Got The Freightliner Stuck In A Parking Lot Today


Mike

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Actually, I guess I got it stuck there a couple days ago when I parked it, but it was today that it became a known problem.

Parked in my parking spot (gravel drop yard). Went home and came back to the truck this afternoon to start heading toward my Tuesday morning delivery in Fort Wayne. I knew I could make it on time leaving in the morning, but I wanted to make sure I was parked as close to the receiver as possible Monday evening because I need to get turned back toward home ASAP after delivery.

I also felt uneasy about the snow and ice in the parking lot as there were a couple trucks stuck in the middle of the lot when I parked.

Sure enough, released the brakes to take off and the truck just spun it's wheels.

We got a thick layer of ice at the beginning of the storm, followed by just shy of 10 inches of snow.

One side of the truck had no ice or snow left on the duals. The driver side was still deep.

Tossed on a couple autosocks, and immediately got traction and chewed up the snow and ice. And the gravel underneath it...... the truck literally just sunk. Tried getting anything and everything under the tires, the situation just got worse by the minute.

Tried chaining up the tires when another guy who parks a couple spots down from me showed up. Quickly seen that was doing nothing continuing to dig holes.

It's a new lot, new rock, and the ground is clearly very soft right now as it's still settling/packing.

So, we proceeded to dig out the ice and snow from around the tires as much as possible, also doing so to the trailer tires to have as much clean ground as possible. The other driver drove his truck around to the front of my truck, we tied a strap to the Ex Guard bumpers, disconnected the trailer, and after a little spinning and 4-5 tugs, we pulled the tractor forward.

Filled in the holes, got back under the trailer, and was able to get moving and exited the parking lot with chains.

Never paid attention, but realized now that it snowed so much that the parking lot has a pretty significant incline from where we park back to the gate.

Glad I listened to my gut. A quick exit at 1230 turned into finally getting out of the gate at 1530.

Other drivers were trying to get their trucks out as well while we were working on mine, all but one had given up and left by the time we were done.

Definitely not a fun afternoon, but was really thankful to have someone showing up and willing to get dirty and help.
 

I know there was two guys up here that decided to take their Jeep off-roading.
While trying to get the Jeep unstuck they ended up digging the tires in deep right up to the hubs
They brought in a tow truck and even the tow couldn't get them out because they buried the wheels up to the hubs.
 
I know there was two guys up here that decided to take their Jeep off-roading.
While trying to get the Jeep unstuck they ended up digging the tires in deep right up to the hubs
They brought in a tow truck and even the tow couldn't get them out because they buried the wheels up to the hubs.
One thing I miss about my Rubicon was the full lockers and manual transmission. I buried it to the floorboard and still backed it out like it was nothing.

It was snow not mud, in case you were talking about the latter.

IMG_20190311_072629.webp
 
This thread reminded me of an event that happened a few winters ago, one that stills gets a laugh in our family and all ya gotta say is "the punchline".
So yeah, I'm gonna derail your thread now @Mike - so far in the ditch you'll need help to get it out. LOL

We get some pretty good snow storms in western NC occasionally and I live about 3,500 ft elevation, tucked in a hollow on top of a mountain near Hendersonville. The worst ones come with ice too, or remelt to make the roads treacherous for any kind of vehicle other than a snowmobile.
THAT'S what we had.
I forget why we decided to venture out that day, but it was probably to check on my mom. She's 85 now and lives in Bat Cave about 15 minutes from our place. I left 1st in my 2000 Tacoma 4wd, yes, I still have the same one and she still runs like a scalded dog with 440,000 miles on her now. I let my wife take the 2001 Cherokee because it's even better and safer in those conditions but told her to wait for my call until I knew if the road was passable. If NOT, she'd have to come get ME! LOL

So near the top of the mountain you can go two different ways down. The "front" way comes out on hwy 64 and the "back" way takes you to I-26. Either way goes to town but the front way is shorter and is usually plowed first.....but not this time. I start down that way and meet a guy coming up and I ask him how it is. No way Jose. Abandoned vehicles blocking the road and covered in 2" of ice.
BUT, we hear the back way looks pretty good and people are using it so I turn around and go back 1/4 mile to tell Becka we gotta go the back way to town.

Well.....she didn't wait long enough. Here she comes creeping down the icy road towards me with 2 other cars following. I don't know them but I know they ain't got enough sense to be driving something other than a 2wd sedan with street tires, lol.
I stop them before they go any further and proceed to tell each driver exactly what, when and how to do this U turn and go the other way.
ONE AT A TIME, WAIT YOUR TURN AND FOLLOW IN THOSE TRACKS.

Easy to guess what happens next, lol.
Becka pulls forward, sliding, tries to stop and skids off the road a bit into a driveway......with the next numb nut right behind her bumper!
I'd already parked my truck 1/4 back at the crossroads and was waiting for her. 5 minutes later I come walking (carefully) back down to see WTF is taking so long. She's sitting and spinning like @Mike was with no room to work with thanks to the 2 Clown Cars stopped behind her.

I get in the driver seat, put it in Granny Low and try to ease it out but I'M having trouble too. I know my stories are too long, but THIS is the good part! LOL
This kid about 16 comes running out of the house at the end of the driveway, points to his 4WD ATV that he's been playing with in the snow and says to me in front of the half dozen people standing outside their cars watching me.......... "HEY MISTER, FOR $50 I'LL COME PULL YOU OUT!"

I said I was having trouble, I didn't SAY I couldn't get that beast turned around, lol. I just didn't want to go any farther forward because in another 50 feet it starts to go down hill and that's the point of "no return." I usually have salt or sand with me but not that day, like a dumb a$$. And we all know you never PLAN on getting stuck, lol. My only defense is, it wasn't ME that got stuck, but oh well.
I get out and walk around. there's fresh snow just in front of me and farther off the road and I should get some traction there if I do it right.
So I ask the kid to repeat what he said as I get back in the driver's seat.
"FOR $50 I'LL COME PULL YOU OUT!"

I reply, "FOR $100 I'LL LET YOU KISS MY A$$!"

Then I get in, put it in gear, ease off the road into the snow and bring that sucker around 180 degrees just as smooth as silk. LOL.
Becka's in the passenger seat laughing her head off, the dingbats standing around are either laughing or staring with their jaws open while I drive by them with a big grin on my face. :D

Still cracks me up when I picture that kid's face cuz from the looks of the tire tracks, he'd done that more than once that day. :rolllaugh:
 
Back in my can hauling days I had a set of trains or as you guys call them doubles. It was snowing pretty hard and the place I was delivering to was not plowed so I was coming in pretty hot. Some jackass is yelling at me stop, stop.
So I stop. Now I am stuck.
Why did the guy that was another company driver stop me? Because two of them where stuck and they wanted me to know they were stuck.
Thanks jackass, that's why I was coming in hot so I wouldn't get stuck fucking retard!
It's Friday and I got a sure thing waiting for me at the bar.
Eventually I got out of there. Those two jackasses were still there.
 
I have told this one before but here goes again.
The docks are on uphill and it's snowy and icy. I would manage to spin the tires and climb my way up to the road only to be met with oncoming traffic and then I would slide back down the incline and repeat and repeat.

Sometimes it gets to the point that you have to laugh, because the only other option is to cry. Laughing is better.
 

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