Pulling a Stump Using a Truck and Mechanical Advantage

Removal of a stump using a truck, tow strap, chain, and mechanical advantage.

Edit 2015-Sep-09 - Further description of this device and this process as requested in a comment:

The necessary pieces for this are quite simple. A heavy duty nylon tow strap connects to the truck. At the other end of the strap is a somewhat long piece of chain that attaches to the stump puller. The pulling device is built from the ground up like this: A log, split lengthwise in half forms the two bottom pieces that the device pivots on the ground over. Spiked to those are two 6"x6" posts that are held together by nuts on the outside of a very long, threaded bolt. At the top holding the posts together is a steel plate that has a 2" square tube welded to it. A "v" notch is cut into the top of the square tube and this is where the chain from the tow strap gets wedged.

The pulling device works best when it's in a vertical position so as the truck moves forward and pulls the stump out a little bit the chain needs to be loosened from the notch, the device stood back up vertically and the chain re-positioned. As you can see in the video we pulled and re-set the device multiple times while pulling this stump out.

[rjcote]

To Sam H: You did a great job! Thank you for sharing your creative and intelligent device. I cannot fathom how others believe they see evidence of tampering. HUH??? And for all others who complain it won't pull up stumps in their "especially hard" dirt with clay or whatever, then go invent your own device with your own creativity and intelligence particularly tailored to solve your specific problem rather than slamming his. Sam H. solved his problem. That's all he had to do. Now go solve yours. Sam H. doesn't owe the rest of the world a universal stump puller solution nor did he promise that or anything else to anyone! He was kind enough to share his approach. That's it! Stop your belly aching and nay-saying and get to work and stop being "trolls".

[obfuscated]

Same principle wrecker drivers use to flip upside-down vehicle with a rollover stick. It's used somewhere every day. I like the half-log base pivots. Nice tidy execution!

[trouts]

Very nicely made lever. Love the extra touch of the half log rollers on the bottom legs of the A. Great job Sam.

[stevenrobinson]

Super smart to change the direction of "the pull" upward and out instead of pararell to the ground where there is more resistance. Your direction change devise is massive and very tall which again was very smart and a brillant combo of techniques!!!!

[mtnviper]

Safety tip...when pulling with a chain, make sure spectators (supervisors) are standing off to the side and NEVER behind the pull as, flying chains are deadly.

[danstinson]

Finally someone understands the physics of this! My father worked for a large company that had to remove a long line of probably 20 power poles after they were no longer needed. He did them all in one day with no damage to them using a good chain, a railroad tie, and a grader to do the pulling. Since they already stuck out of the ground, he leaned the tie against the pole and pulled the pole from that pivot point. It's simple for a thinking person who understands basic physics. Sadly that is all too rare today.

[melaniesolomon]

Prehistoric technology that still works wonders today. The simplest method is always the best method.

Progress has been defined as: Man's ability to make simple things overly complicated.

[ChuckMcC]

Works every damn time.. I have a military field manual on recovering vehicles and equipment and you setup is in the manual..

[cabinfever]

'Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.' - Archimedes

[jamesyork]

I don't understand the thumbs down lol this is the most likeable video on YouTube it short sweet to the point and genius. Nice work

[RobPulson]

oh hell yeah! i am 100% going to give this a try with my tractor to remove some southern pine stumps from my property.

[dannersmyers]

I watch one video on pulling out a tree stump and BAM! YouTube thinksthat should be my theme for my home feed haha! Having said that this was the best stump pulling video👍🏻

[jamesdavis]

I’m going to use this method to get my kid off the computer.

[mossymaple]

Never mind I read your responses and understand now. Thanks for the detailed explanation.

You had me " stumped as first" great engineering

[HWDsouthDIY]

I got here about 6 months late. Nice job!

[deernutOO]

Good that the roots had all rotted away.. makes for a much easier stump to pull.. nice rigging.

[iddddaduncan]

I guess this is neat but smashed out back truck windows are more fun to watch.

[KenMorgan]

Very smart! Using geometry and leverage to make it as simple as possible

[g.r]

Somehow that truck cut all those roots cleanly without disturving the very loose soil. Amazing!