I would like to use my Ford F150 to remove some evergreen bushes in my front yard. Do I hook up the chains and back straight up away from the bushes or do I turn the wheel while backing away?
2007-04-09 13:30:06 · 5 answers · asked by tortured in toledo 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
It totally depends on the type of bush and the depth of the roots!!!!!! Step away from the pickup truck and re-think this. I've seen at LEAST 10 people try that with a pickup truck and either burn their tranny out, or rip something out from underneath. You would have MUCH better luck with a super duty f-350.
2007-04-09 13:35:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have done this many times with all kinds of plants and trees. It's always fun. If they are bushes wrap the chain around the branches a few times as tight as you can or it will just slip over the top. Don't worry about turning the wheel you should do fine giong at it straight.
Pull ahead slowly untill the chain is taught. Give it a little gas and see if it budges at all. It helps to have someone to watch. If it is moving you can "bounce" the plant a bit by rocking your truck - just give it gas, let off, and repeat. If you are worried about hurting your truck, make the chain as tight as you can and apply the parking brake, try to stay clear of the chain incase it breaks. Dig around the plant to expose the roots and chop the roots with a shovel or axe.
If you are impatient, on the other hand, just back all the way up to the plant and stand on the gas pedal. This method can be tough on the truck. I have seen it done a lot and one time my dad ripped the bumper right off of the '72 chevy tearing out a palm tree. That's the only damage I've ever seen to a truck doing this and I've seen the rear wheels a foot off the ground before pulling out stumps.
Soak the roots really well the day before. Let the hose run on the plants slowly for a couple of hours for a good deep soaking.
One more thing to watch out for... make sure that your chain is in good repair. It is very hazardous with that much tension being applied to it, should it break. Make sure that everyone stands clear while you are pulling hard. I saw a cable snap once and it broke the rear window of the pickup in the blink of an eye (no one was hurt).
Have fun.
2007-04-10 04:18:07 · answer #2 · answered by Jordan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've got the room , keep it strait. They'll come out! Make it easy and soak the ground around them before hand. And if u don't have 4-wheel drive, you may want to tie em' to the back if they're big trees. The pull will put the weight on your back tires. And do it slow, don't jerk, you'll end up pulling something out of your truck, before you pull something out of the ground. Good luck!
2007-04-09 20:35:56 · answer #3 · answered by chris j 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i would use a tow strap, i have seen windshields taken out by a chain that has come loose...
2007-04-10 08:29:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, probably both, depending on which direction the roots are growing
2007-04-09 20:41:53 · answer #5 · answered by smeagol_jr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋