Got it pulled out of the swamp and have it at home finally! No pictures of the extraction itself, I drove my ford 2000 tractor there with the flatbed, backed the trailer as close to the truck as I dared & offloaded everything from the ranger onto the flatbed, The less weight the better. Next I moved the trailer out of the way & unhooked it. Took out my yellow tow straps (2) connected them then put my pintle hook into the hitch receiver. connected everything then backed the tractor to hook up. Used a clevis on a 3-point drawbar with swaybars, raised just enough so Im pulling “up” on the ranger and likewise “down” on the back of the tractor. Had about 40’ total strap from ranger to the tractor. Was outside the tree area just enough to where it wasnt swampy wet, just soft enough for the tractor to get a good bite. Put tractor in 1st, 1/4 throttle & it pulled it right out. I did have to stop part way & remove a strap then pull the other way along the ditch. Bren came along to be steering control in the ranger & also drive it home rather than load everything back in the truck, put tractor on the trailer then drive home towing with the ranger. Stone & mulch is still on the trailer now, Ive moved that around enough. Ants were trying to set up house in the door weatherstripping no longer than the truck had been sitting. A few more days would of been worse. Probably the worst of it all was pulling out on the road to leave & having all the mud fling everywhere. That & putting all the gear away, brought more than I needed but wasnt sure what would be needed. Had 3 log chains in addition to my 2 tow straps, a cable come-along, a boat winch with a pully, two sets of ramps, one wood & one aluminum. A shovel, floor jack, many 2x4’s and duct tape. yes duct tape. (hate it when log chain hooks come unhooked, so I tape em!) Was going to back up to truck, raise it with the 3-point & put ramps underneath but decided against it, didnt want to chance sticking the tractor and I figured making the butt end of the ranger weigh less would be my best bet. Ive yet to put the tailgate back on or wash it. Maybe tomorrow.
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