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

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Remember that video a few weeks back that we titled: $35,000 mistake? Well this week we doubled down on that mistake, and got my John Deere Gator 865R stuck in the mud on the edge of a lake, and bottom of a hill...And then that mud froze. What we thought would be a one hour trip to help a friend turned into a three part saga to get our Gator back where it belongs!
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This video is for entertainment purposes only. Good Works Tractors (Good Works Lawn & Power, LLC) cannot be held responsible for content found in any video. Always reference your owners manuals, use extreme caution, and proceed at your own risk.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

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[@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.

[@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]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@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.

[@4-LOW]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@thomashaas3275]

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

[@brucerushing2363]

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

[@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!!

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@jasonklabunde6415]

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

[@Itsa_Mea]

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

[@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. 👍

[@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!

[@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.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

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

[@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

[@brianscheid64]

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

[@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!

[@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 .

[@mikeherschleb5949]

Thanks for editing out all the frustration 😬

[@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.

[@earlyriser8998]

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

[@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.

[@jasonsteelhorse]

Tracks are theway to go with that much snow.

[@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

[@roncorbin1500]

GWT, Great advertisement for Gator & Warn love.

[@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!

[@benjaminstockton3917]

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

[@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!!!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@marshallhoux7987]

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

[@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!

[@rkwill100]

I have a 8000 pound winch, it takes a LOT of current/Amps to get the full power of the winch. On my truck, the winch will flatten the battery in a couple of minutes, unless the engine is well reved up and even then the battery will be flat in minutes

[@BillyP55]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@jamesridge6495]

See your frustration. Have the same gator, gas powered. Badland 5k winch bolts right in. No drilling. I use the winch ti help felling trees, pulls gator all the time, have to anchor from behind. I stuck my bobcat deep in the woods two hrs before super bowl. Didn't get to see it. I am 50 east of KC. Worked out well i guess.

[@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!

[@brianzchuk]

We have Kubota RTV's at work up in Northern Alberta. One thing we learned early...these things aren't made for deep snow or mud. Gators appear to be the same.

[@FromSteelToWood]

Right! Too light, wide, and long for its ground clearance. It floats over snow very quickly. That is my experience with a Can-Am Defender. It's just laws of physic, nothing related to the color/brand of the machine!

[@loganmartin8613]

@@FromSteelToWood our 6x6 defender seems to do much better in snow than our pioneer

[@FromSteelToWood]

Yes, I must admit a 6x6 is such a beast!

[@GoFastGator]

RTVs were particularly bad in deep er... stuff. Low ground clearance and a heavy vehicle.

[@JeepinMaxx]

That was stuck! Winches are usually rated for 1 wrap around the drum. Every wrap after that reduces pull rating exponentially. We run 9K -12K winches on our 4,000 lb Jeeps

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😂😂

[@jeffnoble9766]

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

[@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

[@bwj3456]

Not going to read through all the comments but, my experience tells me synthetic winch line was 1 of your problems. Another of your problems was keeping the plow on when attempting your rescue mission(when you went to rescue the polaris), makes you lose too much ground clearance and you essentially become an anchor. If your front end is a limited slip without a locker, then that is another issue. I would have thought JD would put that into a utility vehicle. Most of your major brands have one. Glad you were able to get it out and without anyone getting hurt.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Like I mentioned to others, that plow is a solid 30-40 minutes to remove and reinstall. Hindsight is 20/20, but I don't think it would have made any difference. That muck was nasty. Buried to the frame provided too much resistance. More tools ordered to be better prepared next time! 😂

[@markpontes4457]

I would think you would have wanted to plow a path down to the ATV to get it out of there then back up to it and pull it out the Plow weight on front would be help if it weren't muddy! Who would have thought you were going to be in mud with the temperatures you have had! Hind sight is 20/20!

[@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👍

[@davidendicott1775]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@joeyshofner639]

Well done! Very well done.

[@Legalmachinist]

I solved the line up problem by welding on small tabs in the back. Slide it in to hit the tab placed so holes all line up. With our 120 lb trailer hitch at my age (68) I can not horse around with it. Now I just slide the sleeves in to the stops and in goes the hitch, all lined up.

[@genemiller4148]

Lord love a duck. One word comes to mind, SPRING 🙂

[@kevinhoening4427]

With the plow weight on the front you lose traction in the back, but since it’s sinking in mud probably not anything would help! I second the high Lift jack to raise the tires and frame up to get boards underneath.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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 :)

[@Des-kh-41]

It is a credit to the Gator that it didn't seem to suffer and damage in spite of some pretty aggressive "towing". My best winch for extraction of my bottomed out tractor stuck in mud and my Kubota RTV with plow getting up a hill in a foot of snow, was my old Kubota KH 41 mini excavator - goes anywhere and with the bucket I have never managed to get it stuck.

[@nunyabizness6734]

Part of the issue was the plow. The extra weight up front shifted the center of gravity forward and essentially unloaded the rear. Having a couple extra hundred pounds of weight over the rear axle might have saved you a day or two. If it happens again, take the plow off (even in pieces if you have to) and throw it in the back of the gator. And throw a farmer's jack in there as well. A winch can only pull. With the jack you could lift the front and shovel out whatever you're hung up on.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

If you only knew how much fun that plow is to install. I don't think it would have mattered much though.

[@VTIslandsFireman]

If only someone had a tractor big enough to tow that out.... 😂

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I debated driving the 5115m over there. 🤣🚜

[@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.

[@Ajdruck]

Anything that is framed out like that is going nowhere. Doesn’t matter what brand it is. And with the winch, I would try using the snatch block to double to pulling power (run the winch line through the block and then hook it back to the gator at the same point where the winch is mounted). I am surprised the winch line broke, I’ve always used steel cable.

[@bwj3456]

Looks like he was using synthetic cable. It definitely won't have the capacity to pull like a steel cable.

[@rickyhorsburgh6581]

Synthetic cable is great when used correctly and sized accordingly and much safer in the event it does snap not sure how it handles the colder temperature but in Australia its not such an issue so beyond my own experience

[@consaka1]

@@bwj3456 synthetic cable is stronger than same size steel cable and many times safer. I have a number of winches and first thing I do is get rid of the steel cable. Synthetic is so much easier and and safer to work with. The extra strength is just a bonus.

[@alexmcwain1489]

So that little thing that holds the rope in is called a "swedge" they use those on steel winch lines for dozers and cranes. Once they are seated properly they can be a pain to get back out. Also there is no worse feeling when you pull the winch out to find out its not attached to the drum.

[@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!

[@jeffland197]

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

[@bc5891]

Thanks for sharing. I will not waste money on the JD 865R based on this and other videos not to mention the insane price tag. Nothing appears to beat the durability and long lasting Kawasaki Mule 3010/4010. My 3010 was under 6ft of water for over a month with Hurricane Katrina. When we were allowed entry back we pulled the plugs and drained oil/fuel then dragged it around the property in gear to flush then lubed everything up. To this day my $10k 2003 3010 mule is running strong. You could own 3 of the 4010's and save $5k over the JD 865R.

[@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.

[@rawwetzel]

Don't forget you can use the plow hydro to push also. If you angel it one way and get a pile of snow in front of it then push off the pile.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, tried that. It wasn't strong enough to move it though unlike the plows I've had on my tractors.

[@Navet63]

"Where there's a will, there's a way". Ain't that the truth. Glad you "unstuck" the gator.

[@davidwho8215]

Recovery rope... they stretch which allows you to get a running start...works great when the tow vehicle is lighter than the stuck vehicle. 😀

[@travelingtracer]

I got my 1025R stuck in a similar fashion, towed it out backwards, too. Unfortunately, pulled the rear seal out of the front differential, tore up the protective boots, some other damage. Cost me $400 in repairs 😒

[@petedonahue2221]

MY two cents==== Wrong type of tires for snow=== the winch missing piece is called a weged to hold the rope/winch cable to the drum. Always leave at least 3 to 4 winds on the drum. The rating is base on bear drum ( first layer) every layer you add you lose pulling power.

[@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.

[@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!

[@ranger6x660]

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

[@GoodWorksTractors]

🤣🤣

[@aaronsbarker]

As a guy who has done lots of dumb stuff and learned the hard way, I will say there is good info from comments, but I didn't see anyone mentioning putting a crap-ton of salt all around the machine to keep the ground softer overnight and melt off the snow and ice. It would need to be rinsed well afterward, but that is kinda a given with the mud anyway. If you don't have salt, getting the tires up and out of mud makes a BIG difference. A farm jack/hi-lift and fire wood/tree branches/concrete blocks/dead babies to get it off the ground through a freeze will save cursing and damages the next day. Torn CV boots, broken axles, burnt belts, tires off the rim, all kinds of nasty happens when stuff freezes. The CVT in those rigs is both a blessing and a curse, as is most of their "limited slip" differentials. They just aren't as positive a connection as needed to know what's happening. The cold doesn't help either. Glad you got it out and will be watching to see what the damages and decisions end up being.

[@TRiceHD]

I’ve been in this position before, I feel your pain. Useful hints for if it ever happens again. Short 2x4’s strapped to rear tires. Use snatch block to double back to gator. 4500 turns into 9000. Then when you get home throw that junk Warn in the trash and go get a superwinch, viper, badlands. Anything but a Warn light duty winch. I’ve had 2 and they were both junk. I bought a 5000lbs Badlands from harbor freight and haven’t had a problem.

[@randyberetta6277]

Absolutely love your videos.!!! 🇺🇲⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🇺🇲