I found a few late 30's Ford and Chevy truck cabs. Problem is they are at the bottom of a ravine. Now they are sitting on top of other cars so they have stood the test of time well being up off the ground and creek below them. I was trying to use a logging cable and a few straps with a come along. The cab is alot lighter than I thought but one of the straps could not handle the tug and snapped. I am wondering how other folks off of here have recovered old tin? Patrick
I would strap the cab to an upside down car hood and attach the cable to the hood somehow.Skid it up the hill if possible on the hood. Attach a secondary strap or cable from the main cable to the cab just in case.....wouldn,t want the cab to tumble back down....
Use some long pipes laid on the slope like an inclined railroad. The cab, or hood will slide easier on the rails.
This type of el-cheapo portable 12v winch will pay for itself the first time you use it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120100956855 Build a tubular (sch. 40) skid to ride the cabs on so they don't dig into the ground and hit the switch... or the car hood idea is a good one. JOE
Take the time to build a sled with real wheels on it. It'll cost a few bucks, but that's not bad. Go to Wal-Mart, Harbor Freight, Tractor Supply, etc. and get four of the tall lawn mower wheels. Find an old wooden pallet. Make axles out of some steel rod or tubing and attach them to the bottom of the pallet. Strap the cabs to the pallet and try winching the pallet up the grade. It'll roll a LOT easier than it will drag. Even if you just put two 2x4 skids on the bottom of a pallet, it'll move easier. Friction is the enemy. Brad
Build yourself a set of gin poles to go off the back of a trailer. Take 2 10'-15' lengths of used 3/8" wall drillstem (can be typically bought for about $1/ft) and stick a small axle shaft bent to about a 160 degree bend in the ends where they meet. Chain the other end to the rails on the trailer to keep them stable. Run a chain further up the trailer between the rails and attach a longer chain from it to the top of the gin poles. Hang your winch from the apex of the gin poles/bent axle shaft. You'll be able to lift whatver your trying to lift almost straight up, and if you attach it to the back of your trailer, it should give you about 10' of overhang above the ravine. You'll probably need a length of cheater pipe to work a hand winch/come-a-long, or a remote operated winch'll do the trick too.
I have used pallets with very thick cardboard attached to the underside with powershot staples and used a cheapy winch but you could also get a tractor (4wd preferably) and pull it up, ever so slowly, with some heavy chain to or cable...good luck...post pics of your find while in the ravine, during the ascent, and once they get home and are cleaned up
got any offroading friends? most wheelers have winches on the front of their rigs, and could be talked into helping for a case of their favorite beverages... strap the cab to a pallet of some sort, and drag it up...
I am going to use poles to get it off the cars its on, and over the 9 foot washout and up onto the side of the ravine. I just went to Harbor Freight and scored some wheels for 4.49 a piece. I will build a cart that telescopes in the middle to make it easier to get thru the woods and to the ravine. Using a truck, tractor or truck will not be able to happen cause of the location. Thanks for the help on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will get some pics of the area the next time I am out there. Patrick
Forget about getting them ...Give up.....Not worth the hassle! Now where exactly are they located ?? Be careful when winching them...watch out for that cable. If your in the way when it snaps, it could split you in two ! .....I'm sounding more and more like my parents every day !!!!
I say you drop a SBC w/tranny and rearend down there. Install them and drive that sum biatch out o there!
Sometimes people put a heavy blanket or similar on the cable, so that if it breaks, it does not fly and cut you in half. I would use this as well for ropes. Good luck!
Go down there with a hack saw, or battery powered sawzall and cut it apart and move it in pieces. it would be alot easier. and you would probably have to tear it down eventualy anyways if your going to modify it. Good luck
I like all the ideas suggested so far. What I would try along with the car hood and trailer ideas would be find someone with a 4WD Quad. They're about the same size as the Quad and if the cabs are going to come out of that area, one of them Quads could surely drive in and drive out with the cabs. They also make great winches as you can get them to pull the stuff out of the ravine. Plus, it's a lot easier than carrying all the recovery equipment in and out of the area. When we cut wood, we can put several heavy logs(4 or 500 lbs. total) on the Quad and trailer and go up some pretty steep hills. Good luck with your project. P.S.- We need pictures! Trout
I like the idea of using the quads. I know its a ravine, but it has to be shallow somewhere! Even these Okie washouts have a beginning and ending!
I don't know if the quad would be beefy enough, unless it's big one. Maybe use a block and tackle. I used a come-a-long (and a secondary cable to secure to an anchor when unspooling the come-a-long) for a big ass tree in a ravine (to cut up for lumber) and I was soaked with sweat on a winter day!
....oddly enuf, after reading your "location" on your avatar, I'm surprized you have a big ravine to deal with!! ...jusy kidding, hope you get em out OK, let's see some pics for sure. Sounds like fun.
Some good ideas posted. I would also think about finding the owner and asking about them so you don't have to sneak out there at night and hope nobody hears you.
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