Winching froze'/buried items

I just got my winch installed and got some stuff half buried, maybe frozen.

Bad thing is my truck is a stick and parking brake doesn't hold to good.

I was trying to remove a old desk it looked liked. I literally ended up dragging the truck halfway across the yard before it moved a inch. I literally just left the truck in gear, no brake. and was spinning the engine over. Last resort was 2 logs in front of the rear tires and it just pulled the truck over them.

I know I need a anchor point, but closest tree is like 50ft or better away and I am maxing out the winch cable length at that point to reach the item.

Any ideas?

Try hooking over the top of the item your trying to pull and hook to the side away from the truck so the item "rolls over". That way you're not using so much force to pull it loose. If that doesn't work, use a snatch block. But you'll need an anchor point for it.

Like Mick said; hook over the top to roll the item over. I have had success by running the cable over an "A" frame placed close to the item so that the pull is partly upwards. I have used a plank stood up on end with the winch cable over the top end to roll an old hay wagon loaded with heavy wet and partly decomposed wood over. Saved a lot of time hand unloading all that crappy wood.

Ok good ideas guys. Resourceful you mean use like a 6x6 standing straight up and run the cable up and over the 6x6 to the item to roll over? Good idea...... Now the question remains how to anchor the fricking truck.,,,,,

If you can't pull it out push it out. If you have a front rack on your truck, then bump it a few times with your truck. I'm taking it that you are scrapping the desk. Jar it loose then pull it out. Or use another vehicle to ancor down

Nah ms girl, its laying flat on the ground. No way to bump or even get the truck close, without getting my truck stuck.

Why can't you hook on, then drive away?

If you have a helper, get them to stand on the brake. Or wedge a 2x4 between the brake and seat to lock it up.

If the winch has a fairlead, then park the truck sideways to the object you're pulling.

Fix the E brake.

If you get an automatic truck in the future, don't winch with it in park. You run the chance of breaking off the parking pawl.

Thats what I love about this forum. Step on the brakes....duh!!! Why didnt I think of that lol..thanks Idaho. Sometimes the most obvious is right in front of us..lol.

Your winch is rated on the pulling power of the First layer of rope, it is best to have all of your rope out. If that does not work with someone holding the brakes, use a snatch block or a gin pole setup.

Might be time to get the shovel and dig around the item enough so that the winch might not have so much load. I once buried my966 international tractor and could not afford to have it pulled out. Got hacked and went in one day with a shovel and said I'm not coming out until I can drive the tractor out. Took a good part of the day but I drove it out.

If you really have to anchor the truck, could you fabricate one of these? It is just bits of welded and cut angle iron.

Ground Anchor

You hammer the stakes through the holes in the frame then attach the truck to the end of the anchor. A pita to get in and out of the ground, but very very effective and it doesn't take up a lot of space.

But they work...

chain to it then put the truck in gear and back up till you hit the end of the chain, should pop it right out.

can you hook the front of your truck top something?

Seems to me the easiest and best solution to your problem would be to "FIX THE BRAKES"!

Get a 50ft legnth of steel cable to use to tie off the truck. It can also be used to extend the legnth of your winch cable as well for far away items.

if your truck still cant get it out you could dig, ive dug a lot in very cold temps, i pickaxe below the frost line then ill use my shovel