On Saturday I happened to be driving through a neighborhood that I rarely cross through when I saw a couple guys who had backed a dump truck (similar to the one pictured below) into their front yard to load it up. I could see that the driver's side was sunk up to its axles, and the passenger side was a bit submerged too, but not nearly as bad. After turning around to come back, I saw the operators frantically digging at the rear wheels in attempt to get it unstuck. I asked if they would like me to pull them out, and the one guy looked at my truck with doubt and said, "I'd be happy to let you try."

I nosed in toward the dump truck and before I could get out to get my tow chain the guy emerged with a 30,000lb tow strap. I got out and he asked if I'd rather back in, and I told him that it wasn't necessary as I believe that each of the massive Dodge tow hooks can hold every bit as much as the receiver can (despite the overly conservative 5500lb rating stamped onto each one of them, as I have put them to much greater abuse than that). He reluctantly handed me my end of the strap and I slid it over the end of my tow hook. I put my truck in 4 low, and backed up until the tow strap didn't have much slack in it, and he got into the dump truck. He gave me the signal that he was ready, and I let the clutch out and ever so slightly put a small amount of pressure on the smoke pedal. I saw the dump truck rise about a foot as it came out of its trench and over the curb, onto the street.

I got out of my truck, and the dump truck's operator was all giggles! He said, "Man, I had no idea that these Dodge's could do that!" I just smiled and bit my tongue at the opportunity to boast about the Cummins. He pulled his wallet out and I politely declined any compensation, as not only was it fun for me, but it might have taken 2 minutes out of my day. I've dug around submerged tires before, and I know how frustrating it is. I'm happy to help someone who's going through the same thing.

 

Awesome!!
I would however say it would have been safer (for your truck) to pull him out forward using your hitch. Putting that kind of load on the ring and pinion of the axles is kind of risking breakage. Going in reverse lets the pinion gear climb the ring gear in a way to actually loose strength of the 2 mating surfaces. (ring to pinion) Sounds like it was not too bad though, and obviously not much work for a Cummins
I would love to have seen his face!!

 

Really? Never thought of that. I once pulled a VERY large downed tree from my tow hooks as well... I'd be interested in finding out more about this.

 

I do not know ALL the facts but my brother owns one of the top gear shops in California (northern at least) and has told me about this. I will always try to pull forward if at all possible. Reverse is absolute last resort.
It is also like dumb ... people who like to drive up a hill backwards to show off.

 

Pulling off one tow hook is a good way to rack the frame, too. It's better to rig the strap so the load is spread across both hooks if you can't/dont want to back in.

Sounds like it wasn't too hard a pull, though. Good work, and way to represent the Cummins.

 

Neighbor of mine came by the house one night and asked if I knew anyone that could unstuck a dump truck. He had just bought one and was driving it from Hemet up to Anza via Bautista Rd (if any of you live out this way and have ever driven that road you know what it's like). I said 'sure, let's go.' Threw some chains in the truck and asked him where the truck was. He looked at me a little dumbfounded and asked if I was going to use my truck to pull the dump. 'Sure.' He looked a little more dumbfounded and then told me where the truck was. The drive shaft connecting the front rear axle to the rear one was missing. He started going up a steep grade (dirt road) and the front axle started hopping. Tried to down shift and couldn't. Figured he would roll back down the hill and get a fresh start. Got to the bottom of the hill and the back wheels rolled up on the embankment. Lifted the front axle up so he didn't have traction. Got to the truck and I pulled up nose to nose with him. One chain each from the front tow hooks to his frame. Put her in 4-lo and reverse. His friend got in the truck to get the air tanks filled. Gave me the signal and I let off the brakes to take the slack up. Chains tightened and my truck started moving his before I even touched the fuel pedal. Mike was looking at me in disbelief. I slowly gave it a little more fuel and easily pulled the dump off the embankment and up the hill. Another victory for the Cummins.

BTW, to the admins, you need to fix the built in spell check so I don't get the red squiggly under 'Cummins' or I'll have to start spelling it with a "G".

 

iv heard you can suck your frame together by tying to both tow hooks!

 

I've not looked at the hooks too closly, so someone else may know this better, but I believe they are a cast piece, bolted to the (steel) frame. If so, if they were to fail, they would fail very rapidly with little to no warning. I would second using your reciever hitch, it worked on a half-loaded semi I ran across in Gibson City, IL in 2005 that had gotten stuck just off the road.

I also agree - great way to use that wonderful engine, and a really good truck surrounding it! Thanks also for being a neighbor, doing it for free...

 

I think the ideal scenario would be to have your line rigged in a "Y". One line from each hook to a common point where you tie into the line going to the stuck vehicle.

I could see the possibility of pulling your frame together if you formed a triangle with your line by going from the pulling line to one hook to the other and back to the pulling line. Then you would have a force on the line between the hooks pulling together, as well as the force pulling the load.

 

true true! i was wondering what about winching from the front? holding the winching truck with the brakes to pull someone or something else would have the same results in the diffs i guess?

 

Another thing to think about is if that strap let loose, you dont have a tailgate, bed, rear window, and then the headrest for the strap to get your head. All you have is the grill (with EXPENSIVE parts) and the windshield....

 

Man, I understand the potential issues, but some of the worries are over things that have little chance of happening unless you're doing something absolutely ludicrous.

 

I'd much rather take high velocity debris from the front than the rear. Find a scrap vehicle and break the rear window. Then attempt to break the windshield... your not gonna do it.

Ditto!!!

 

I pulled from the front at least once or twice that I remember. It worked well but both vehicles were not buried. Once was a 1-ton box truck that some movers got stuck when they turned too wide and drove down into a ditch. It was fully loaded, but it came out rather easy. I think the weight of the motor really does a good job helping with traction.

 

Thats a major safety concern for most Oil companies. The risk of personal injury has made it an absolute no-no to pull from front. AND, no clevises or hard parts on the end of the rope/sling/strap. There have been fatalities from that type of maneuver. Now keep in mind 90% of the failures were from CHEVY junk tow hooks made from cheap pot metal. If you have ever looked at the Chevy tow hooks and how they are mounted, they shouldn't be used for anything.

Good story none the less.