Quack_Addict
1/2 ton status
I should have taken pictures of the first situation, it may have better justified the means I used. I always carry 2 snatch straps, a couple lengths of high-tensile 3/8" transport chain with hooks, along with other assorted goodies for helping get out of sticky situations.
With a strap attached, the strap would tension up and the tractor tires would start to spin up as they lost traction on the gravel road surface. The truck had slid into a swamp part way and the right front (in the swamp muck) and left rear tires (in the air) had NO traction. The stock differential in the front (whatever they put into an IFS) and the Gov-Lik in the rear meant that the truck could provide little if any assistance to getting itself unstuck the way it sat.
With the tractor and 8' chain, I managed to pull the back of the truck around a little so that both rear tires came in contact with the road surface. This meant pulling the right rear tire sideways up the birm the truck was teetering on. Once I got the truck facing more head-on into the swamp, I got behind and pulled it out slow (still using the chain). It worked out fine.
I have used both chains and straps in the past. I have seen both break and the reprecussions of each. I wouldn't have used the chain without first proving unsuccessful with at strap, and NO, a hitch ball WAS NOT used on either end.
As for the comment about getting a K5 to take wheeling... my `83 shortbox 4x4 is basically a topless K5 /forums/images/icons/wink.gif... and my `84 K20 will go places the `83 can't /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif. We'll see what the `87 Sub can do when I get it done... /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
the ZR2 does pretty good off the road. It's the daily driver and I had not planned on doing a lot of 4-wheeling on the trip as we were on a turkey hunting expedition... we just decided to have some fun and run the trails a little kind of spur of the moment like. Didn't expect to get too stupid.
Oh, forgot to mention... I didn't shock the chain with a "10-15 foot run and full throttle pull". That would be a little difficult with a 8' chain and the gearing on the tractor. All I did with the tractor was take the slack out of the chain - no room for anything but - allowing for instant force transmission to the back of the ZR2 instead of the 'gentle pull' the strap was providing.
With a strap attached, the strap would tension up and the tractor tires would start to spin up as they lost traction on the gravel road surface. The truck had slid into a swamp part way and the right front (in the swamp muck) and left rear tires (in the air) had NO traction. The stock differential in the front (whatever they put into an IFS) and the Gov-Lik in the rear meant that the truck could provide little if any assistance to getting itself unstuck the way it sat.
With the tractor and 8' chain, I managed to pull the back of the truck around a little so that both rear tires came in contact with the road surface. This meant pulling the right rear tire sideways up the birm the truck was teetering on. Once I got the truck facing more head-on into the swamp, I got behind and pulled it out slow (still using the chain). It worked out fine.
I have used both chains and straps in the past. I have seen both break and the reprecussions of each. I wouldn't have used the chain without first proving unsuccessful with at strap, and NO, a hitch ball WAS NOT used on either end.
As for the comment about getting a K5 to take wheeling... my `83 shortbox 4x4 is basically a topless K5 /forums/images/icons/wink.gif... and my `84 K20 will go places the `83 can't /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif. We'll see what the `87 Sub can do when I get it done... /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
the ZR2 does pretty good off the road. It's the daily driver and I had not planned on doing a lot of 4-wheeling on the trip as we were on a turkey hunting expedition... we just decided to have some fun and run the trails a little kind of spur of the moment like. Didn't expect to get too stupid.
Oh, forgot to mention... I didn't shock the chain with a "10-15 foot run and full throttle pull". That would be a little difficult with a 8' chain and the gearing on the tractor. All I did with the tractor was take the slack out of the chain - no room for anything but - allowing for instant force transmission to the back of the ZR2 instead of the 'gentle pull' the strap was providing.
