4low to pull a bush out of the ground?

I have several large and well rooted bushes to yank out of the ground this spring. Last year I removed 4 using my prior truck - a dodge Dakota. The dodge was in my driveway for traction and I used a tow strap to remove the bushes. I had to use 4 low to have enough traction and even then the tires did slip some. The Dakota was heavier than
the Toyota, had a bigger motor and it was an automatic so it had some torque converter advantage.

Now with the Tacoma (4cyl manual trans), I'm more cautious about things. Is it a definite NO to use 4 low on the driveway to do this? The truck would only be moving about 5-10 feet in total. I just don't want to risk breaking anything. In 2wd it doesn't stand a chance pulling these bushes out.

 

I don't see why not. @Mobtown Offroad had the same truck and pulled a semi from a loading dock. Just go slow at first and see what she's got. Will probably surprise you what the little 4 banger can do in 4LOW.

 

Since you've done this before, you probably already know about this: be aware of the potential for something to break or break loose and snap back at you. Friend of mine was doing some tow strap work, it came loose under high tension and the hook smashed right through his windshield.

I did something like this way back in the 90s. My bro-in-law at the time had a Nissan hardbody with a winch. We hooked the winch to a shrub, flipped it on, came up to tension and then boom, winch separated itself from the truck frame and started making its way across the yard toward my shrub. Obviously the winch hadn't been mounted well, or the frame had rusted or something... but we're talking lots of tension!

That said, I agree with jowybyo. Won't hurt the truck (if on dry pavement, just don't try to turn the truck while it's in 4wd). Easy on the power, slow and steady. Keep the r's low. Good luck, post pics (especially if it's a tow strap coming out of your windshield!)

 

Just because Toyota doesn't advertise their trucks with burly men talking about how they can tow the world like Dodge does, doesn't mean that your taco can't pull. You'd be surprised of what it can do.

 

Just use momentem of the truck rolling forward, like keep slack in the rope and roll forward slowly and "snatch" them out. Start slowly and keep adding more speed as you need to. In other words, start at 5 mph, then if the bush does not come out go to 8 mph the next time etc.

 

If you have a Hi-Lift jack, plywood to set it on, and can get a chain around the trunk it will come out nice and slow.

 

The snatch method described above sounds a bit dangerous. The tow strap I use is not an elastic recovery strap so going at it with some speed/slack would shock everything from the truck to the strap and might cause it to snap.

I use a 10k lb rated strap. It's a few years old and has some fraying so it's getting replaced with a new one this year. I make sure no one is within its reach should something let go.

That said, I'm not worried that it doesn't have the power to do it. More so using the 4x4 on dry pavement and some clutch abuse. I'm sure going a few feet in a straight line is ok for it and I know it's better built than the dodge which had a major weakness in the front driveshaft which used a CV unlike the Tacoma which had much stronger universal joints. That CV shaft was the demise of the dodge. It seized and exploded without warning on the highway and the resulting carnage damaged the xfer case and the front diff. I was in 4x2 but the dodge only disconnected in the xfer case so that shaft always spins.

Side note - the Taco didn't come with a receiver. What after market brand are you installing on your Tacos? Has to be a 2" and I prefer frame mounted vs bumper mounted. What about wiring kit that installs clean?

 

I have an engine hoist and have thought about this method. But it's a lot easier to yank them out with your truck. And not to mention way more fun and makes you look like a cool guy in front of the truckless neighbors.

 

Toyota just pulls the space shuttle in advertisements. Take that Dodge.

 

Go full Mythbusters, Dynamite!

 

I agree that explosives are the way to go.

 

You're digging a little dirt away first right? Cutting exposed roots as much as possible?

I pulled out a few holly tree stumps. Dig around as best you can or at least loosen the dirt. Cut what roots you can. It's not much effort to lessen the chance of damage to something.

 

I was hoping not to cut roots and actually pull out the entire rootball. We have a plan for a garden where these bushes are located so having as few dead roots in the ground as possible is best. Last year, we had only 1 stubborn bush (a large round arborvitae) which I had to break out the pick and dig out as much by hand as possible. The dodge otherwise would lose traction, even in 4 low. Other bushes popped right out without without any throttle input. The set we are pulling out this year are thankfully not as sturdy as that arborvitae but will still put up a fight. I believe we have 4 or 5 in all to be removed.

Thanks for the input everyone! Especially the dynamite guys! Always good to have a solid fall back plan.

 

When I can choose I always choose DrawTite. But the rating is the most important thing.

One thing to consider, if you want the easy-peasy frame mount setup, check first that the bolt holes aren't rusted. If they are bad rusted you won't be able to use them to install. My old truck had no receiver, and the only option I had other than having something custom welded was a bumper mount. I just got one of these, and tow capacity was much reduced. But the only trailer I have right now is a lightweight one for my moto. If the wiring harness is like it was for the pre-Taco pickups, it's super easy and clean. Just have a handful of zip ties and a phillips head and you're GTG.

 

The hitch that's on my truck it a Curt. It's served me well. The wiring harness I believe is the 4-flat kit available at the Stealership. I will look when I get out to my truck this afternoon.

 

This is a fun conversation and sounds like a fun endeavor. Keep up the talk guys and I want a video of said task as it happens!

 

Best way to do this, is to back the truck all the way up to the bush with a chain attached to the bush. Accelerate as hard and fast as you can away from the bush. The force will pop the bushes out easily.
Make sure your wife is filming this....that way in the future you can look back and see how manly you were.

 

Tacos are trucks. Trucks are for doing man things. Look for the Taco in the background of the second pic





Now go yank those bushes out of the ground!

 

5spd 4lo is a lot of torque, the final drive ratio and ft lbs at the wheels is pretty immense for those little trucks. I didn't pull it far, maybe 100' but it did it without any issues. Truck broke down at the only loading dock we had so we had to move him to make room for other trucks.

Pulled a tree down on my parents farm with the recovery bar on the front and a tow strap too.

 

What was the reasoning behind piecing that out over just dropping it ?