Stuck in the woods with the Ford: the JD, winch, and Subaru bail me out!

I had been waiting for things to dry enough that I could get to the very back of my place to clean up 5 oak tops that have been laying since dropped in 5/12. Things weren't totally dry, but with 4-5 days of rain coming in tonight, it was now or whenever! Headed out early with the Ford 3400 tractor pulling my trailer. I cut up one of the tops, a white oak, and it pretty much filled the trailer. Half way back through the woods I have to climb the worst spot on my road, a modest hill that also slopes a little. I've gotten stuck here once before. If you start to spin a wheel, everything immediately starts sliding sideways downhill. Try to back down for another run and the trailer just keeps sliding downhill. Three attempts and you are cooked with the trailer almost off the road. That's what happened today.

Oh well, one just has to deal with these things in life. I unhooked the trailer and the Ford was able to climb the hill by itself, so I drove it back to the house.



I grabbed my JD Sabre mower/wagon/tools and headed back out. I unhooked the wagon/tools and put a 2" ball on the back of the JD. Then I backed it down to the trailer and hooked up to it. I know the JD could never pull the full trailer up the hill, but I'm using it as a "set of front wheels" for the trailer. I then ran some chain between some trees to get the right pulling angle and hooked up my portable winch to it.



By alternately pulling and moving the winch "uphill", I eventually got the trailer back on the road heading in the right direction. Then I walked back to the house and brought out the Subaru! I backed it down to where I could chain up to it, then pulled things a little higher.



Then I disconnected everything, backed the Outback down to the trailer and hooked it up. Even with just the "touring/all season" tires currently on it, the Outback pulled the load of white oak right up the hill no sweat!








I can tell that my Subaru is feeling much better now that it finally got to go out back and get its tires dirty. Told you guys that I intended this baby to be a wood hauler too, just like my previous Highlander! Today was a great example of how a good 4 wheel drive vehicle with even "regular" tires can out pull the big 2 wheel drive tractor under the right conditions. That little JD Sabre mower does a lot more than just mow too!

 

Doesn't the ford have a locking diff?I plow lots of snow in the mountains with a 2wd case backhoe with these-http://www.whitemountainchain.com/app/inventoryapp/trygg_smt_flexi/subcategory_list/10.html

 

I don't know how you didn't just through you hands up and say to heck with it, but you didn't, and that is what counts and puts you ahead in this game of survival. Surprised that the car and lawn tractor did better than the Ford. Do you need more wt on it?

 

If you got it out all by yourself, technically your weren't stuck, just detained. LOL
( Stuck is when you have someone help you to get out )

God use of all your equipment.

 

Hard to beat those little "ScoobyDoos" ! I have an Outback I bought used, for a work, fishing, hunting, etc, car and I love that little thing.

 

Spent a lot of my life working on furrin cars,subys are hard to beat.Neighbor told me he is selling wires tacoma because it has over 200k,going to by a chevy with 100k.Just shook my head and walked away.

 

Great story Boog. Some of your pics didn't load for me, not sure if it's my end or yours??

 

Mine does not have a locking differential Yes, a set of chains would be nice, but the real problem is that the backhoe is removed currently leaving it very front heavy. I took the hoe off so I could run a swinging draw bar for wood working. As is, it has minimal traction.

 

Pics are showing via my PC, there are 6 of them, must be on your end.

 

Aren't Outbacks AWD (all wheel drive)?

 

I like that. I might have to use that in the future. Dang heavy truck is always sinking.

 

Yes, depending on whether you have the 4 cylinder (newer AWD) or the 6 cylinder (traditional AWD) they both pull great. I have the 6 cylinder as I planned on pulling loads of wood and my boat with it.

 

Well at least you got one load out. Try again another day. Good job Boog

 

From the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip....

 

It seems like I've heard this story before!!!!! Crack open a BEER and everything will be alright.

 

I did just that when I got everything back to the house, just some "Black Crown" domestic stuff though!

 

What I really need to do is get some large stone fill for that "downhill" side of the road (at the least) or this will just happen again. This angle photo shows the grade a little better, the road slopes and curves to the left when climbing it.