Late Night Animal-Powered Auto Rescue

[dominiquer60]

“I actually am even more bummed now…. man it would have come out really slick I bet.”

Tim and Carl,
Though it would be really awesome to try again and set up the pulley, I am afraid that the disc harrow has been unloaded and to do it without would just not be an accurate reenactment of the situation. Also I am not sure that I could get up the hill without the disc on board. I do agree that it could have potentially come out rather well that way. I guess it is food for thought until your driveway consumes another helpless blond and you get to try it out:)

Erika

[near horse]

My problem would have been FINDING said pulley/snatch blocks and rope. So I, more than likely, would have gone your route Carl. Hitch ’em up and pull her out. And then put the pulleys where I could find them for next time!

[Carl Russell]

near horse;23932 wrote:

My problem would have been FINDING said pulley/snatch blocks and rope. So I, more than likely, would have gone your route Carl. Hitch ’em up and pull her out. And then put the pulleys where I could find them for next time!

I have said equipment all together in the workshop. I have them for tree work. It just didn’t occur to me, as I had pretty much used up my mental capacity for the day……

No offense to Erika, but I was on my way back from chores and was already thinking about taking off my boots, eating a little bit, and shutting down, so it was all I could do to think where my chains and towing strap were.

Carl

[mitchmaine]

@Carl Russell 23891 wrote:

That would have been a good idea:o…. clearly beyond my thought process last night. We could have pulled downhill too:(. I’ll have to keep that in mind for next time:rolleyes:.

Carl

Took an extra hitch the other day, cause it was so cold that morning. Got a late start. When we got out of the woods, the sun was down but still light out. Sweat was turning to ice, and I banged myself in the mouth twice trying to undo the belly girts. I was cold and tired and still had to feed and water and rub down the horses. Lynn miller could have been stuck in the driveway and he’d a had ta wait til morning for a tow.
Anybody thinking about snatchblocks at that time of day would have got a gold star. Pullin out Erika deserves a nod too.
Well, ok, maybe lynn miller.

[Does’ Leap]

@Mark Cowdrey 23922 wrote:

If I was to go out and buy a pulley, snatch block or whatever to have for similar situations, what does anyone recommend? Cable seems like an all-around PIA but I recall some thread talk about, possibly, climbing rope? Would that be rugged enough in a situation like this or would you need cable or chain? Or, a multiple pulley “block and tackle” setup?
I have nothing like this on the place and can see that the day might come that I wished I did.
Thanks,
Mark

To hop on Mark’s question, I have been thinking along the same lines – a snatch block and cable would be handy. I have a hemlock hung up as I write that I couldn’t get down with the horses.

I looked up the specs on Amsteel Blue and found the 1/4″ rope has a 7,700 lb capacity while the 3/16″ has a 4,900 lb capacity. Can I assume the 4,900 is sufficient or should I go to the 1/4″ or greater?

Thanks.

George

[Joshua Kingsley]

@Does’ Leap 23949 wrote:

To hop on Mark’s question, I have been thinking along the same lines – a snatch block and cable would be handy. I have a hemlock hung up as I write that I couldn’t get down with the horses.

I looked up the specs on Amsteel Blue and found the 1/4″ rope has a 7,700 lb capacity while the 3/16″ has a 4,900 lb capacity. Can I assume the 4,900 is sufficient or should I go to the 1/4″ or greater?

Thanks.

George

I would go with a minimum of 1/2 inch and prefer to use 5/8 because the torque on knots can be the weakest point. I have used all kinds of ropes for tree work while being a utility line climber for 2 years prior to 08. on the right of ways we would often use a winch and a rope to assist in tree felling if there was any dbout about where the tree would go. when working to pull out trucks we have often broken a single 1/2 inch line. so that is why I would go a minimum of 1/2 inch just my .02
joshua

[Tim Harrigan]

I agree with Joshua, you also need to consider the capacity of the snatch block which might be less with that small diameter rope. And the rated capacity is probably with a straight, even pull, not a good replicate of the instantaneous high pulling force you will get sometimes if the team hits the load or the load gets hung up. And you could have kinks or tied to a right angle like angle iron or something like that. A safety factor can’t hurt.

[Carl Russell]

George is referring to a special type of rope made of extremely strong nylon fibers. I have some of this 3/8″…. made for ATV winches to replace wire cable…. and it is every bit as strong as similar sized steel cable.

I have a 5/8″ braided nylon Bull rope that was designed for heavy loads, pulling trees and lowering. It is also very strong, and when doubled up through a snatch block it is plenty strong enough for moving any tree like what George is describing.

Carl

[blue80]

Sounds like us westerners are gonna have to bring you all a set of tire chains to NEAPD next year????:D

Ya just aren’t cool around here unless you have tire chains to show off to your friends….

[near horse]

@Carl Russell 23957 wrote:

George is referring to a special type of rope made of extremely strong nylon fibers. I have some of this 3/8″…. made for ATV winches to replace wire cable…. and it is every bit as strong as similar sized steel cable.

I have a 5/8″ braided nylon Bull rope that was designed for heavy loads, pulling trees and lowering. It is also very strong, and when doubled up through a snatch block it is plenty strong enough for moving any tree like what George is describing.

Carl

How about sizing your rope to fit your block and tackle? Some of the pulleys I’ve found online are either meant for small cable or, the “climbing style” for smaller rope. There were a few that looked to be designed for big cable logging setups (and priced as such).

So, what do you have for snatch blocks or pulleys? Single or double?

[lancek]

Now see guys here is a new money making opportunity the next big snow or Ice storm head too town find the the biggest hill and set up your rigging and of couse poor some water on too the street to make sure you have good and slick and you might get repeat buisness and wait till the frist idiot comes screaming over the hill and wipes out then you can collect a 250.00 tow bill and all the city folks will be glade to pay it because it was such a quaint way of being towed !::eek::D:D

[LStone]

Ya gotta love Youtube. You’re not the first one to come up with that parking style. Extra credit for resourcefulness on the extraction method. It is all practice for next time. That’s how you get good at it. Is this anybody in this group?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq5dd7JLk1s

[dominiquer60]

Yes that is a good one, seen it a few times now, also a pair pulling a tour bus out of a bad spot. I only wish it was that easy on Carl and his team Sunday night.
Erika

[blue80]

My dad was a veterinarian, and I grew up used to him getting stuck trying to get through the plowed shoulder of snow at the end of driveways. I think he got stuck on purpose in the Amish driveways so he would have to get pulled out with a team. They would pull the van all the way to the barn, then after he was done they would pull him back to the road.

Looking back, I think that was the “draft” powered seed that got me started….

[Author]

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