It's a stump pulling fool
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Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Sharpsburg, GA, USA
Guess I can't come to the blanket party since I don't have my Screw blanket form Ford YET!
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Mine: 2001 SuperCrew Lariat GenIII
Non Piston Slapping / 1.02 Radiator
Bright Red / Beige
5.4 / 3:55 LS / Tow Pkg.
Heated Seats / Captains Chairs
6 Disc CD / Moonroof / Sliding Rear Window
Bed Extender / Line-X Bedliner / Tinited Windows
The Wife's: 2001 Expedition Eddie Bauer
Med Wedgewood Blue / Tan Leather
Heated Seats / Moonroof / Rear Ent. System
Tinted Windows / 2nd Row Captains Chairs
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Mine: 2001 SuperCrew Lariat GenIII
Non Piston Slapping / 1.02 Radiator
Bright Red / Beige
5.4 / 3:55 LS / Tow Pkg.
Heated Seats / Captains Chairs
6 Disc CD / Moonroof / Sliding Rear Window
Bed Extender / Line-X Bedliner / Tinited Windows
The Wife's: 2001 Expedition Eddie Bauer
Med Wedgewood Blue / Tan Leather
Heated Seats / Moonroof / Rear Ent. System
Tinted Windows / 2nd Row Captains Chairs
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 923
Likes: 0
From: MO, USA
I did the same thing last week. I saw the neigboor using an axe to chop away at a tree that had already been toped last year. I told him that if he dug some of the roots up we could probably pull it down with the Crew. He enthusiastically took me up on my offer.
What a bitch! The tree was a good 24 - 30" around with roots that had to go to China!
By the time we had yanked it out the whole neighboorhood was watching the Crew work its majic. Only a few casualities
My tow strap broke twice and the neighboors 100 year old chain.
Needless to say I'm a little prouder pulling into the neighborhood with the Crew these days
Don't call my truck no SUV!
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Supercrew 4x4 Lariat
Solid Black , 5.4 Triton, 3.55 Limited Slip, 6750# GVWR Package, Skid Plates, Moon Roof, Sliding Rear Window, Trailer Tow - Class III, Cargo Cage, Grey Leather Captains Chairs, 6-Disc CD Changer
Mods:
305/70/16 Goodyear ATS
American Racing Atlas 16x8
Chrome Westin Steps
Flowmaster, Delta Flow 50 SI/DO
Cranked Torsion Bars 1"
Mobil 1 @ 1,000 miles
Concept II Deflecta Shield
Planned:
Toneau Cover
Expedition Console Mod. (Been there, done that - didn't like it so I sent it back!)
Another great Ford truck site -www.fseries.com
Truck Pictures
What a bitch! The tree was a good 24 - 30" around with roots that had to go to China!
By the time we had yanked it out the whole neighboorhood was watching the Crew work its majic. Only a few casualities
My tow strap broke twice and the neighboors 100 year old chain.Needless to say I'm a little prouder pulling into the neighborhood with the Crew these days
Don't call my truck no SUV!
------------------
Supercrew 4x4 Lariat
Solid Black , 5.4 Triton, 3.55 Limited Slip, 6750# GVWR Package, Skid Plates, Moon Roof, Sliding Rear Window, Trailer Tow - Class III, Cargo Cage, Grey Leather Captains Chairs, 6-Disc CD Changer
Mods:
305/70/16 Goodyear ATS
American Racing Atlas 16x8
Chrome Westin Steps
Flowmaster, Delta Flow 50 SI/DO
Cranked Torsion Bars 1"
Mobil 1 @ 1,000 miles
Concept II Deflecta Shield
Planned:
Toneau Cover
Expedition Console Mod. (Been there, done that - didn't like it so I sent it back!)
Another great Ford truck site -www.fseries.com
Truck Pictures
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
It's a stump pulling fool
Entertained my neighbors and a few friends this weekend by pulling out chain link fence posts with 4' of buried concrete and many large stumps from the 10' x 30' area on the side of the house. I was going to pay someone $800 to do it, then I thought about renting the equipment myself. I was going to rent a backhoe or a bobcat (for 200 bananas a day plus $30 for a trailer and 7% tax). Then I scratched my head and asked "Self, why'd you buy a dern truck fer?" When I returned from the rental place with no tools and told my wife what I plannned, she was shall we say a little skeptical.
So, I went to the home depot and bought 55' feet of high tensile strength braided rope for $14.40 and some stainless clips for $11. I doubled the line and placed the loop end around the ball of the hitch, then tied the tag ends to the bottom of the stumps and posts. Although I used the clips for the chain link to keep from cutting the rope I probably could have done without them.
Now these posts had been buried in concrete 4' deep since the late 50's and some of the bushes were about that old and had a couple of 25' high trees with good size stumps (yes, it was a jungle that hadn't been maintained by the prior elderly owner). With a concrete wall, the side of the house and some huge live oaks, I didn't have room for error.
But it was all no match for the SuperCrew. Only down side was I hit a hole and the truck slid a foot and barely scraped the side of the house, which scraped the decals and side tire guard a little but didn't get into the paint.
With the bed extender, I was able to load the truck up and haul away large amounts of debris to the dump for free. It was almost fun.
Instead of spending 800 clams to hire someone, or spending $250 on rentals, I spent about $26. I'd never done this stuff before but now I'm fired up to finish the rest of the yard (and save the $1,500 estimate I got for doing that). I'm sure others have done much better, but I was just too impressed with the truck. By the way, the 4x2 with limited slip did just fine all sand, leaves and dirt.
Cheers.
So, I went to the home depot and bought 55' feet of high tensile strength braided rope for $14.40 and some stainless clips for $11. I doubled the line and placed the loop end around the ball of the hitch, then tied the tag ends to the bottom of the stumps and posts. Although I used the clips for the chain link to keep from cutting the rope I probably could have done without them.
Now these posts had been buried in concrete 4' deep since the late 50's and some of the bushes were about that old and had a couple of 25' high trees with good size stumps (yes, it was a jungle that hadn't been maintained by the prior elderly owner). With a concrete wall, the side of the house and some huge live oaks, I didn't have room for error.
But it was all no match for the SuperCrew. Only down side was I hit a hole and the truck slid a foot and barely scraped the side of the house, which scraped the decals and side tire guard a little but didn't get into the paint.
With the bed extender, I was able to load the truck up and haul away large amounts of debris to the dump for free. It was almost fun.
Instead of spending 800 clams to hire someone, or spending $250 on rentals, I spent about $26. I'd never done this stuff before but now I'm fired up to finish the rest of the yard (and save the $1,500 estimate I got for doing that). I'm sure others have done much better, but I was just too impressed with the truck. By the way, the 4x2 with limited slip did just fine all sand, leaves and dirt.
Cheers.
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Forgot my "signature."
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2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, DWBlue/Beige, Tow Package, 5.4 Triton V-8, Ltd-slip Diff., Sliding rear window, 6 Cd, and Moonroof. Ordered 07-17-00 and delivered 10-6-00. $200 under invoice from Mike Buckley at Al Bilton Ford in Holly Hill SC (803-496-3150).
MODS: Uhh, let's see, I treated the leather and sealed the paint. Does that count?
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2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, DWBlue/Beige, Tow Package, 5.4 Triton V-8, Ltd-slip Diff., Sliding rear window, 6 Cd, and Moonroof. Ordered 07-17-00 and delivered 10-6-00. $200 under invoice from Mike Buckley at Al Bilton Ford in Holly Hill SC (803-496-3150).
MODS: Uhh, let's see, I treated the leather and sealed the paint. Does that count?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Glad you were able to save some moolah. But I'm happier that your "yank" line didn't snap. It would have retorted so fast that a huge dent would have been the inevitable result in your tailgate. And if any poor sap had been standing behind your truck, that line would have additionally caused serious injury.
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Sundog7,
First, just so you know, no one at ANY TIME was any where near the front, side or back of the truck. I mean not any where near. I wouldn't even allow anyone else in the truck. The "entertainment" was only after a pull was complete. Second, I chose this rope for its high durability and strength (much higher that I needed). I've seen other type of rope snap back in marine situations, usually because of a bad knot, and I was going to do my best so it would not happen. Plus, I doubled the line and doubled it's strength.
However, the rope DID pop off a couple of times when the post of stump went horizontal instead of vertical. It never hit the truck. This rope was soft as a baby's back side (unlike a lot of heavy but cheap line) and much less prone to "snap back." It was recommended to me by someone with a lot of expertise.
There were other serious precautions I took but don't feel the need to talk about them here. Yes, a truck can always get dinged, but I bought my truck to work too, not just look pretty.
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2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, DWBlue/Beige, Tow Package, 5.4 Triton V-8, Ltd-slip Diff., Sliding rear window, 6 Cd, and Moonroof. Ordered 07-17-00 and delivered 10-6-00. $200 under invoice from Mike Buckley at Al Bilton Ford in Holly Hill SC (803-496-3150).
MODS: Uhh, let's see, I treated the leather and sealed the paint. Does that count?
First, just so you know, no one at ANY TIME was any where near the front, side or back of the truck. I mean not any where near. I wouldn't even allow anyone else in the truck. The "entertainment" was only after a pull was complete. Second, I chose this rope for its high durability and strength (much higher that I needed). I've seen other type of rope snap back in marine situations, usually because of a bad knot, and I was going to do my best so it would not happen. Plus, I doubled the line and doubled it's strength.
However, the rope DID pop off a couple of times when the post of stump went horizontal instead of vertical. It never hit the truck. This rope was soft as a baby's back side (unlike a lot of heavy but cheap line) and much less prone to "snap back." It was recommended to me by someone with a lot of expertise.
There were other serious precautions I took but don't feel the need to talk about them here. Yes, a truck can always get dinged, but I bought my truck to work too, not just look pretty.
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2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, DWBlue/Beige, Tow Package, 5.4 Triton V-8, Ltd-slip Diff., Sliding rear window, 6 Cd, and Moonroof. Ordered 07-17-00 and delivered 10-6-00. $200 under invoice from Mike Buckley at Al Bilton Ford in Holly Hill SC (803-496-3150).
MODS: Uhh, let's see, I treated the leather and sealed the paint. Does that count?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
What do you MEAN you also bought your truck to "work" too!!???
<GASP>
This is Heresy! OK. Everyone meet over at Leeman's house with hickory sticks and a big blanket. We're havin' a Blanket Party!!!
<GASP>
This is Heresy! OK. Everyone meet over at Leeman's house with hickory sticks and a big blanket. We're havin' a Blanket Party!!!
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klooger 
Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA
Hey Leeman,
I, for one, really enjoyed your story. Sounds like fun! I guess I'm a typical city slicker truck owner, driving my truck back and forth to work everyday with just me in it. Maybe I carry some groceries and occasionally, something like a new TV. Well, I do also take my truck out to the desert sometimes. But, boy, would I like to try my hand at pulling out some stumps!!
Regards,
Autoloadr
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2001 SuperCrew XLT 4x2, 5.4 L, Bright Red/Medium Graphite, Power Captain's Chairs, 3.55 Limited Slip, Trailer Tow Pkg, Cab Steps, Bed Extender, 6-Disc CD, Keyless Remote, Line-X Sprayed-On Bedliner, Lund Trident Bug Deflector, AirForce One Intake System, Roll-N-Lock V-Series Retractable Bed Cover, 20mm Autoloading Rotary Cannon (just kidding . . . ), Ordered 3/29/00, Serialized 5/11/00, Build Date 6/5/00, Delivered 6/27/00
Planned Mods: Out of money
I, for one, really enjoyed your story. Sounds like fun! I guess I'm a typical city slicker truck owner, driving my truck back and forth to work everyday with just me in it. Maybe I carry some groceries and occasionally, something like a new TV. Well, I do also take my truck out to the desert sometimes. But, boy, would I like to try my hand at pulling out some stumps!!
Regards,
Autoloadr
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2001 SuperCrew XLT 4x2, 5.4 L, Bright Red/Medium Graphite, Power Captain's Chairs, 3.55 Limited Slip, Trailer Tow Pkg, Cab Steps, Bed Extender, 6-Disc CD, Keyless Remote, Line-X Sprayed-On Bedliner, Lund Trident Bug Deflector, AirForce One Intake System, Roll-N-Lock V-Series Retractable Bed Cover, 20mm Autoloading Rotary Cannon (just kidding . . . ), Ordered 3/29/00, Serialized 5/11/00, Build Date 6/5/00, Delivered 6/27/00
Planned Mods: Out of money
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Some might consider me a city slicker too although I prefer to think of my self as half redneck from North Carolina. One of the main reasons I got the truck (other than it's awesome looks) was to help me renovate the house we bought, especially the yard, and to load up all fishing gear after a hard day on the water.
I can understand links in a chain being bonded togehter by the heat and strain. The biggest problem I had was undoing the knot. The knot would be burned together on a hard pull and I needed heavy duty pliers to pull it apart.
I counted 31 more old stmps and bushes last night....not counting the rest of the chain link around the perimiter of the back yard. Ouch. By the way, I guy came by on Sunday and quoted me $1500 for removal of the stuff and grading of the lawn. My wife said "Why should we pay that much when you can do it?" Ouch again.
I can understand links in a chain being bonded togehter by the heat and strain. The biggest problem I had was undoing the knot. The knot would be burned together on a hard pull and I needed heavy duty pliers to pull it apart.
I counted 31 more old stmps and bushes last night....not counting the rest of the chain link around the perimiter of the back yard. Ouch. By the way, I guy came by on Sunday and quoted me $1500 for removal of the stuff and grading of the lawn. My wife said "Why should we pay that much when you can do it?" Ouch again.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Nyack, NY
Is your truck 2 wheel or 4x4 ? and did you use low range?
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2001 Lariat Screw. Gen.3,
5.4, 4x4, All white w/ gray interior. 4r70w tranny, no problems yet,
wrong radiator, 3.55 gears
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2001 Lariat Screw. Gen.3,
5.4, 4x4, All white w/ gray interior. 4r70w tranny, no problems yet,
wrong radiator, 3.55 gears
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
4x2 with ltd slip. Seemed to perform fine in a mixture of sand, dirt and leaves.
------------------
2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, DWBlue/Beige, Tow Package, 5.4 Triton V-8, Ltd-slip Diff., Sliding rear window, 6 Cd, and Moonroof. Ordered 07-17-00 and delivered 10-6-00. $200 under invoice from Mike Buckley at Al Bilton Ford in Holly Hill SC (803-496-3150).
MODS: Uhh, let's see, I treated the leather and sealed the paint. Does that count?
------------------
2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, DWBlue/Beige, Tow Package, 5.4 Triton V-8, Ltd-slip Diff., Sliding rear window, 6 Cd, and Moonroof. Ordered 07-17-00 and delivered 10-6-00. $200 under invoice from Mike Buckley at Al Bilton Ford in Holly Hill SC (803-496-3150).
MODS: Uhh, let's see, I treated the leather and sealed the paint. Does that count?