THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Backing down a mining road on a rainy day, I missed a turn and dropped into a gully. I will try to attach photos (first time at this). Right rear wheel is suspended in air about 5 feet above the bottom of the gully. Left rear tire on soft ground. Right front tire in the air above the roadway. Left front tire just touching the side of the gully. The vehicle is essentially being held up by bushes. If I try to tow it, it will drop to the bottom of the gully.

So, I need to lift it out. Question: Can I tie sling straps to the front and rear bumpers? If not, where do I have to attach them. I would rather not get the body all bent up. Really appreciate your suggestions.

Ben

FUN!

I'd lock the front end from sliding down much like you have and use rear hitch to pull it up laterally?

Can you not pull it straight out?

I might try that, if my original thought fails. But as you can kind of tell from the second photo, the right rear tire has slid off the road down to the very edge of a vertical drop-off. If I tug on the hitch, I will be pulling the vehicle into the side of the ditch. And I don't believe I have enough room to pull the vehicle sideways. If I pull it straight out from the front, the back end will drop straight down (12 feet). I have located a giant front loader that can reach over the top of the Pinz and lift it - which will guarantee that the Pinz doesn't roll over sideways. But I'm not sure what is the best attach point for a sling.

You said it, FUN!!!

Ben

The rear points that I would attach a sling to are the two rings attached to the rear bars, they are very strong and lifting the whole weight of the pinz on them should not prove a problem, if it worries you double up with the slings and spread the weight over the tubes.

man- how was the extraction process? i can only imagine the "pucker" factor must have been pretty high (or is it tight?) trying to get out of the truck to asses, knowing the branches were holding much of the weight, but not knowing for how long.... were you alone? you're lucky to only have this problem. That's one to have a few beers over and contemplate your good fortune.
hope you get her out safely.

Cheers,

jorgo

Nice predicament.

I had a '90 Ford Ranger, with a total of 7" lift, etc. roll backwards to a stop on a 8/12 pitch hill. (Forgive me for not knowing the degree angle, my measuring devices were related to building homes. 8" rise over a 12" run, in roofing terms. Really steep.

We attached a cable to another vehicle and the rear bumper to keep it from rolling over and down the hill. Then we attached a winch from a third vehicle to the front and I got strapped in and drove it out.

Unless you're planning on just plucking it straight off the ground, I guess I'd be tempted to do something similar. Another idea might be to attach to the center tube with a wide strap and go up and over the truck to prevent a roll. A 2x on the downhill side could provide protection against damage to the truck's side.

Best of luck.

Dreadnought: Thanks for the suggestion. I had pretty much convinced myself that the back bar and front bumper would hold - we're talking about 500 lbs load at each point. UPDATE: JUST DISCOVERED THAT WAS KG, IT'S MORE LIKE 1100 LBS PER LIFT POINT. BACK TO BEING NERVOUS!!

Just to be sure, I have marked the attached photo to show where I plan to tie the sling straps on the left side of the vehicle. I would do the same thing on the right side.

Any concurrences would be mightily appreciated!

Undysworld: Thanks for the suggestions - I Know pitch and I've got you beat.

This vehicle is pretty much sitting on its side on some bushes. The only wheel with ground under it is the right rear, and that's about a tire width sloping into the abyss and very soft.

So I'm convinced that I'll have to "pluck it straight out of the AIR." If I drop it, it goes down about 15 feet.

Yeah, it looks like it. Not the sort of thing you go looking to outdo one another at, but it's good for some story-telling later on.

Well, if you're plucking it, why not go entirely under the whole truck, center tube and all. Secure one near the front axle and one near the rear and lift. I'm sure it's not a recommended lift point, but considering the alternative might include dropping into a gulch, it might be the best you could do.

If you're going to use the front bumper, I'd go for the center, so at least you're near the center support.

Better take video. If things go bad, at least you could sell it! I guess we know what you're doing this weekend. Here's hoping the bushes last the night.

If done carefully and slowly there will be minimal strain on the structure of the Pinz. The body tub and the tube are very stiff structures and very strong and when joined together...well I cant think of anything I,ve inspected closely that is anywhere near as strong size for size. We are not talking some generic pick-up truck here. So unless you have had previous massive damage to the tub, those points at the back will be fine to lift the pinz as high as you like.

I remember seeing a video posted on a site called formula one (now no longer up) and it showed pinzgauers being airlifted in by helicoptor the sling was placed just as the picture in the post before mine...on the 4 outer corners of the truck....good luck with your extraction!!!!!

Sorry to hear about your "incident" but I would suggest that you video tape it and post it on YouTube for future reference, education and entertainment value....

Can you get a hand-winch/come-along on the front tow hitch and ease it up that way?

Well, I got the Pinz out of the ditch and hardly a scratch. I opted for a track hoe (see photo). The operator wanted to just pull it straight out, but I was paranoid about the rear end. The only thing that was holding the Pinz out of the gully was that the tranny box hung up on a 4' culvert flange (see photo). I feared that if it slipped off, the Pinz would be nose-up vertical or upside down. So I insisted on also hooking to the rear end. I had slung a strap from the left rear bumper up around the tub, and he was afraid that the side would get caved in. So we also slung to the right rear bumper to share the load. He kept the bucket real low, and the result was that it broke the right rear bumper loose (see photo - notice that it is pulled down). He then tied onto the right rear axle. The Pinz was literally pulled sideways and then forward out of the gully. As the tires dug into the ground, I thought one would pop off the rim, but it didn't happen. Not a scratch on the downhill side of the pinz. Only damage was a broken bumper and a flattened brake line. The Pinz started with difficulty and then smoked for awhile - lots of oil has apparently drained into the cylinders. But it's running great now.

Lessons:

1. The rear bumper and truck body sides are really strong. The strap that lifted from the low side around the tub caused no damage.
2. Never back without a guide or at least a recon walk.
3. Pinz side-view mirrors aren't worth much for backing.
4. Stupid is as stupid does!
5 All's well that ends well!!!

No video? This could have been a top 10 pick on YouTube!!!!