Getting unstuck

I work for a Heavy Tow company... Probably the biggest in canada. Some advice: Try not to get stuck! If you do...Of course I will tell you to call a Heavy tow. Unlike the gentleman that got robbed in kamloops, I wouldnt Rob you. I work for a company that has every major towing contract in the area, So we dont need to charge an arm and a leg like smaller companies, because we're not panicking trying to pay our drivers/truck payments. The reason why im telling you isnt so I can make money (ok maybe a bit), but MOSTLY because MANY truck drivers don't have a clue about recovery, and therefore can and will damage your truck. The front tow hooks are NOT rated for anything more than a simple tow out of a slippery loading dock, or out of some light snow. Tow truck operators know what to hook onto (and its not directly to the leafspring, or the front axle). My BIGGEST advice.. and I get to these calls all the time. NEVER and I mean EVER unpin from your trailer (especially if its on a snowbank/object and resting on your drives, or in deep snow. it will cause us more headaches, and you more money, because Stifflegs are meant to support a stationary trailer, not twisted or dragged while winching. Keep your tractor pinned, so we have something to work with.

 

Carry a couple of gallons of bleach on your trk it helps the tires adhere to the pavement better..

 

That bleach thing is interesting.
I can pledge that kitty litter is useless for traction. It mashes and makes a slippery clay mixture. Some outdoor dock tried to cheap out on salt/sand and it didn't work at all.

 

Actually, it makes the rubber "softer" thereby giving it better traction.

 

Old hand told me that back in 91 I have done it twice..

 

Adding to the rocking your way out maneuver : trucks are a pain in the ### to rock back and forth with enough speed and distance (however little) to really be of any use if your real stuck. Un-synchronized transmissions just cant go from a forward gear to reverse fast enough to rock your way out easily. Add the fact that you only have two legs and need to play with 3 pedals at once. This is assuming you can't just stay in first gear and use momentum to rock back and don't need to be held there.

If you need both forward and reverse power this is how you do it without being hard on the truck.

Holding the break to keep yourself on "top" of the hole once you've backed up is fine and dandy, but what about that time gap where you pretty well have to release the brake and press on the go pedal at the same time??? too slow and gravity brings you back to the bottom. Too fast and you spin, losing traction and guess what, your back at the bottom.

Le solution: if your trailer has any form of traction use your spike to hold the truck until you set up for your great escape. Back up until you are on the outer back edge of the rut, then apply the spike to keep the truck there. Take your time, you can even have a cigarette if you'd like at this stage, eat a sandwich, take your time lol theres no hurry. Now when your tired of wasting time and ready to be on your way throw her in a gear of your choosing, slightly release the clutch until it just contacts the flywheel, release the spike and when your breaks let go give 'er hell.

Every truck I've driven has had a little delay from the time the spike is released to the time the brakes actually release. This is what your using here to get yourself out. Again, this is providing you have enough traction back there to hold the rig in place.

Gotten myself out of sticky situations more than once like this, works great.

 

Setting your tires on fire works the same way - AND - the thick black smoke attracks the wreckers and fire department to your exact location quicker !!



Sorry PB - I couldn't resist !! - SL

 

Oh hohohoooo thanks for that. I so appreciated the laugh!!!

 

Always know when its time to give up!!!!!

 

Speedy dry works wonders. Is a larger than sand , so it bites better. And easier to haul around on the truck than gravel in some app. Gravel works great but harder to carry.