Got the trailer stuck!

[BrianK]

I was helping a friend do a fireworks show this weekend. We took all the sets of tubes out in multiple trips with my 16x6 trailer and set up Friday evening, only to have the show cancelled by rain. Took everything back in and then back out Saturday and it was a great show. Went back today to pack up all the tubes using the same path I'd used two dozen times over the weekend. But a heavy rain shower hit just prior to our work this evening. On the way out of the field, the very last trip over three days of work, the Expedition just wouldn't pull it out. I had to unhitch the trailer and jack it up off the receiver ball and the Expedition was still stuck. Had to ask a neighbor for a pull. His 4x4 Chevy and a tow chain did the job.

Now I have no idea how to get the trailer out and the fireworks tubes have to be returned to the dealer Thursday night.

Any suggestions?!?

 

[BrianK]

Won't be moving much firewood this week

 

[Prof]

I got my truck stuck on a logging trail once due to thick mud like you are dealing with. I cut a bunch of one inch (or less) branches and laid on the trail and was able to get up the hill and out of the woods--literally and figuratively. Not sure how this would work with a trailer though. Is there a farmer near by with a tractor? Once you get your tires coated in sticky mud, 4WD doesn't do much. Good luck!

 

[bogydave]

How far from the road?
Know anyone with a winch?

 

[pyroholic]

My best advice is to go and get yourself a Chevy. Seemed to work for the neighbor

 

[lukem]

Tractor or a truck with actual.mud tires that clean out well.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Unload the trailer and haul the payload out in smaller bites.

 

[pen]

Find a set of tire chains to throw on the expedition (on all four wheels if possible), once you get moving, keep moving.

Wouldn't hurt to have that chevy around w/ the tow chain to give you some extra pull if need be.

 

[gzecc]

Give it a day or two of dry weather. Bring a smaller trailer and off load 1/3 at a time out to the road. Then re load on to your double axle.

 

[ScotO]

Brian, I like the unload/reload option here. Especially considering you are going to be seeing rain for almost the rest of the week, it ain't gonna dry out very fast. Maybe get a truck behind the trailer, put a tire between the grill and trailer, and push while pulling the trailer......if you have a beater truck available that could be an option....

Tire chains MAY help, but it's gonna be messy......either way, we expect some 'after' pics when you are done! Good luck!

 

[BrianK]

Brian, I like the unload/reload option here. Especially considering you are going to be seeing rain for almost the rest of the week, it ain't gonna dry out very fast. Maybe get a truck behind the trailer, put a tire between the grill and trailer, and push while pulling the trailer......if you have a beater truck available that could be an option....

Tire chains MAY help, but it's gonna be messy......either way, we expect some 'after' pics when you are done! Good luck!

The unload/reload option is the best option, but all the teenage boys from our youth group that loaded it aren't available now to unload/reload it. And my back won't tolerate it. In the end that might be what will need to happen. We might have to call out the troops again on this one.

First we're going to try to turn the trailer 90 degrees and pull it out from the dry uphill side. Ugh. This isn't how I planned on spending my evenings this week.

 

[Prof]

The unload/reload option is the best option, but all the teenage boys from our youth group that loaded it aren't available now to unload/reload it. And my back won't tolerate it. In the end that might be what will need to happen. We might have to call out the troops again on this one.

First we're going to try to turn the trailer 90 degrees and pull it out from the dry uphill side. Ugh. This isn't how I planned on spending my evenings this week.

Where are you at in West Central PA--I might be up for a small road trip to help out.

 

[BrianK]

Give it a day or two of dry weather. Bring a smaller trailer and off load 1/3 at a time out to the road. Then re load on to your double axle.

Fortunately I do have a 5x8 trailer that I can take up to offload and move the stuff in the big trailer. If it comes to that, that's my backup plan.

 

[BrianK]

Where are you at in West Central PA--I might be up for a small road trip to help out.

Thanks for the offer. I live in Johnstown but the trailer is in Munster PA near Ebensburg. We were doing the fireworks show at the convent of a religious order there. Fortunately one of their neighbors is giving me a hand. I'm going back up this evening and we're going to try to pull it out with his 4x4 Chevy and if necessary his track loader. But the last thing I want to do is get his track loader stuck in there.

 

[Prof]

Thanks for the offer. I live in Johnstown but the trailer is in Munster PA near Ebensburg. We were doing the fireworks show at the convent of a religious order there. Fortunately one of their neighbors is giving me a hand. I'm going back up this evening and we're going to try to pull it out with his 4x4 Chevy and if necessary his track loader. But the last thing I want to do is get his track loader stuck in there.

Hey--I'm in Lilly, so if you need a hand let me know. The 2 miles to Munster wouldn't even count as a road trip.

 

[Jags]

Hmmm... that doesn't look very stuck to me, but I guess I get into some crazy places . Want to take bets that the Chevy will get it out of there?

 

[BrianK]

Hmmm... that doesn't look very stuck to me, but I guess I get into some crazy places . Want to take bets that the Chevy will get it out of there?

I have new all season radials on the Expedition but I don't think the tires or the vehicle were designed for muddin'

This stuff is a really thick, slick, almost clay-like mud at the bottom of a hillside with three surface springs feeding into the bottom where the trail is. What a mess.

 

[Jags]

A small farm tractor could probably walk that right out. (just throwing ideas out).

 

[BrianK]

A small farm tractor could probably walk that right out. (just throwing ideas out).

Apparently a neighbor up there does have a small 4wd farm tractor. We plan on asking their assistance if we don't make any progress with it tonight between the other neighbor's 4x4 Chevy and my Expedition.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Brian, do not forget that a few planks can work wonders. You may have to first jack up the trailer one side, put a plank down then do the other side. Lay planking down where you intend to drive. Go as far as possible then move the back planks to the front. If you have 3 or 4 people this can go really quickly.

 

[BrianK]

John Deere 555 to the rescue! The neighbor across the street used to be in the logging business so he had a track loader sitting around - but he wasn't sure if he could get it running.

He got it running today, took a tine off the bucket and attached a 2" ball. We hooked it up and he drug it out without any difficulty.

Many thanks to Hearth member Prof for coming over to help and offer moral support! Its always good to put a face to a screen name.

Fortunately the John Deere made short work of the task at hand. (I offered to pay the neighbor for his time and fuel. He said, "No way! These nuns pray for me EVERY DAY!")

 

[Sean McGillicuddy]

 

[brian89gp]

Man, I wish I had a track loader just sitting around.

 

[BrianK]

If anyone is interested, here's our fireworks show we did Saturday night:

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(My kids and I designed and assembled the Sacred Heart flare design at the beginning of the first video.)

 

[MasterMech]

If there was one thing that was going to beat the Chevy, the Deere was it.

Good work getting it out!