Mexstan,

If you don't need the slingshot effect or are worried that that might send a tree into your windshield then you could use dacron line. It does not stretch like nylon or poly line. If it does snap it doesn't have the mass of chain and won't cause much damage.
It is what is used on sail boats for the halyards and comes in many sizes. If you put a bowline on the end and hook it to a chain choker with slip type hooks it won't get damaged and the chain can be set up to bind on the tree stumps. Plus, you can always get the knot undone. You'll have to be careful how hard you jerk the truck because it will stop you like chain does.
I've used nylon tug em straps for years to pull other rigs out but would NEVER use one to pull tree stumps out. That's an excellent way to get a stump in the face!
Have fun.
Wetspirit

 

I'll see if I can describe this clearly...
I have found a nifty way to pull out shrubs etc. by taking a five foot long tug strap with loops at both ends and a 2x4 of the same length. loop the tug strap around the base of the shrub and take the other end of the tug strap and loop over the end of the 2x4. kick the base of the 2x4 in close to the shrub so the 2x4 has a lean (75-80*) in to the shrub and the tug strap is almost vertical. pull the 2x4 back towards you and the shrub will come out.
It takes a couple of tugs and a couple of re-positions on the 2x4. the total vertical travel would only be 2-3 inches at a time but it is a lot faster for smaller shrubs.

 

Why does that remind me of something Wiley-Cyote would draw in preparation to catch the RoadRunner?


Rich

 

All it needs is the "ACME SHRUB PULLER" on the 2x4

 

 

not a big store for those reasons, Menards carrys them, as does Wally world,

 

mexstan;
I can say the westcoster leverage plan works great "mechanical leverage" it's much easier on the truck.

ramguy

 

I can see it now. One day I'm going to look up in the sky and see a UFO. I mean UFB unidentified flying bush/shrub
DM01

 

If you can, get some steel braided rope. Buddy of mine used to work construction and got me this stuff. It's 1" thick, 50' long, and has loops on both ends. I have pulled 50+yr old trees out of the groud with ease. It doesn't stretch. It was used on cranes to hoist stuff up. It is fairly heavy. I second what other people say about strapping something heavy to the middle of the strap/chain so it lessens the chance of a recoil.

 

good call on the cane cable, can be tricky to find (at least around here). really really strong stuff.........if u break this pulling a stump u should consider leaving it there, lol

 

Thanks guys for your comments and suggestions. Really appreciate the help. Will be going out over the next few days to see what I can find in this city. Will let you know if anything interesting develops.

 

While I havent done it myself I have heard of people standing a tire up and running the strap around the outer circumference of the tire and attaching the strap at the bottom of the stump. The tire translates the horizontal pull from the truck into a vertical pull. Supposed to work pretty well....Id think a larger tire would be better.

 

one thing to consider is that the gears in the rear ends will not take the strain of going backwards as well as going fwds.do to the cut of the teeth. To say it simply you are more likly to have a rearend failor in reverse then going fwd.
t.m.o.

 

In the past I have pulled a lot of stumps using a strap with a blanket over it. IF you use the idea of the 2x4 only replace it with a tire mounted on a wheel it will roll the stump tight out. Just hook to the stump close to the ground, run the strap over the tire as close to the stup as you can get it, then hook to your truck. This works great for me. I would pull from the rear of the truck too, just don't hook to the hitch ball.

 

where would you hook the tow strap too, the hitch mounting assembley? ???