truck stuck prevention!

[MT rydn]

so this last ride stuck my truck with the 26 foot enclosed trailer hooked up.
unloaded the sleds then a friend chained up his one ton long bed crew cab and with one of those nylon snatch ropes jerked my truck with trailer attached right out with no problem. so does everyone carry tire chains and a nylon snatch rope? also is recommended you use shackles to attach and not the ball on your hitch. we also got his truck stuck and had to use a floor jack on boards to raise the axles high enough to chain up his truck. so now i'm going to always carry:
1) tire chains
2) floor jack and pieces of 2x6's or 2x8's to set on in snow under an axle i might have to lift to chain up if already stuck.
3) nylon snatch rope (i.e. bubba rope, others)
4) shackles/receiver shackle
5) set of chains for the trailer - be sure to get kind that will minimize lateral sway for the trailer
6) video camera - my son said was hilarious watching my truck and trailer getting blasted out of being stuck
7) my wife also suggests i try find more common sense to prevent getting stuck in first place

what do other recommend??

 

[Blk88GT]

I've carried a recovery strap and selection of shackles for years. You wouldn't believe what you can get out of with one of those and a couple trucks!

 

[Rotax-Guy]

#7 is the best!!

 

[noxis]

#7

#7 seems to happen here alot

 

[opel]

A shovel that fits your buddies hands.lol If your chains are made right you can throw them on when already stuck, just quicker than lifting the truck up is all.

 

[MT rydn]

exhaust air jacks

anyone carrry exhaust air jacks? thoughts on them?

 

[will]

Chains

Not sure I'm understanding why you had to jack up the truck to put the chains on. If you dig out around the tire, throw the chain over the wheel, with it hanging down on boths sides, shackle the back side and then the front you should be good to go even with the tire firmly plated in the snow. If I can't get them tight before spinned or turning a wheel I bungee strap them up till I can re-tighten them. I'm I missing something or is this a situation I haven't run accross yet?

Thanks Will

 

[MT rydn]

Not sure I'm understanding why you had to jack up the truck to put the chains on. If you dig out around the tire, throw the chain over the wheel, with it hanging down on boths sides, shackle the back side and then the front you should be good to go even with the tire firmly plated in the snow. If I can't get them tight before spinned or turning a wheel I bungee strap them up till I can re-tighten them. I'm I missing something or is this a situation I haven't run accross yet?

Thanks Will

maybe we could have if tried longer. had 2 tires pretty much completely buried in snow and other side of truck down to icy road. so chaining the icy side which was right down to ice layer on ground. like you said we probably need to work on our technique!

anybody have opinions on best tires for snow and ice?

 

[zr600]

I have heard good thing about the good year dura tracs on snow and ice these can be studded also. Im thinking about running a mud tire in the summer on my aftermarket wheels, and then running these in the winter on factory wheels with studs for better traction and not messing up my nice wheels with all the salt on the roads.

 

[Blk88GT]

I've got the Duratracs on my truck. You won't be disappointed.

 

[vmax600]

addition...

Kitty litter or snow melt. Kitty litter thrown under the tires has gotten me out several times.

 

[Polarismaster26]

Always carry chains...and hold it to the floor!!

 

[MT rydn]

have the chains NOW and cables for the trailer. have seen several comments about goodyear wrangler duratracs being great tries. might need to get those, also.

well here's a question sure to start the brand loyalty arguments - F350 powerstroke or 3500 duramax, crew cabs. in future looking at going to crew cab one ton to replace my excursion for towing. interested in comments on the whole package of each truck not just the engine. my experience with heavy ford trucks has been great and i'm not as impressed with the chevy when you take out the duramax factor. what do others think?

 

[Gmiller]

A set of chains will go along ways, On a diesel, throw them on the front, 4lo and the weight of the engine, you'll pull right out. Most people start sliding, guess what they do, Floor it. BAD IDEA, that just makes things a lot harder. I have a set of Studded Snow Tires but i live in an area where you can have them. In an emergency i have tire chains and a HD log chain. Pulled out many 1 ton trucks with that chain without issues but ill never say it can't or won't snap. The heavy duty straps are always the better idea. If you go into the ditch unhook the trailer, pull out the truck then pull the trailer out. A winch is always a good thing!

Just my 2 cents.

 

[zr600]

If your going to buy a strap make sure it is a good recovery strap and not a tow strap.

 

[GettnUnstuck]

Chains and Cables

Just bought an enclosed this year and would like to be ready for the ice/snow when needed. Not learn that i needed these after already in the ditch.

Where is the best place to get the chains (for rear tires of truck) and cables (for trailer)?

 

[Gmiller]

Just bought an enclosed this year and would like to be ready for the ice/snow when needed. Not learn that i needed these after already in the ditch.

Where is the best place to get the chains (for rear tires of truck) and cables (for trailer)?

You have a 2wd?? Unless your planning on driving 30-40mph you do not want to run chains and cables all the time. Trailer cables won't help you with anything except maybe stopping. I have a 25ft enclosed and i live in Colorado where its always snowpack or ice and i rarely have any issues even without my snow tires. Lots of my buddies come out from Iowa without issues as well. If you have a 2wd truck, leave it at home, don't even try.

 

[MT rydn]

bought tire cables for trailer to help with stopping trailer when going down hill if conditions require chains for truck.

bought chains/cable at local tire store but can order online and probably available at auto parts stores. consider using wire to hold excess links out of way rather than cutting 'excess' links when applying chains.

bought a bubba rope - the biggest one in case have to lurch out the truck/trailer combination again! probably got bigger bubba than is needed. also will use shackles and removed ball from an extra hitch and carry it also to avoid the potential for being struck by a cannon ball should it not hold under a good quick jerk by a one ton duramax!

i saw costco had these big mats you can lay up against your tires to help get out if stuck on ice - - look like giant scotch brite scour pad. anyone ever used one of those?

i do read good reviews about Goodyear wrangler duratrac tires for ice and snow and others on the forums have had good comments

 

[Ox]

Have had a 3" snatch strap for 25 yrs! Just not right to go out in the winter w/o it. I would not want to hafta use a chain for yanking someone out!

I have read all the stories about not hooking on a ball hitch. Some are awfull scary too!

I had my strait truck stuck IN THE BARN once.

I had 20K# of steel on it and the one side was setting old on sand pack. Came back a week or so later and it was sunk in the ground!

Hooked on the dually and ran the strap through a cleavis, but it wasn't the high $ threaded ones. It also had a big opening. I knew the dangers and watched very closely. The truck was a beater anyhow, so no worries there...

By the time we got it out, on the last jerk the clevis stretched (pin bent?) and came off. I saw it comming towards the truck, but it wasn't heading towards me. It embedded just above the windshield into the cab on the passengers side.

I was glad to have the truck out (actually - just glad to be able to get my steel truth be told....) and I never parked it back in there I don't think.

So yes - I have seen those hurl dangerously. I don't use balls if the tow is of substantial size! But on a small pull I still may occassionally.

.

 

[GettnUnstuck]

You have a 2wd?? Unless your planning on driving 30-40mph you do not want to run chains and cables all the time. Trailer cables won't help you with anything except maybe stopping. I have a 25ft enclosed and i live in Colorado where its always snowpack or ice and i rarely have any issues even without my snow tires. Lots of my buddies come out from Iowa without issues as well. If you have a 2wd truck, leave it at home, don't even try.

I do have some oxygen getting to my brain.

Looking for something to help with the 40+ mph gusts from the side when on glare ice. i've made 3 trips already, no problems but don't want too. 3 sleds in a 30ft all alluminum trailer isn't much weight and want to avoid a cross wind pushing me into the ditch when on glare ice.

Probably wouldn't run the chains on truck unless it's super nasty, but wondering if the cables on the trailer would be a good idea?