Guys, I got up at the crack of crow pi$$ this morning to get my log trailer fully loaded with logs out of the landing at the soggy bottom of a field. It has been warm during the days here just above freezing, but at night just enough cold to keep the ground somewhat firm. There is still snow around logs and in the woods.
Firstly, I spent an hour on Sunday lifting the fifth goose neck of the 25,000# loaded trailer up with the tractor to get the jack foot out of the 1 foot hole it had sunk into.
I get the truck backed up to the king pin this morning and guess what it had sunk another 4 inches in the ground with a 14inch wood slice under it. The jack was useless so back to the plant to get the high lift jack. Jack it up high enough to finally get the truck under it and the sun clears the tree line and my firmly frozen ground instantly begins to soften. The trailer is backed up to a dirt bank and a 6 inch wood slice is used to chuk the tires from rolling. Wood chuk is frozen to ground and won't budge rocked it back and forth 6 times ....over the chuk it goes (probably broken belt on tire now )
On the first run I run the truck in 4lo 2nd with the tst on 3 3. halfway up the hill...plugged. I back down the hill and get back to where I started. Look forward and see that I just plowed the field with the jack leg.
The jack leg was frozen and off the ground by about 3 inches on the downhill start and what looked about 6 inches to low on the uphill.
On the second run I take a lesser angle on the hill and make it a length further and then plug the truck and trailer up to the axles. Rock it back and forth and get back to where I started.
On the third run I cranked the TST to 6 3 reved her to 3500rpm in 4lo 2nd 1250 EGTS and cut the hill straight to the top....dirt and mud flys but the TC finally locks as I crest the hill at 20mph and off to the mill we go.

The moral of the story is spare the coffee and diesel and you will spoil the jack(a$$) ks

 

I'm glad to read your story, I thought I was the only fool that could get into that kind a mess.

 

Guys, Did I mention that I just got back from two glorious weeks of vacation in Florida. Thank goodness I haven't gotten my pilots licence....yet. ks

 

No wonder you had a bad day, crows cann't eat.

 

I make it a point to ALWAYS do a walk around the entire trailer before I take off. I'm not trying to rub your nose in it, rather I have done the same thing. You cannot believe how many times now I catch ramps down, trailer doors not locked, cell phone sitting on the fender, ect.

Always do a walk around when towing a trailer. It will save you money.

 

Yep, I walked around and I knew the thing was only 3 inches off the ground but it was frozen solid. I whached it with a log about 10 times and she wouldn't budge. Remember is was frozen in mud and water 6 inches in the ground. I was lucky to get it up that far. I figured when I got to level ground that I'd drop it down and let the Cummins loosen it up. Amazingly plowing the soil for 500 feet up an back loosened it so I could raise the extend a foot. Oh well, I guess I just pre plowed my buddy neighbors field. ks