I tried to cross this lil' ol' ditch. I noticed a faint ATV trail veering off to the side and fleetingly wondered where that trail lead.
The little ditch did not look that deep.
"What the hay" sez I. Dumb decision.....
Did I not say not a few days ago to not take any chances and drive around "iffy" places?
And do you think I followed my own advice?!
It was 1/4 mile back to the truck. 1/2 mile drive to borrow a come-along winch. My electric ATV winch was not working. I have since replaced the winch AND bought a $14 harbor freight tools hand winch and stored the old winch cable and a couple of short chains in my saddle packs. My trusty Schonstedt got wet before I could grab it. I took the batteries out and dried it out for an hour in the wind and sun. Seems to be working OK.
I needed a little time off and it was raining, so I replaced a steering ball joint and replaced the winch. I spent two days busting knuckles, taking apart almost the whole front end of my ATV, hooking the winch electrics up backwards and burning up a battery, grabbed a hot battery screw by my bare hands and burnt 3mm screw threads into two fingers and said words I ain't said in a long time! Grrrrrr! Murphey's Laws were in full force during that work. I dropped stuff, spent time looking for it, went back to the toolbox to get the RIGHT wrench, and was drilled by hungry mosquitoes.
I had a beautiful day Saturday of temps in the 50's and clear skies. It rained all day today Monday and there is a chance of rain every day this week. During the month of March, I logged 8 days out of 31 in the field. It either showed, sleeted, or rained almost 3/4 of the entire month.
Better days ahead! I had a great Easter Sunday with the family. The grandkids are at a fun age and hiding/finding Easter eggs was a joy!
I'm feeling better now than I've felt all day. Thanks for cheering me up.
Harold,
I've been there and done that! You aren't the only one. On my first big job after I started my business, I had to cross a low spot, and my drop basket had my Topcon Robot in the back in the clamshell case. thankfully it closes up pretty tight. I crossed, and when I came out, I noticed that the basket dipped down into the water. Talk about panic!!! I had just put the basket on a few days before.
This was the same job I buried my ATV about 4:00 on New Year's Eve and thought I was going to have to leave it overnight. Thankfully the farmer that was leasing the property saw us coming out and told us we could borrow his ATV with a winch to get it out. I spent the next day going and buying a winch and installing it.
It happens to all of us.
Jimmy
So close and yet so far.
Be careful Harold, those kids need their Pawpaw.
Jimmy is tight this stuff happens all the time.
Lot of rain expected this week . Yesterday was last day of spying break for a lot of school kids.
"you can't tell how deep a mud puddle is by looking at it" - Dennis the Menace paraphrased
I've buried the truck more than once, I know the feeling.
Glad I'm not alone.
Oh Most High Holy and Sacred Cow...I want to know where all the screws go that I drop never to be seen again?
Dave,
I buried my F150 one time. I pulled off into a driveway, and immediately sank to the step bars. It was pure soup.
It took a 3/4 tone diesel pickup to pull me out. It was my client, and he said the concrete trucks the day before had rutted the driveway up so bad it was impassable. He had taken the tractor and smoothed it all back up, but had failed to put some cones or flagging across it to keep someone from doing what I did. He apologized. We all laughed about it.
I keep the truck near the road, and use my ATV or UTV. It saves a ton of wear and tear on the truck. It is much easier to unstick them than the heavier truck.
Apparently you missed the little video I posted a few days ago about the Black Hole. The thread title was: Seek and ye shall find, OH OH.
Bummin.
I got a 4-wd polaris 500 REAL stuck one time. It was on a skidder trail, where the logging equipment had left ruts, and I got off in one of them. (did I say I was real stuck?)
I wound up walking to the truck, getting a hand puller, or come along, and dragging it out. Of course, there were sticks, logs and other things interfering. It was lots of fun!
I now have a 3500 lb winch. But, I recommend a light weight puller, with rope in it. sometimes that can be very handy.
I sometimes use that 3500 lb winch to rehab a BENT survey marker. Fasten a 10" vice grip to the top of the bent monument, and it helps remove them. Then, straighten, and reset.
Rusty dirty hands.
🙂
I relate to your stuck machine!
N
