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Self recovery of mired brush trucks
While battling wildland fires in my area during the wet season a few of our brush trucks become mired in soft/muddy ground. Realizing that stopping before they are mired too deep is the key to self recovery but sometimes we need a dozer or tractor to recover them. Of course this takes time away from fighting the fire plus puts FFs and equipment in danger.
What methods and/or tricks do you use to self recover mired brush trucks?
What methods and/or tricks do you use to self recover mired brush trucks?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
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Trainer,
Interesting concept about the rope and using 4WD only when needed. I'll try it.
PMK,
The ground anchor idea is great too.
Lt H,
Winches for all our thrucks might be out budget range but your idea of cables winches would work, thanks.
Thanks to all that replied. TCSS and don't be a stick in the mud.
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Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on
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Hey Billy, if none of these ideads work just have someone follow your brush trucks in a dodge.
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Lt.,
I believe there's a C/W song about a Dodge coming to the rescue of a mired Ford and Chevy. No Dodges in our fleet but would like to have an old M-37 series Dodge built Power Wagon. My VFD does have a 1967 M-715 Kaiser, 5/4 Ton w/o winch, that I got stuck last week (it was dark and smokey). Tried to dig it out by hand then waited for a tractor. There was a muddy section of an open field but with a come-a-long and land anchor I could have got it out myself. The best part was the learning curve from both the event last week and these replies. TCSS
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Permalink Reply by Trainer on
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Chevy/Ford/Dodge, it’s all personal preference; I’d like to see a Chevy driveline on a Ford frame with a Dodge Cummins motor, now that would be a P/U.
You need to pay attention to the 4 WD when you order these trucks, a must would be the “Detroit lockers” this way you have true 4 wheel drive and not just 1 front and 1 back tire driving.
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Permalink Reply by Nick Levi on
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The smart thing to do when buying a brush truck is to buy a gas truck not diesel.We have 2 Ford F350 trucks with gas and our neighboring county that gives us mutual aid have 2 Dodge 3500 with the Cummins and get stuck alot when they come.Every truck should have a winch,to me that is PPE for your truck.
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Nick I’m curios why you think having a diesel or gas affects the outcome??
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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A winch is probably the best thing you could have on a brush truck aside from hose, pump and water tank. A few lengths of high strength chain and a come-along ( as we call it) might also work.
Our brush rig (see photo album) has a front mounted winch with about 200 feet of cable. This has come in handy for vehicle stabilization at crashes in addition to self-rescue in the woods. I think it has also been used to rescue POVs on occasion, but don't quote me.
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Realizing that equipping brush trucks with winches, chains, ropes, cables, come-a-alongs, etc. will help you get unstuck and that prior planning is key.
Let me throw another senario out there. Your truck does not have any or just some of the items listed above and you're mired with your possible only option being to get traction under the tires. What tricks do you use for that?
PS Not trying to redirect this post but your tricks could be useful for POVs whether you're responding or not.
PS PS Last week I found myself in the position I stated above. It was an embarrassing learning experience and luckily wasn't in danger.
TCSS
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Permalink Reply by Gary L Finch on
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Carry a HiLift jack. Jack up, and crib under the tire to hold the vehicle up. It's work, but it will get you out if you don't have a winch, or tow vehicle.
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It makes the front and total truck much heavier.Its a proven fact around Southeast Indiana.
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Makes sense Nick. My VFD has a 2005 diesel F-350 that we try and keep on hard ground for that reason. TCSS
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Ok, I can see that but will take it a bit further. Dodge has the Cummins which I know to be much heaver and all in all the best diesel on the market. Fords…..what can I say…they have had major issues in the diesel market and have had to use cubic inches (increased weight) to gain horse power, well there is an injector problem among many recalls but 2010 will have the Cummins as an option. Chevy on the other hand has a diesel no heavier then a gas motor, I own 2 and the only bad thing I can say about them is in their earlier years they produced some real junk but today’s engines are pretty decent and coupled with the Allison transmission have the best combination, now if they just had front suspension that would take the punishment of a brush truck. Now with all that said, 200 or 300 lbs can’t make that much difference, around here that much more over the front axle is beneficial. When I’m plowing snow and get stuck, 9 out of 10 times all I need to do is pick the plow up, 700lbs out in front of the bumper really gives it bite, but I guess it’s all dependent on what type of ground you’re on.
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