Recovery puzzle

[paulj]

On a recent camping trip on Vancouver Island I came across a 2wd pickup stuck in the loose rocks of a river bed. This was at Fairy Lake Rec Site near Port Renfrew. Apparently he strayed off the pack gravel while trying to launch a row boat. A tow truck was on hand, but was having trouble moving the pickup.

While I was there the tow truck was trying to pull it at 45 deg angle. The hydraulic wheel lift was being used as a brake. The pickup did not budge.

When I left they were moving the tow truck so it take a long straight pull toward where I was standing in the first shot. They should have better luck at getting the pickup unstuck, but then would the problem of getting it up the rough bank.

paulj

 

[BigAl]

I know pictures never do a situation justice but that stuck doesn't look bad???

 

[ntsqd]

In soft sand the tow truck likely wouldn't have had any trouble with the original pull. Gravel like that is peculiar. It doesn't support weight very well (until well settled), but doesn't move sideways very well either.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Looks like a good candidate situation for an exhaust jack... get it up on top, bury the holes and move it forward, repeat if necissary.

 

[paulj]

While I watched the tow truck pulled with all the capacity of its winch, and pickup did not budge at all. The pickup's rear wheels spun freely. The unpowered front wheels were turned in the direction of the pull, but that didn't seem to help.

The gravel in this area was up to grapefruit size, and quite loose, with little fine material.

paulj

 

[Lynn]

Looks like a good candidate situation for an exhaust jack... get it up on top, bury the holes and move it forward, repeat if necissary.

I've never used an exhaust jack, but I certainly would have tried to do the same thing with the vehicle's jack before I paid a tow truck...

I'll bet you could find a lot of dead branches in the surrounding woods to build a road under it.

But I'm a tight-wad, and would waste many hours trying to do it myself before paying a tow truck...

 

[HMR]

I've gotten stuck in that type of gravel on the beach in Mexico at low tide. Those medium-size smoothe rocks are like quicksand when they get disturbed by a vehicle tire. Very hard to impossible for the tow vehicle to help unless it's pulling in a straight line.

 

[gearbox]

Jack up a wheel, fill the hole, repeat 3 times, and pull it forward. A tree and a HiLift with the wheel gripper and the winching accessories would have done it all. A vehicle with a winch might have had to chock its wheels, which is easily done: just spin the wheels to dig into the ground. Rolling over the rocks should be easier than powering the wheels once you're above the rocks.

 

[Willman]

:lurk:

 

[mountainpete]

Easy recovery.

Step 1: Exit vehicle
Step 2: Wait until next spring when run-off makes river high again
Step 3: Truck floats out of stuck area by itself
Step 4: Call the insurance company

:shakin:

 

[Schattenjager]

bet a hi-lift and some sand ladders would have him on his way. I think he got bit by the "who'd a thought it" that bites all of us sooner or later.

Chance favors the prepared mind!

 

[chet]

1. first off lower the boom on the tow truck. all its trying to do is lift the front end of the tow truck off the ground.

2. anchor front of tow truck to tree

3. use snatch block to double power and pop out it will come.

You would not believe what I have seen stuck in that Gravel at ferry lake and the River there.

We pulled down there for a lunch stop for our 4wd club and there was a motorhome about where the truck is. he wanted a better view of the lake!

We have also seen people camp too close to the river during rain season and wake up in the middle of the night floating (or near to it!)

 

[paulj]

We have also seen people camp too close to the river during rain season and wake up in the middle of the night floating (or near to it!)

There was also worry that a massive log jam on the San Juan would break when the rains came, and damage the bridge or Reserve. I haven't seen followup articles as to whether the jam was ever cleared or not. With the improved road to Lake Cowichan, I'm sure Port Renfrew would be all the more interested in keeping the bridge across the San Juan open.

paulj

 

[chet]

ya I haven't heard anything either. The last plan I heard was they were sending a couple of guys with chainsaws in to clear it! Ya that will take a year! I walked the jam with by brother and it was HUGE!

Glad to see you liked our little island of heaven! :wings:

 

[toyrunner95]

no no no... you guys are all going about this all wrong. his first mistake was driving a ford. they always get stuck. 2 or 4wd second, he was dumb enough to drive a heavy LWB truck into soft materieal. and third, this is why i buy toyotas.

j/k

yeah its tough to get out of those ive gotten stuck in materieal like that in a 4wd ford, (duh) it was in puyallp. i agree with the jack and fill method, it works the best and it could have saved him some money.