$35,000 MISTAKE PART 2: GATOR 865R FROZEN IN THE GROUND 🐊🧊⛏️

[@GoodWorksTractors]

IT'S BETTER TO PLAN AHEAD. GOOD ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND IN CASE OF AN OFF-ROAD EMERGENCY BELOW. WHAT ELSE SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST? Tow Strap: amzn.to/37skWJF Come-Along: amzn.to/3ujWy6A Battery Jumper: amzn.to/3rWN5jE Diesel Emergency Thaw: amzn.to/3uiFSN2 Tractor Mat: amzn.to/3k8KCQM Exhaust Vehicle Jack: amzn.to/3k7tgUn

[@GoodWorksTractors]

And, of course, head on over to Good Works Tractors if you're looking for a tractor or tractor attachments! www.goodworkstractors.com

[@540isilver]

I would get a snatch block or 2, also a emergency blanket incase your in the middle of nowhere. And maybe a better sxs for off road

[@ronaldsimmons8346]

Snatch blocks, Yankum Rope - lose the tow strap, it'll tow you, but not good at getting out of the hole. That little atv might be capable of pulling it out of the hole with the Yankum Rope. (momentum and the energy released by the rope)

[@micahgregory7004]

A few different quick links and shakles can be helpful if you're pulling different vehicles out of the snow. Sometimes cars and SUVs have tow hooks/loops that are too small to get straps through (as i found out a few times this year).

[@lawlessjff]

Snatch block pulley as well as an item called a tree strap to hook up to

[@historykzg6747]

The 4500lb rating is for first wrap on drum, further you go the less load you can pull. And ALWAYS LEAVE AT LEAST FIVE WRAPS OF ROPE ON DRUM other way rope can fall from drum. Im working in towing industry so i know a few things. A good idea is to take a snatch block and go from winch through snatch block back to for example gator frame, using snatch block causes less stres on winch.

[@michaela1655]

If it makes you feel any better, the struggles that you went through makes for a great video. Real life is sometimes hard, and seeing someone persevere and prevail is a good thing to see.

[@allenjessee8860]

Great video!! Thanks for sharing! Even though the frustration was high, you just enriched a friendship for life! Making memorable moments never gets old!!

[@je1279]

You are a far more patient man than I. I certainly would have lost it more than once in that situation. Glad you finally got it out!

[@woodlandwonders6887]

Stuck for 3 days with a bad winch? I've been stuck 3 years with a bad wench and I still can't get out.

[@Winger2325]

ROFL!!!

[@rwc2504]

HAHAHAHHA!!

[@davidparadis490]

KZbin comment of the year winner!

[@Will-tm5bj]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@brucerushing2363]

Your transparency is your best quality and you come across very genuine ! That equals success ! I enjoy your videos.

[@jonathandevoe70]

When winching your winch should be rated for at least twice the vehicle weight . Once you sink the vehicle you add two to three times the weight of the vehicle

[@rockandrattleretreat5830]

Weight of the vehicle also includes all the attachments, like that heavy plow you have on there. And that puts more weight up front and less on the back wheels that have the differential lock.

[@jeremylee6668]

I’m glad I put a 3500 pound winch on my 800 pound quad works great hahah

[@evvlb2]

Snatch block. Double the winching power

[@C_J_81]

A lot of winches are made like that with the rope or cable just stuck in the hole. You should put a mark on the cable so you always leave several turns of cable or rope on the winch to provide tension to keep the rope on.

[@scericat]

Check your state refs, but in most states you are required to cross your chains on your trailer. Love your vids!!!!

[@FrankFH]

Law or not, you should cross your safety chains. If your trailer ever comes loose from the truck, which will happen to just about everyone sometime, you will be glad you did. Keeps tongue off the ground and trailer straight behind you.

[@ryanaandre]

Wowsers, it's usually fun getting stuck, winching out, enjoying the outdoors and winter fun, but that looked like way too much work. Seems like the Gator and the Winch let you down, I like the end "Siri find me the closest John Deere Dealer" haha. Thanks for the laugh.

[@tigg567]

O hey it’s about time the KZbin experts showed up .see them all .some days suck this was your some .good job not giving up and calling a wrecker .

[@LatitudeDroneServices]

Thanks for a great video. Although frustrating, it was good to see the struggle. Makes us all feel better having had similar experiences. Definitely a “Murphy’s Law” 3 days. Great job documenting it!

[@belindakt]

Oh, but do I ever feel your pain. Been there a couple times back in our younger days of off roading, 2 lessons we learned early was never go alone, & no winch can be trusted. We always carried shovels, various blocks of wood, 200 ft of cable, a hi lift jack & a couple of snatch blocks. A little disappointed in that Gator, didn't look like it really had enough power ? Glad you got it out, someday you'll look back on this adventure & laugh...lol

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, been stocking up ever since for the next time, haha!

[@cdee6096]

Hi Courtney. We often go camp the beach and have to drive our 5th wheel over deep sand. The only way to make it is to air way down on the tires. Airing down helps in the snow as well. I can tell you were at your wits end but held it together very well! I have been stuck in the sand trying to beat the ocean tide from taking us away. Lucky for me that we were always able to make it out before high tide! Very frustrating getting stuck!

[@mikeherschleb5949]

Thanks for editing out all the frustration 😬

[@johniac7078]

Well, at least that is a lot better than having to fish it out of the bottom of the lake like my buddies snow mobile.

[@brianscheid64]

I have a funny feeling that winch ended up in the scrap bin. No good deed goes unpunished..... so true. Keep smiling

[@tomashbaugh8891]

I was stuck bad once, winch didn’t help. Neighbor was nice enough to bring a “hi-lifter” . Winched up front and then the winch on the machine pulled us right out. Gotta love those old school hi lifters

[@BitCounter]

Starting JD planting season early.. Will it grow into a 2025R?

[@Elkmonger]

NIIIIIICE! Man am I glad to see that I'm not the only one to do that. I got my parents Kubota B1750 with Snow Blower stuck in their yard a foot from their garage with swing doors. Couldn't close the doors. Could NOT get the tractor out. I was too stupid to stop when it was just "stuck". I kept going until it was resting on the snowblower up front and the axle in the back. Then the blizzard started. The next morning everything was froze. I chipped the frozen ground with my framing hammer. My parents took a picture of it and had it enlarged. I was my college graduation present. Edit: Duuude!!!!! I commented before I watched the whole video. OMG you really got that stuck! Awesome

[@Redneck_Ed]

I feel your pain as well. We had 3 vehicles stuck like that years ago in single digits and high wind. Once you sink and the frame is sitting on the hard packed snow, you're toast. I spent a few hours shoveling out from around and under our old highboy to free it up, then we used it to pull the other 2 vehicles out. You kept a great attitude through your ordeal. Glad you got it out.

[@Itsa_Mea]

What you needed was a Hi-Lift Jack to lift the front wheels loose from the frozen tundra.

[@4-LOW]

This summer, sitting around the camp fire with your buddies, this will give you a story to tell.

[@stevegreene4880]

That little disk is actually a steel BB that the rope wraps around and is tension held in the drum relief. Any thing small like a 1/4-20 nut size or smaller would work as a replacement. Always enjoy your vids!

[@jodyevans7118]

Well, Brother that was painful to watch. Glad to see you got it out. Didn’t look like fun. Sometimes plans go sideways. Well my son-in-law got that hard plastic piece attached to the front bucket on the 4052r and says it works much better than the edge tammers able to get it down to the ice at this point and not continue to build up the ice more with the 3/4 of an inch the tammers left. 5 ft of snow and counting on the ground so far. Well thanks for all you do for us dummies learning about tractors and accessories. Will keep watching!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Looks like a bad day but thanks for showing it to us

[@daveyoder1436]

Chris the little metal cylinder that locks the winch cable to the winch was something I had on my warn atv winch too. And I lost. I substituted with a small nut from a bolt. Another option I did for years was to pull winch cable all the way thru and lay it flat to the winch drum perpendicular to the winch line normally. After a couple wraps on it wouldn't go anywhere. Also, another good recovery tool is a high lift jack. Boards also go a long way in a situation like that. Glad you got it out.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, good idea. Thought about using a nut. Thanks for watching!

[@shawnmontgomery1088]

Were those safety chains crossed on that trailer hook up?

[@duaneadams3786]

I've got the exact same gator and I love it. Got ot stuck a couple of times also but not that bad and i just got the tractor to pull it out. The only thing I dont like about the gator is the ground clearance I think it's to low but then again it's not designed as a full off road vehicle it's more of a work horse and that's what we use it for. It's great for plowing snow and pulling trailers and such I'll still keep mine. I did like the video thou it reminds me again on not what to do lol keep your videos coming.

[@brandongustafson7497]

It must take a lot of work to get something stuck on perfectly flat ground and not buried into anything! I’m glad you got it out!!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha, good assessment. 👍

[@kodyarcher9065]

I’m sure it’s in the comments somewhere below but just wanna say to keep in mind snatch blocks are your best friend when winching.. you can move the slick lookin king ranch in the video with the enclosed hooked to it and the gator inside it with that winch if the setup is right with the winch line, rigging and snatch blocks. Much respect for a mans drive and determination here though I must say. Love the videos

[@roncorbin1500]

GWT, Great advertisement for Gator & Warn love.

[@johnpegg2012]

I saw your Instagram post about this and thought you were being a little too critical when you described this as pathetic but man that is seriously pathetic! That’s amazing that it got stuck so good in a flat spot! Love your videos

[@lilyt8578]

After watching the video i am glad you got it out safely. Be careful when dealing with winches and cable. When it goes it is all over the place. Seen it a couple of times. Have great day and take care and be safe Courtney. Tim

[@tommcmillan3143]

Hmm... I think I will stick with the tractors and the snowmobile after seeing this. Courtney, on the positive side of this experience, thanks for taking one for the team buying the Gator and identifying what happens in snow with it :)

[@benjaminstockton3917]

See you didn't give up it payed off good job buddy

[@trevorsidley7697]

Hi Courtney, in the UK we call the piece the end of the rope wraps round a "Thimble" - I use them on wire rope - not expensive - about $3 - for a pack of 10 for 1/4" wire or rope!

[@tinstar5080]

Great video on how problems stack up to make something much harder than it should be. Great job on keeping your cool. Gave you a thumbs up just for that. You had the tools to make the recovery fairly straight forward. Set the 4wheeler behind the gator, drop the blade on the 4wheeler, snatch block over the top of the blade to the 4wheeler. Snatch block doubles winch power, blade on the 4wheeler will dig in to keep the 4wheeler in place.

[@BillyP55]

We've all been there... glad you made it out without breaking anything.

[@ritterjon]

💥 UTV’s have never really impressed for. A lot of money for an underpowered drivetrain and low clearance. *Keep on tractoring!*

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I'm with ya!

[@earlyriser8998]

good job getting out of the mud by the lake.....makes me want to test my winch on a steep hill

[@thomashaas3275]

That thing was going to come up that hill, hell or high water. Thanks for the laugh.

[@hattman2010]

Happy you persevered, but . . Man, that was hard to watch. Good lesson to be had regarding stretchy tow lines. They store a lot of energy and can be dangerous.

[@edamick7479]

My hat is off to you for keeping your cool. Lots of good comments about how they rate winches. Being on the frame and frozen to the ground I think you were over the winch rating. I would check with a dealership some UTV manufacturers recommend you add a second battery in the circuit due to limited charging systems. It doesn't mention it in owners manuals. I have a Honda UTV and I can lock the front and rear differentials together and that has helped me get through some rough places. But it's a bear to steer. Just remember there's good points and not so good points for all equipment. Keep up the good work. Thank you

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I agree with that assessment after the comments rolled in. I think that is an advertising/slash salesman issue. Something I'm aware of now, but learning that lesson after paying good money and having to spend all that time is frustrating. I'd much rather buy the properly sized winch up front which I honestly thought I was doing. Thanks for watching!

[@edamick7479]

@@GoodWorksTractors Your welcome. I been subscribed to you for awhile, and a sub compact tractor owner for about 20 years. But still learning from folks like you.

[@TheHobbyShop1]

Been there and done that unfortunately. I learned the value of a high lift Jack to lift the wheels up and stuff wood or something in the ruts. Once it’s down to the frame your kinda hosed. That Deere seems like a heavy pig though. I would have thought it would do much better in the snow/mud. Nice work though!!!

[@jeffnoble9766]

Dude...that was brutal! I was as stressed just watching this...I was like WHY is no one helping him!!!! lol

[@jasonklabunde6415]

A block and tackle would double the winches pulling power, but does slow down the process.

[@atticafireman]

snatch blocks, each one cuts your force on the winch by half. great offroad videos out there on the use of snatch blocks !

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, one was used in this video and the Gator didn't move an inch.

[@joeyshofner639]

Well done! Very well done.

[@reno4819]

Thank you for the education. I'll now carry extra snatch blocks and other equipment when in these conditions. I feel that any vehicle without flotation tires or tracks would get stuck in those conditions. I don't understand why side by sides aren't sold with larger tires. Or at least geared down and built to handle larger tires. Thanks again!

[@marshallhoux7987]

You can use a small nut to sub for the disc it works like a spacer to keep the rope from pulling through

[@spliceoncharlie]

You did not give up and stayed with the job until you got it unstuck. Also, that area is very deceiving, at first glance not too bad, but as you move around it becomes a nasty area where many things would get stuck. Thanks for sharing, at least you have a field expediency video now, and we all can learn from this type of situation.

[@donaldpyles2891]

I always say, "you not stuck if you own something that will pull it out, you just can't go anywhere". You still had plenty of things to hook to it to pull on it, you weren't close to being stuck. Now your buddy who had to call you....he was stuck!!! I have a friend who has always maintained that the Gator was true 4WD and that it would spin all 4 tires, guess that theory is busted. Thanks for sharing, something like this probably lead to the development of alcohol.

[@SWAMPHUNTER644]

YOU NEEDED A HIGH LIFT JACK AND SOME PLANKS. I watched a jeep stuck in an Adirondack mudhole get free by jacking up and tipping the jack over until it was on solid ground. Also had a Bronco leaning sideways against a tree jacked up and moved sideways. Shoveled dirt until truck was flat. Good thing about getting stuck is you learn what works and what doesn't. The more times you get stuck, the more you learn. Sometimes it helps to have a couple snatch blocks to change the direction and some extra chains to go around trees. UTVs will get stuck easier than an ATV and are harder to get unstuck.

[@christhomas9837]

You had that gator well stuck. I think I might have taken the plow off and went and gotten one of my tractors but it's always easy to have a solution from the couch.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha, yeah, the couch is a comfy spot to assess 🤣 I made a video about installing this plow a few months ago. All I could think about was how I did not want another project after getting the Gator unstuck. It's pretty bad. Also, it was so sloppy that I don't think it would have mattered in the end. A tractor couldn't have got any closer than my truck. The truck would have then had to pull out both. I'd be more concerned about my tractor tipping over as it's hilly, slippery, and tractors are much more top heavy than a Gator.

[@tomoaktree4951]

Hi Courtney, Thanks for sharing the (FUN?) that you had, which I'm thinking wasn't so much fun. I'm certain you're not the first that has had this happen and definitely won't be the last. Hopefully it came out without any damage.

[@KesselRunLX]

I know you lean green when it comes to equipment, but you should trade this one in for the equivalent kubota diesel utv and tell us what you think.

[@rickyoung360]

Well..... At least you didn't get it up the hill and find out that half of the undercarriage was still frozen in the ground by the lake!! LOL!! Look at it this way, you've got a story to tell that you'll never forget!

[@carolbrown7937]

Plow on gator plus 12” snow on wet ice/mud equals bad things....add zero degrees equals really bad things! Good job getting it out👍

[@drizzyq]

Crane operator here if my advice helps any. The part you're referring to for that winch is simply called a wedge. If you can't find the correct wedge, get yourself a small nut, 1/4" or smaller, whatever would work best to act as a wedge. Cranes use the same idea for keeping our cables on the drums. Also, on the warn website, if you look up drum assembly in replacement parts. The wedge is on their website for sale.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Thank you sir!

[@drizzyq]

@@GoodWorksTractors you're welcome! Invest in some sheaves as well if you haven't already. So you can make multiple parts of line instead of a single line pull. It'll double your 4500 lb winch capability every part of line. Have fun! Just finished hooking up hydraulics for my af10f on my 2025r so I'm going to play in some snow shortly here in Iowa.

[@erichweakley6519]

Ram Power Wagon comes standard with a 12,000 lb winch, for pulling out fords and Gators. 🤣🤣 great video though.

[@PEI_Guy]

Gotta say you have way more patience than I do, I would have been letting the f bombs drop about 1/2 an hour in. It brings to mind the time I got my snowmobile stuck in the snow in my back field and had to walk home, not a happy camper. Enjoyable video if that's any consolation.

[@BobsOutdoorActivities]

I feel for you watching that. One way or another most of us have been there. Don't let the Monday morning quarterbacks get you down. Like you mentioned, unless you're physically there... Don't beat up on the Gator too much. I wonder what a gas version would have done different - allowing you to rev it up higher to spin the tires like a car. Glad it is out. Should have taken your 5 Series down there, people would have sat up and noticed :-)))) I believe the front axle is limited slip cause it steers and geometry. Also, glad you showed this to us all. That takes strength - we've all been there.

[@gordyrother1836]

I really appreciate you doing this. Your struggles certainly show the limitation of both the gator and the winch. Both are quality companies but even a quality company can build junk from time to time. Any idea how much the plow weighs? Did you consider dropping the plow to retrieve the gator then winch that out? Probably pretty hard to get the plow once you remove it. Just curious.

[@watkinstreefarm6880]

At least you got it & nothing broke.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, as long as that front left wheel is okay. Feel like it should have power, but maybe not.

[@mrvv8337]

@@GoodWorksTractors limited slip is not the same as locked. Limited slip will still act like an open differential when a enough force is able to hold one wheel the other will slip.

[@jeffland197]

Thanks for the entrainment.. I was laughing the whole time...

[@danielwright2655]

I really like that set of DEWALT tools you have. What model is it so I can purchase one? Thanks for your information.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I purchased this set here... amzn.to/3kYnVis

[@SWAMPHUNTER644]

Go to a construction supply store and buy the highest rated come along with a long handle you can find and extra lengths of cable with hook. Backup for when your winch battery dies. Sometimes just maximum tension on the winch cable will allow a vehicle to come out under it's own power. Keep tightening the cable. I saw it happen going uphill on a logging road with deep ruts where the frame bottomed out in the center and wheels were not making contact.

[@stevejohnson1135]

How much for the gator? You can keep the winch.

[@JonStratford1234]

You gotta give the gator another chance. Mud just never loses. Farmers around Iowa won’t even try to drag a guy out if he ventures down a muddy minimum maintenance road and gets up to his axles. You gotta just wait for the road to dry out or freeze. Ask me how I know, lol (I’m not the farmer). Glad you got the gator out. 75 yards of tow straps to the rescue!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

That's a good one. "Mud never loses". I'd say that sums it up nicely, haha!

[@donaldpyles2891]

Courtney, been thinking about your situation. Something to consider about your winch, if you had a snatch block pulley and went to a tree, through the pulley and back to your Gator, you will essentially double the pulling power of the winch. Now you will need twice as much rope but your pulling power will double. Add a second snatch block pulley at the Gator and then go back to the tree for the third time and you will triple the pulling power of the winch. Keep the winch, buy a couple snatch blocks, will be a whole lot cheaper.

[@mark31383]

I feel your pain, have been in that situation before.

[@firefox5595]

Great video. I have a Polaris and have been stuck before not quite that badly. One thing I did to reduce friction was drop the plow. I also think I will stick with Polaris.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, we considered dropping the plow several times. Not sure if you watched my plow install video from a few months ago, but that thing is not fun to install or move around. Plus, I felt the back end was the biggest problem sinking down and really thought the winch would manage to pull it out. That's the specific reason I got the winch was to bail me out when stuck. Thanks for watching!

[@garyurban1429]

I know all to well the pain of getting one of them unstuck out of the mud. Happen'd to me last year out in one of my fields. Had to have the neighbor come over with his polaris side by side to assist. Was lucky to have two steel 5' ramps with stretched metal on top, was able to place under front wheels with lots of digging involved with neighbor pulling was able to drive out. Still a pain in the tush tho. Glad you got yours out.

[@jeanpomerleau8416]

Too bad so many thing went wrong all at once, but thats the way life goes. You kept a great outlook (on camera anyway). great video (misery loves company). video should get lots of likes.

[@davidparadis490]

No downward pressure on the snow blade?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Negative

[@newhampshire-bob1604]

They do make Tracks that go on Gators, they run around 5K, the Gator can then go pretty much anywhere. I am sure if you try hard enough you could still get it stuck! But look into it!

[@jasonsteelhorse]

Tracks are theway to go with that much snow.

[@Worrsaint]

I am curious what kind of battery and alternator output you had. Winches require a lot of amp draw to work.

[@KirtH27]

Did you try the snatch block with the winch? You saw my picks, the tow truck snapped his 1/2" cable he had to use a snatch block to double the winch pulling power. I had Toyota 4 wheel drive truck, the compact one from 1980. It had a 6000# winch with a snatch block it would double to 12,000#. If I anchored my truck to a tree I often pulled out full size trucks stuck in the mad

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yes, we used the snatch block in the video. Didn't make any difference. Still didn't move a single iota.

[@timcolliver7993]

I’d be interested to know how that front drive is really supposed to work. Is it truly a locker or just limited slip?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I think limited slip

[@GoFastGator]

Many moons ago, when the XUV series was introduced, Deere made a pretty big deal about the Gators having locking front diffs. I’m curious if anything has changed in the last 12 years or so, but they had a whole big demonstrator setup that no “limited slip” front end would have climbed over.

[@nortecusa5318]

I feel the pain. We have all been there a time or 2.

[@edwardmartin1831]

Hello The piece that. You are missing is called a swige For all types of cables on crains it holds it in place on the. Drums

[@deerrudy]

LOL. I like the final thoughts ending. I feel you most of us have been there, it sucks. I had my truck stuck on a hunting lease property one time . I asked a local farmer to pull me out he got stuck. I had to go to another farmer who had an excavator to pull us both out the next day. It was a little embarrassing.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha, I mean, there's definitely worse things in life. Fortunately, it wasn't my truck, wasn't actually in the lake, and we didn't have to be in a rush to get it out other than simply not wanting to spend forever doing it. Made for some mid-winter entertainment!

[@deerrudy]

@@GoodWorksTractors yes there's always a silver lining. It could always be worse no one was hurt in the filming of this LOL best of all you provided all of us with some good entertainment. LOL

[@AdamTDelisle]

Can’t believe how well you kept your cool, that looked really stressful! Should have thrown some forks on the 4066R and picked it right out of there 😂😂

[@lukebrwntube]

“...so that’s really helpful...” 🤣😂 The way you said that made it perfect LOL

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha!

[@lukebrwntube]

@@GoodWorksTractors I know the feeling though, sucks to be stuck. Glad you were able to get it out though!

[@randalmiddleton8068]

Well that was certainly worth making coffee for this morning...lol Oh yeah those wrenches can be helpful but the rated 4500# is only at the first wrap on the spool, thus lots of block n tackle was used back in the good ole days. Thanks for sharing your pain for our entertainment... hey lift kit and duals for next winter?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Ooo duals. You really understand me Randal. Off to do some research!

[@markpontes4457]

Then it will really have no power! It could barenspin those tires and that snow mobile transmission 🤔!

[@ChevyBlazerBoy]

Not sure if your winch is the same but Most winches ive installed the “disc” at the end isn’t a disc. It is just a ball bearing about the size of a marble you tucking into the end of the winch cable loop which allows it not to slip through the hole when you start to pull on it.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Thank you sir!

[@outdoorsatenoch4237]

Are your winch power cables undersized for their length?

[@jwg34]

Kinda figured the Warn Winch Warriors would have filleted you by now, just wait it’s coming. I was hoping to see how that 1 series with the dualies would do on that snow.

[@JGoodwin]

A low tech way to fix the problem for relatively cheap: Bring some jacks and shovel. Go to Home Depot, pick up one rubber mat for each tire. Get some concrete blocks, wood, or rocks to fill the hole if it's too deep. Get a mat under each tire. If it's down too low, dig it out until you can fit the jack, then jack it up so you can access the tire. Drive out. Replace the mats as necessary when you drive off them. I did this for my wife's RWD truck when our property got muddy. My 25HP tractor didn't have enough traction to pull it out as it was also too muddy, still and also was fighting a hill. The mats let the truck help which reduced the need for much thinking on the tow strap. I did connect the strap anyway, but the mat is what worked. In a sense, you're just fixing the original problem - loss of traction.

[@LeaMacDonald]

Sorry for your trouble Courtney. Even gave me indigestion after my cornflakes and toast. I've never been a fan of the Gator or their counterparts from other brands. The degree of utility offered falls short of the expense of purchase. And that winch?! Yep, me just winding you up! :)

[@GoodWorksTractors]

😂😎 grrrrrrrrr!

[@ranger6x660]

I had that happen and it never was a problem. Knot was still working years after I traded the machine.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

🤣🤣

[@chadjurgensen73]

Sorry about the frustration and getting stuck. I've had experience with Deere and Polaris sxs's at work. The Deere was extremely problematic, eventually switched to a Ranger XP, no comparison. I've also heard Honda makes a great sxs too

[@GoodWorksTractors]

May have to look other directions myself. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelallen3667]

Glad you got it out

[@HTPJohn]

So, where to begin? I've had my 825i since 2016 and am just now shopping for a snow plow. It looked like your 600+ lb plow setup became a burden while trying to get up the hill, which makes me think I will stick with the much lighter manual angle plows and use the Warne winch the dealer installed when I bought mine. My winch cable is steel and the system is also rated at 3500 lbs, I don't know why they went to nylon cables but I have to believe they're not as resilient and I've not had a single problem with mine. I am concerned why the left front wheel didn't appear to be driving along with the rear wheel in one scene, I wonder if Deere has some degree of traction control designed into their four wheel drive? In any event it wasn't helping your cause. Thanks for sharing, God Bless.

[@lcee6592]

Now that is getting stuck! Good recovery effort though, 3 days of work netted total success! Winches, like many things, are probably rated in laboratory conditions which are seldom if ever like real life. Always buy 2-3 times maximum vehicle weight rating as a general rule.

[@davidendicott1775]

I added tracks to mine and it goes like hell in snow and mud. Changing in spring and Fall is not easy !

[@croquest8749]

Lol . My uncle got his Kubota bx stuck right before all the cold weather. Its staying there till spring because it's in frozen mud down to the frame.