Enough torque? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Jacqueri · 07-22-2009, 02:45 PM

Construction in general is a novel topic to me and I was wondering if I could get some information from someone more knowledgable than I am. I had a discussion with a friend about the pulling capacity of a bulldozer (A situation with a mutual friend of ours, long story). The overall question is whether or not a John Deere 550G would be capable of pulling a loaded dump truck (around 70,000 lbs max), that was stuck in sand, out of it? How would the ground level, sand, and friction affect the situation? Although this is random, it is kind of relevent to me because I'm actually a student at NCSU considering changing from my current major to civil engineering. I can't help but to be curious as all the googling I have done has only resulted in dead ends! Your responses will be greatly appreciated!

tgeb · 07-22-2009, 03:16 PM

There is no way answer the question intelligently. It depends upon what "stuck" is.

I have removed plenty of "stuck" vehicles, be it dump truck, pick-up truck, loader, backhoe, skid steer loader, you name it under their own power. Simply by being a better driver/operator.

Many vehicles can appear stuck but be finessed out of their stuckness by someone who knows what they are doing/how to do it.

So I guess my answer would be yes, that dozer could remove a "stuck" loaded dump truck, depending on how stuck it is.

I just looked up the specs for the 550 J the current model and the max draw bar pull is about 28,000 lbs. so it should easily pull a loaded truck.

Jacqueri · 07-22-2009, 03:46 PM

I guess by "stuck" I mean that the truck kind of sunk into some sand down into a 2-3 foot ditch.. If it is possible to tow the truck out with the bulldozer, how much do you think the sand would affect traction as opposed to mud or grass?

Thank you for your response!

tgeb · 07-22-2009, 04:09 PM

What is the truck loaded with?

firemike · 07-22-2009, 06:14 PM

Way too many variables to give an answer. Are you using a 6 foot cable to pull with so the dozer is pulling in the same muck the truck is stuck in, or a 50 foot cable so the dozer can get better traction farthur away. Like tgeb said, "stuck" is too ambiguous a term. Use a snatch block and double your pulling power? Pull forward or backward? Maybe easier to pull it back out then try to go farthur ahead...

rino1494 · 07-22-2009, 06:25 PM

I say no. I've had to yank out many trucks. A 550 size dozer won't do it, unless it is just mildly stuck, like it needs just a little nudge.

cexcavation · 07-22-2009, 11:42 PM

If it is simply a traction issue then no problem. If the truck is actually planted in the ground, then definately not. The drawbar pull rating would just spin the tracks. Hook a D7 on her and you either break something or the truck will move

Trencher · 07-25-2009, 10:42 AM

I was working with a crew pulling cable for an electric company and got one of the line trucks stuck. They had a Case 535 tractor trying to pull the truck out and almost buried the tractor. Now with the towing force of the tractor the line truck could not be moved, due to the suction it had created in the mud. After several shackles being stretched and snapped, they finally took the advice of us contractors (who in their eyes are beneath them) and used a track-hoe, lifted the back of the truck and swung as the Case pulled forward with ease.

As far as your question goes, I would need to know if the truck is high-centering on the axles or not. Pulling the weight of the truck might be a problem, but pulling it against what is holding it in (sand. mud, etc) you could double the amount of force needed. IMO

jmacd · 08-02-2009, 07:25 PM

A job we did last year required us to pull the dump tucks in and out every load. The ground was wet but the trucks did not sink up to the axle, the dozer I have is 450h. You would be surprised what a dozer will pull. I used it to pull out mixers a few times also but the excavator has more than my dozer, a lot more. A dump fully loaded will go thru the mud much better than a empty one.