If you can get a firehose put the chain through that and you dont have to worry about it snapping

 

I have pulled a few out with my 94 F150 4X4, my dads old 99 F350 4X4 PSD dually, and even used my old mans tandem axle dump truck once (97 Freightliner with 385hp Detroit 60 series). We had always used either 3/4"X20' chain or 3/4"X16' cable with loops on both ends, we have used the cable to pull the dump truck out when that was stuck and fully loaded to 60,000 lbs. So I dont think that it will break when pulling a stump out. Most of the time we use either the Bobcat or exavator to remove stumps when clearing land.

About the only time that we use a truck is when we would go out cutting wood and find a stump that was in the way for where we wanted to go, or small little trees around the house.

 

be fore warned:

i used my dad's 92 bronco to try to pull out a 6" tree before. 4" lift, 33" tires, 351W. something in the tranny gave and tranny fluid came pouring out all over the driveway. my parents were out of town and i rented a tranny jack to try to remove it and have it repaired myself. good thing my dad came home before i got it out. i probably would have killed myself if the tranny slipped off the jack.

 

What I recommend is that you call a stump grinder and let them do it before you risk your truck and/or yourself. I've got a permanent reminder of this branded on the tailgate of my old '97 F250, when the chain popped and slammed into the gate. I've seen before with longer chains that flew up and went through the back window.

 

OOH OOHH!! I got a tree pulling story too!
We had a couple of full grown palm trees, and we had cut them down, and dug out around the bottom. Which only got about half the roots since palm trees roots grow straight down. Well we then decided to hook our john deer to the stump that was about 4 feet tall for leverage. Well lets just say we sent that chain flying(only time i've ever seen a chain break). But after another six pack and another chain we finally won!!

 

Years ago we had to cut down a 50 to 60 ft elm tree. I dug around it for hours until I thought I could pull it out with my 78 f-150. No deal, It was a hand shaker and I had it in 1st gear low range, all four tire were spinning on the street, so I called my buddy up and he came over with his 75 f-150. We chained both trucks together and had eight tire spinning on the street. I gave up and put a dang bird bath on the stump. That was probably 10 years ago and that stump is still there!

 

Some pretty funny stories here. One thing that I didnt see mentioned was water the area around the stump well so it is easier to remove. Using a axe to chop what roots can be cut is also a good idea. And as most have mentioned the possibility for truck damage is always there. Just depends on how much fun you would have pulling this thing out with your truck as opposed to how much the possible damage might **** you off.

 

I've done this a few times myself, and I can vouge for the nylon strap breaking. My tow strap broke and I ended up with a DEEP hook-shaped dent in my tailgate. A couple feet higher and it would've cleared through the windshield I'm sure. The best tip I can offer is to try everything BUT your truck for something that big. (unless you drive an older one you dont care about) Small shrubs I'll still do, but if they're as big as what you describe you'll need to do a lot of pre-work...and it'll still be tough. When I pull something (in my neighbors beater now) I use a heavy chain bundled very tightly around the lowest point on the shrub so there's no slack. I bolt that off and use another chain to secure it to my frame. A blanket wont be heavy enough to stop that much force so I usually tie off a safety line at the same point that you connected it to the bush...the other end to something only a foot or so in front of it...because if you think about it- if your chain snaps is your truck going to be able to outrun the broken chain? So my safety has very little slack as well, and I'll usually stop as soon as I hear the shrub uproot.

 

I havent pulled any stumps but I did demolish a skatepark with my truck by anchoring a tow strap around the ramp and hooked through my hitch. Each of the ramps were the size of a basic backyard shed...I just used a 12,000 strap and gave it a little tug and whamo they were apart and I just dragged them out to the parking lot where we had a awesome forklift to demolish them and load them into a dumpster!

 

Why pull it out? That seems like too much work. I just burn them instead. Drill a bunch of big, deep holes in the stump. Fill the holes full of diesel and let it soak in. Repeat this a couple of times then light that joker. When you are done all that is left is the hole in the ground.

Joe

 

does it help to flood the ground around the stump with water to soften up the soil and the hold those roots have on it? Lots of rain and wind will take down big trees that wind alone doesn't take down. Just a thought.

 

Funny, that's what my first plan usually is. But these stumps are too close to other things that would get damaged by the smoke and fire.

 

I hooked a chain to the front tow hooks and pulled it out in reverse. Worked fine. Just make sure that you set the chain high on the stump for better leverage.

 

Someone told me to drill holes in one and pour salt in and it would kill it. It may take a while to do it that way.

 

With my 03 F150, I recently took about 2 dozen 25 year old bush stumps out.
Got it done, even though probalby wasn't the best for my truck.
Had to use the front tow hooks dont ahvea rear ball hitch) and grabbed my neighbors --heavy duty-- chain.
Dig around the roots, take an old ax, or use a pick and dig in best you can.
Get the chain as far under the stump as possible.
When possible, get it under a main root.
The chain never flew back at me, a few peices of wood or dirt did if the chain slipped.
Hook up everything, and get in the truck.

Go slow at first. Make sure the chain won't slip. The truck will slowly loosen the stump.
It is doesn't pull the root loose at all after three tries, go back and chop at a few roots. Hop back in, start pulling.
You can tell when the root starts to give.
Be patient, it does work. Good luck.