New member, new F150 owner, question regarding whether strap or chain would be best for pulling a stump or four.

I have a few stumps that need to be pulled out. They're all from trees that fell on their own, as in the stumps are mostly in the air and on their side, already out of the ground. After a few minutes with a chainsaw, they'll be 95% (or better) free.

I do however expect that there will be a bit of snatching to be done, if only some. So here's my question. In my past trucks I have always used a strap as opposed to chains, as a chain through my windshield has never been a pleasant thought. However, I need to actually loop around the bottom of the trunk/stump to get ahold of them, and I'm worried that a strap will abraid and snap under that kind of abbrasion, where as a chain won't care about being around a tree.

Is this a valid fear? I understand that abuse and misuse of either strap OR chain will result in failure. Easy, even movements based on traction as opposed to momentum.

I was planning to go around the tree with chain and hook to that with my big strap. Should I just get a second strap as opposed to using chain around the tree?

So, advice? I ask here because I assume the offroad section will have the "grab that thing and yank it out" experts...

 

Welcome to the forum! Personally if it was me and you think the strap could break Id use a chain, just be careful/easy and weight the middle down with an old blanket or towel or something,

 

I've been reluctant to use straps for pulling trees for a few reasons. One being the chance that the strap could be cut. The other is when the stump does come free there is alot of energy stored in the strap. I hate the idea of a 50lb projectile coming at me. I've used chains for years for doing stump pulling (never offroad), but you need to be careful doing so. I don't jerk it too much, but some slight jerking can easily coax out a stump. In all honesty I much prefer using a chain saw and a loader to try and get the stump out as far as I can and use the chain on the truck to pull it out.

 

I deffinately won't be jerking any, that's just plain unsafe, let alone hard on the truck.

I should try and be clearer on the stumps - the trees fell down, pulling the stumps up along with them. They're pointing sideways out of the ground, and they're pine, meaning most the roots are very shallow and now pointing skyward. Only a small percentage are still in the ground, and I won't be trying to tug before I go to work with a chainsaw. Probably about 60% of the root structure is already up above ground.

I'm not sure a blanket over the chain around the stump would work, being that it's around the stump/trunk instead of in a straight line of tension between me and the stump.

Maybe a safety rope to keep the chain roughly in place around the stump? So if it breaks it's energy might be arrested into the rope, verses flying free?

To be clear - tow chain wrapped around the trunk, tow strap hooked to that, etc.

Also - is pulling backwards or forwards better? I realize 1st gear is lower, but is the weight distribution better pulling backwards? Always wondered..... Is it "whatever works?"

 

Any ideas?

Thanks....

 

Not likely that the strap will be abraded by a tree, however, the above mentioned stored energy is a huge concern. Even without a jerk, the strap will stretch before it pulls - stored energy.

Use the chain and don't jerk - no stored energy, no flying parts, no damage to your truck (which is what is likely to happen if you jerk a chain).

 

I did a lot of hurricane cleanup with this:

I used heavy chain and another tree where possible instead of the truck.
Pine was easy when it was over and the taproot snapped.
I had Oak tangled like a box of dumped toothpicks. The pile groaned while cutting and ratcheting, never really sure what was going where and at what speed.

Good times.

 

lie stated above, the strap will hold alot of energy, and if th tree snaps or moves just right the tree can become a projectile. Use a chain, and no yanking on it. Just be nice and smooth in your transactions with it and you will do fine. Put an old blanket over the top of the chain and if anything does happen, the blanket will absorb most of the energy from the chain. Chains are great for that, but a strap is so much better for off road.

 

I've found that for stumps, chains are always better. A chain will dig in and grip the tree much better than any strap.

 

Used chain and took it nice and easy. 3 pines stumps, no problem. The 1 oak splintered and tore apart, but it all came up eventually.

These trucks ROCK!