A little opinion question, a guy I my dad works with got a bobcat stuck in a water filled muddy footing today at a job site. Two wheels stuck in the slop, two out of hanging out of it. Contemplating pulling it out myself with my f-250, 4:10's, T-18, rebuilt 351w, save myself the charge of having a tow truck come get it, like the jerk who sunk it said to. I'm putting money on my monster to get it out, your opinions, you think I could get it out?

 

Depends on if you can get traction. :-)

 

Can't use the bucket on the Bobcat to move it out of there?

 

Nope, tried it. Wasn't budging, it doesn't have the backhoe bucket, it has a front end bucket like a front end loader. Damn, its gonna be raining, tractions gonna be my number one enemy. See how it goes, slam that puppy in 4 low and see what she's got!

 

I gotta agree, it's all about traction. I'm assuming you'll have a guy in the bobcat tring to move in the same direction as you when you try. I know but had to ask. One winter I pulled three cars out of a ditch after they drove in on a curve due to blowing wind and 0 visiblity. The cars were actually almost on their sides in the ditch. I had a f350 351w stock four wheel drive. The key was I had a 700 pound plow hanging off the front and the angle of the chain on the back attached to the cars was pulling the truck downward, applying pressure on the tires which equated to traction. The road was icy but as I said there was alot of load pushing the truck to the ground, allowing me to use all the torque of 4 wheel low. It was like a cake walk. The cop on scene said, " boy that things got some *****". Just as I pulled the last car out the tow truck got there. You should have seen his face! Just then the people who called the tow truck got abnesia because nobody could remember having called. Not knowing all the details if you don't have any extra weight in the front. The easiest way would be to have a bunch of guys jump in the back of the truck. Have a couple sit on the hood too. You might want to try pulling in reverse with just the weight in the bed of the truck but I have no experience with how strong reverse gear is. In any case stay clear of the tow chain/rope. Good luck, let us know what happens.

 

Get some chain link fencing and lay out a path to drive on, works great.

 

Wow, theres some chain link fence lying around the site actually. That makes a lot of sense, I'm definetly gonna try that. Plus, I have about 500 pounds worth of tools and other assorted "crap" in the bed of the truck, so that should help. As far as pulling in reverse, I think that is the lowest ratio on the t 18, but im not sure. Anyways I'm gonna give it a go in forward. First gear, 4x4 low, chain link fence plus weight in bed = I'm gonna kick this bobcats a**!!

 

Reverse is when ever possible your best bet!!!!!!!!

 

It'll come out no problem. Been there and done that. It shouldn't take complete traction as long as the operator in the Bobcat is helping out. Remember, you just have to crawl forward, the Bobcat should be able to do the rest. We used to pull them out with other bobcats, loaders, tandems, and more than a few times with my own 4X4.

Make sure you hook the chain to the REAR CORNER of side of the machine that's SUNK DOWN into the mud. That way the force fo the tug will turn the maching so the bucket can be used to help push the Bobcat out. Once the Bobcat's rear wheels are on semi dry ground and with a push from the hydraulics it should be pretty easy to get out, especially with your truck pulling on it.

Follow these tips, take it easy, and you'll be off to the races in no time.

Waxy

 

Everyone can say this and that about new technology and these new Superduty, and heavyduties, and every other kind of duty. But I'll tell you this, man, THEY DON'T MAKE EM LIKE THEY USED TO!! Haha, didn't even break a sweat dragging that thing out this morning. Makes a man proud, gives you a warm feeling inside!!!

 

Be Careful!!!!! I understand that if you pull in reverse, the gears are cut so that it's WEAKER to pull in reverse, and can do some MAJOR gear damage. This was posted over at F-D a while back by those supposedly "in the know":+

 

I've heard that too. Maybe someone here can verify. (M. Kovalsky...)

I've never really understood pulling in reverse. Now I know that the gear ratio is deeper but the thought of something breaking and coming through the windshield disturbs me...

 

Pulled an awfull lot of junk out in reverse, never had a problem. Like to know if there is one just what it is. The gears are a lot lower of course, you can also see what the heck your doing a lot more. As for things coming apart, never heard that one. If you watch what your doing and don't try to take on more than the design allows for you should be fine. Ever see someone jerking something out of a hole, maybe that's what their talking about. If you have no slack and give a slow even pull can't see what the problem would be. The only thing I can think of is trying to take on more than the vehicle is desinged to do. Comments.......

 

Ford uses reverse cut gears in the front diffs, which means you're pulling against the coast side of the gears if you pull backwards. The gears aren't as strong when used that way. Interestingly, older trucks and some non-Ford late model trucks use standard cut gears in the front axle, and in that case your front diff would actually be stronger when pulling in reverse.

Either way, I doubt you would break anything unless your truck was pulling on dry pavement and you had tons of traction and you hit the nitrous button...

 

You're pulling against the coast side of the gears in reverse in BOTH axles. But it shouldn't be an issue if you are in a poor traction situation too, unless axles start hopping. You could try a stretch strap if it doesn't work, starting with a very VERY short jerk and working your way up (I would do this going forward). Biggest danger there is rolling the Bobcat.