailer from a dead stop before spinning. Just stop, you'll only make it worse by digging a hole. That day all it took was a half ton pickup to give me just enough additional traction. As mentioned above, you have to really be careful where you park 30,000 pounds but even then things happen. I've thought about a winch my self, but most of the places we go, I wouldn't have anything to winch to anyway. For now if I'm parking some place that the trailer might settle I lay out 2" oak planks to park the tires on. This way I'll at least not have the trailer getting chocked in and a few inches of free rolling for momentum before hitting soft ground.
Posted 2012-05-06 10:16 AM (#143725 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 658 Location: Rayne, LA
I got my peterbilt stuck on damp grass. By the end of the day it sank some more. We tried to pull it out with a dually and regular tow strap but it din't work. A fellow camping next to me had a long bungie cord about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. It was amazing how it streched and helped his truck pull me out. I have been trying to fing one but don't know the proper name for it. Any suggestions?
Posted 2012-05-07 8:29 AM (#143753 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I've pulled out several trucks using the same type of strap. Most were still hitched to their trailers as was mine. You're not lifting the weight of the rig, just providing additional traction.
When I burried my tractor, the strap was actually used to pick up its entire weight. Several year's of hard usage and it hasn't failed yet.
Posted 2012-05-07 6:53 PM (#143784 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
No offense, but I'd rather not try it when trying it might lead to a high speed projectile. I'd much rather lean on the safe side and have a recover rope rated for what my vehicle combination weights.
Posted 2012-05-08 12:37 PM (#143814 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Location: Central Arkansas
I got my M2 Sportchassis & trailer stuck within 2 feet of payment at the QH Congress. The tow truck had to go under the front spoiler to the axle which cracked up the ground effects spoiler. I simply gave in, had the factory install tow hooks.
Posted 2012-05-09 11:54 AM (#143835 - in reply to #143798) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Grant Twp., MI
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice...we do inspect before we park - and if I wasn't so insistent on the comforts of home on road...we could have just got by with a "normal truck/trailer"....but...here we are...unless we go to campgrounds...for instance like Land Between The Lakes (Kentucky) where it looks like a groomed parking lot...we are usually in trouble...it is an International and it does have tow hooks...so will be looking at the recovery lines...I'm worried about that flying projectile thing, too! When you park a week or longer on grass/sand whatever....these rigs want to take up permanent residence! Y'all might see this outfit for sale soon...
Posted 2012-05-09 1:13 PM (#143837 - in reply to #143709) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
As someone elses has said, park it on some 2x8 or 2x10 boards about a foot long under each wheel. When you leave drive off the boards until you get on a hard gravel surface at least with the tractor, go back and collect your boards for next trip. Should be some room on that Navistar for 10-1 foot long 2x8's.... Put a loop of rope on one end of each board so as you can pull them out of the ground, they'll be molded to the earth's surface!!.... Can do the same thing by popping them out with a short spade.
Posted 2012-05-09 3:31 PM (#143840 - in reply to #143837) Subject: RE: Winch on medium duty truck?
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Grant Twp., MI
I think that's about the best thing - Gard told me about Sand Mats...but I think the boards would be easier...also we usually un-hook in case we need to drive the truck...maybe it will prevent our "next" shouting match!
Winch on medium duty truck?
OK --- picture this - medium duty truck - not 4 x 4 - heavy loaded trailer - grassy field - with sand....buried truck....so how to avoid this next time - or is it even possible to pull through wet grass or other off-road situations with this type of rig...tried everything - finally un-hooked trailer - guy had a heavy tractor and sorta "winched/pulled" truck out...tried gently rocking the truck - tried lowest creeper gears...(has new tires) and nothing worked...thank God I was not in a super remote forest camping. Any help from you medium duty drivers? Would a winch on my front bumper help - so if no one was in camp I could possibly pull myself out? (Truck/trailer combo about 30,000#'s) Course didn't help my mood when my hubby who doesn't drive this rig - said that I didn't know how to drive and it was my fault - I was backing into a spot and I did have it in place but he just wasn't happy and wanted me to pull forward and move it over "just a little"....it wasn't a pretty fight 
