Consult the guide below to safely remove the machine without damaging anything or causing injuries to workers.
Obtain the Essential Tools for Towing
When a vehicle or piece of heavy construction equipment is stuck in a muddy mess at the work site, your best solution is to tow it out. You will need durable cables, ropes, straps, or chains to attach to the machine for easy removal. Leave these tools in a known location so you don’t forget where they are in the event you need to use them for towing.
Remove Items From the Machine
Before attaching the towing equipment, it’s in your best interest to make the machine as light as possible for easy extraction. Take away any removable items to ensure it’s not too heavy for the towing vehicle. Leave the items you did remove somewhere safe so you remember to return them to the equipment once it’s free.
Place Planks Behind Tires/Treads
The next step in getting your heavy construction machinery out of the mud is to place a harder material, like plywood, behind the tires or treads of your machines for better traction. Wedge these planks as far behind the tires as you can. As the towing vehicle extracts the heavy equipment, the plywood will provide a grip and prevent the tires from dragging through the mud—make this removal process as easy as you can on yourself!
Attach the Towing Equipment
Now that it’s time to attach the towing equipment, it’s vital to understand that you cannot connect these ropes or straps to any component on the machine and hope for the best because it will damage your equipment. Attach the rope to a tow hook or some part of the machine’s frame. Inspect your towing equipment before securing it to the machine. Damaged tools will only make your job more difficult.
Insert Tow Hooks With the Tips Up
Even if you inspect your towing tools before hooking them to your construction equipment, they can become deadly projectiles if they snap off the machine. To avoid injuries and accidents, insert the tow hooks with their tips facing up—this way, if they snap off, the hook will fly toward the ground instead of toward a worker. Keep employees away from the ropes while towing for extra safety.
Tow the Machine Slowly
Now that we’re finally freeing your equipment from the mud, don’t get ahead of yourself. Slamming on the gas pedal and going as fast as possible with all the attachments on both vehicles could damage them. Instead, take it slowly and gently. Eventually, the machine will extract from the mud—you can inspect the equipment for damage, repair anything, and clean it up for use again.
Towing heavy construction machinery out of the mud is a reasonably simple task, but you need to keep several things in mind. Remember to attach the tow rope to the frame or tow hook and insert the tow hook with the tip facing up. Don’t worry if your machines sink into the mud; use this guide to ensure everything goes smoothly when you extract it.
Image Credit: Excavator digs piles. By Anoo FILE #: 513656027
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