Get your bus out of the mud with a winch!

[Oregonconversion]

When you say a "giant" stake.... how large are you talking? Did you put it at an angle?

[Iceni John]

I vaguely remember something about some adapter that could be bolted onto the outside of a wheel, then a rope was wound around it and anchored to something immovable (another vehicle maybe?).   The stuck vehicle was then put into gear, and when the wheel turned it wound the rope around the spool and pulled itself out.   It's a neat idea  -  has anyone seen or used anything like this?

My bus has a receiver hitch in the front, hidden behind the hinged license plate, so I could potentially put a tow hook or even a winch there.   It also has mounting holes for heavy-duty tow hooks on the frame rails at both ends  -  these hooks were a factory option, but I don't have them.   I'm thinking of getting some hooks off a junked bus at a breaker's yard and bolting them on, just in case . . .

John

PS  -  thinking about that winch adapter, it won't work unless you have a locking diff.   Maybe it was for the off-road rock-crawling folk who have that on their 4WDs?   Back to the drawing board.   I still think that big wenches and giant steaks sound better.

[Oregonconversion]

That would be cool if the next conversion fad was removable winches!

[chessie4905]

   Coaches have a nasty habit, when stuck in mud or soft ground to sink straight down till they are resting on the body, suspension beams, and engine. Choose wisely when and where you park. Otherwise you become familiar with the term "plank it out". Usually the odds of finding a suitable attachment point (not the coach end) for the hook end of cable are about as great as winning the lottery. Have a professional towing service retrieve it. You may get lucky if you don't bury it to get a 4wd truck to pull it out if you don't help, but steer, if he has solid ground to pull from and doesn't try to drag you through more soft ground to get you out. Have you ever noticed that big manure spreaders use flotation tires? Now you know why. Also remember that there is a lot of weight on those front tires that impede moving forward and prefer to create great ruts. Some firm grassy parking areas can become soft and sloppy after rain storms/showers.
   I'm sure some longer term members can relate stories or nightmares that either happened to them or preferably to someone else, unless they prefer to forget it ever happened in the first place.

[Oonrahnjay]

...
   Coaches have a nasty habit, when stuck in mud or soft ground to sink straight down till they are resting on the body, suspension beams, and engine....

      Exactly, if you're at that point, the only thing a winch that you can carry on your bus and power off your batteries will do is to tear stuff up!

[TomC]

One of the nice things about having a transit bus-the tow eyes are built into the front of the bus.

Best way is just not to get into that situation in the first place. Amazing how much you can prevent by getting outside and walking the route first. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

A 12,000 winch is not much most Jeeps with a front winch are 12,000 lbs I was told by a wrecker service to X the weight by 2 and that was the size winch and truck they sent, the 12,000 lbs is line pull

[muldoonman]

I've got a Komatsu Dozer out here! Where you at! LOL!

[georgemci102a2]

I totally agree with "get out and look" or as i like to call it (GOAL)....George.

[Van]

RECOVERY:
Reconnoiter the area.
Estimate the situation.
Calculate the Ratio.
Obtain the resistance.
Verify the solution.Erect the rigging.
Re-check rigging.
You are ready.
This simple method is still being taught in todays military Recovery Specialist course. Just slipping on mud a straight line pull will do providing the cable and winch are rated for the load. The deeper you get stuck the more mechanical advantage you will need, 2 to 1, 3 to 1 and so on.
To emphasis this point we would mire a Duece and a half up to the fenders in mud at the Aberdeen Proving grounds, and have them use rope and block, and pull said vehicle out by hand only (ol school). Anyone can do it, but it is best left up to the professionals for safety sake if unsure!      

[Melbo]

Forget the winch or the wench or the jeep just do this 

http://www.funniestvideosonline.com/video.php?video=2349&How_to_Unstuck_a_Tractor_from_the_Mud

Melbo

[BRUISER]

Well I buried the rear of my mc-9 in the sand at a beach camp ground one year.. about 18 down..

It was fine parked for 5 days then I started it up and when I went to leave it just dug straight down and did not move an inch..

I hooked up my Avalanche with chain from receiver to front tow hooks on bus.. put AV in 4x4 low had a friend jump in AV and slowly stay on gas while I started to spin bus tries and it came right out with out much effort at all.

I thought it would have been a lot harder to get it out then it was.

as for winches I think it depends on how stuck you are and if you are winching up a hill on flat ground etc?

On my jeep that weights 4500lbs I have a 9000lb winch.. but I usually dont use it unless I am stuck and pointing up a steep hill

[Oonrahnjay]

Forget the winch or the wench or the jeep just do this 

http://www.funniestvideosonline.com/video.php?video=2349&How_to_Unstuck_a_Tractor_from_the_Mud

Melbo

      There was some kind of cable or line attached to the front of the tractor.  Nice work with the tree trunks, though (as long as it doesn't flip over backwards and crush the tractor driver).

[Scott & Heather]

A 12,000 winch is not much most Jeeps with a front winch are 12,000 lbs I was told by a wrecker service to X the weight by 2 and that was the size winch and truck they sent, the 12,000 lbs is line pull

This is the truth. For our 6000 lb land cruiser we are getting a 12,000 lb winch. A bus would need much more. That being said, today's winches many times come with synthetic line. Not nearly as dangerous as a cable. Also, we mired our coach in  the mud this past summer and a little four wheel drive tractor pushed us out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Clumsy fingers may contribute to mistakes.

[Oregonconversion]

NICE!

Forget the winch or the wench or the jeep just do this 

http://www.funniestvideosonline.com/video.php?video=2349&How_to_Unstuck_a_Tractor_from_the_Mud

Melbo