Pull Tree With Silverado

Hexa Fox · March 24, 2016

Hey guys I recently got called to give an estimate for a tricky job. A customer has a tree hanging over the river in their property they want removed. The tree is not gigantic and would be extremely easy to manage if it were on more solid ground. However, in this case it is not.

I have a 2007 Silverado 1500 4x4. I thought that it would be possible to tie a rope or heavy tow chain to the tree, cut the tree, let it fall into the river, and then use the truck to pull it up onto the bank so I can cut it up from there.

Therefore, my question is:

How should I got about doing this? Should I connect the chain/rope to one of my towing hooks or my trailer hitch? If I had to estimate I would say this tree probably weighs around 600 pounds, no more than 800 pounds. The plan is to have it loosely tied to the truck so there is no pulling while the tree is falling.

I thought I could get some advice from here. If I thought the job was too much I would have turned it down already. I still might turn it down. However, I believe that it is a manageable job.

So what should I use the trailer hitch or towing hooks? If I use the trailer hitch I should probably go around the solid bar the actual hitch is connected to right?

Also I need a little more than 25'. Can I connect two tow chains together to get the length I need?

I would be using two of these:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-5-16-in-x-20-ft-Grade-70-Tow-Chain-with-Grab-Hooks-803082/203958797

Alternatively, I have a very long rope that is pretty strong too. Probably, not as strong as the chain, but definitely an alternative. I should have taken a picture while I was in the customers property, but I did not.

NoProblem · March 24, 2016

Front hooks and the chain will work fine. I doubt the truck will even know it's pulling anything if it's only 800 lbs.

502ci · March 24, 2016

Is this river flowing? 600 to 800lbs of floating tree in a heavy current may pull the truck into the river...make sure you have your camera ready...

O_J_Simpson · March 24, 2016

Tow hooks. Chain. Flowing river. Your truck. All I can say is please film it for us. This could be the next viral video.

00Silverado4x4 · March 24, 2016

I personally would get a tow rope and connect it to a hitch in your rear receiver. Since you are just using the truck as an anchor and not actually pulling it'll be safe. Once on the ground you'll already be in a position to pull the tree out. As an emergency rescue I'd trust the front hooks but they are only meant to be pulled straight out from the front of the truck and not on any kind of an angle. So I try to always use the hitch in back. Then if something were to happen you won't have anything possibly busting loose and going through your front windshield.

sahls01gmc · March 24, 2016

Please record this, and post it up here first.

Nathan79 · March 24, 2016

Tow strap and rear hitch. Could put it in 4x4 Low to get most torque. I would not use front hooks because then you are pulling in reverse which I believe is a weak gear compared to pulling in first gear.

Jon A · March 24, 2016

Yeah, the tree may not be heavy but if it gets snagged on a rock or the bank of the river it could give a yank. I'd recommend using something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Rampage-8610-D-Ring-Universal-Shackle/dp/B0017KJ0EO/ref=sr_1_24?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1458805309&sr=1-24

crankman · March 24, 2016

Well put Nathan79 and 00silverado 4x4

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · March 24, 2016

Hook the tree to a receiver in the hitch, preferably a d-ring receiver. It will be easier to pull the tree up going forward than in reverse. Also for extra anchorage while cutting the tree you could hook another chain or rope going from your tow hooks to another sturdy tree and then undo it when you go to pull the cut tree up.

BlackZ71Silverado · March 25, 2016

Front hooks and the chain will work fine. I doubt the truck will even know it's pulling anything if it's only 800 lbs.

That's a terrible idea!

Reverse should not really be used when pulling or towing, it's the weakest gear for that type of work. You always want to pull or tow in a low forward gear, unless impossible to do it that way.

I would be a little hesitant about hooking up to a heavy object that's going to be in a river current. Some of those currents are terrible and may surprise you, like truck floating down river surprised! Make sure someone has video when you cut the tree hooked to your truck!

Sent from my iPhone6

via TapaTalk

Hexa Fox · March 25, 2016

Is this river flowing? 600 to 800lbs of floating tree in a heavy current may pull the truck into the river...make sure you have your camera ready...

You have got to be kidding me lol. This is exactly what my father said.He recommended using a thinner rope, so if things start to go south it will just break.

Anyway yes the river is flowing. However, the area right below the tree looks very calm.

Hexa Fox · March 25, 2016

Thank you guys very much for the support. It seems like there is a good deal of the audience that really wants to see my truck floating down the river lol. I do not know how to explain this but when facing away from the hanging there will be nothing to really anchor myself into. However, it is a really good idea and did thing about that. I will have to thoroughly look around for something that I could connect to.

Hexa Fox · March 25, 2016

That's a terrible idea!

Reverse should not really be used when pulling or towing, it's the weakest gear for that type of work. You always want to pull or tow in a low forward gear, unless impossible to do it that way.

I would be a little hesitant about hooking up to a heavy object that's going to be in a river current. Some of those currents are terrible and may surprise you, like truck floating down river surprised! Make sure someone has video when you cut the tree hooked to your truck!

Sent from my iPhone6

via TapaTalk

I already thought about this. I knew I would probably have a better chance in a lower gear in four wheel drive. However, the advantage to reverse here is that my father or helper will have much better visibility. Because if the tree starts to fall while I am cutting my notch they can start pulling immediately.

Hexa Fox · March 25, 2016

I have a very long rope that I can use instead. After reading so many truck in river comments I may just go with that instead. However, I would hate for the rope to snap and then realize that I could have easily pulled it around with the chain.

My plan is to cut the notch on the left side of the tree, attach the chain so it is angled to the right, and pull it up onto the bank. I will try to take a couple of pictures next time I am there. The water directly below the tree is very shallow. It is not deep enough to even lift the tree. Thing is if something went wrong, like the tree falling straight out into the water the upper portion will be in deeper water. Possibly enough to make a portion of the tree float and pull it out into a stronger current...

I am usually pretty good at judging situations, and I honestly cannot see this one going south. However, I am certain plenty of people have thought that before me.