recovering a carrier

[alwaysbroke]

Hi my Name is Pete and all this is very much new to myself and a freind of mine. WE are in the process of getting a universal carrier out of the bush. It has been sitting for about 40 years off the beaten path in haliburton ontario. aparantly the machine is about 90 percent there. my question is what would be our first step.I assume the tracks are seized as well as the most of the components. the carrier is about a 5 to 10 mile hike into thick rocky woods. will the tracks free up easily or will I have to remove them to make life a little easier. all input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Pete

[greg anderson (RIP)]

Seems that a lot of carriers found their way to Haliburton county after the war-brought up by rail from the south- I recall seeing 20 or 30 in a field in Harcourt-I asked the owner about 15years ago if any trace of them was left and was assured that no trace of them or their parts could be found-ours was dropped off from a flatcar at Bancroft about 1946 -my dad had bought it from crown assets disposal for $200 -I would suggest you consult with someone local in the logging business and perhaps they could bring it out with a skidder at moderate cost -good luck with this-would like to see pictures -please keep us informed -

[pzrwest]

Wow Haliburton????? that's just 30 minutes from my place here in Cardiff. I'm amazed that Greg Anderson didn't find this one a scoop it up. My friend Jack sold his Windsor Carrier to a guy in Bancroft who then turned around and sold it to some guy in Belleville Ont. Jack sold it for $2000.00cdn.

[alwaysbroke]

well the machine is at a hunt camp or property of some sort. they dragged in in ther in the late 50's and by 1969 the machine was parked and rendered useless in the bush as the rocks just pounded everyone around. i will get some pics and post them. thanks for the input , and like i saud any ideas to get it out of the bush will help. I am on the hunt now for a skidder as this seems to be the machine of choice with the guys i work with.

thansk Pete

[RichardT10829]

the ground preasuer will be sginificantly less with the tracks on, you may find the tracks seized and the brakes stuck on like mine, i would perhaps consider tracks off (and as much weight out of the carrier) then drag onto some home made skids (with a wide base on) then it may slide over surfaces and stumps easier.

[KrisHamilton]

i agree make it as light as possible.
Because the ground is just about frozen i would make sure i jacked it out of the mud onto some 2/4's or something. Then once winter hits i would use some make shift skis and pull it over the snow with something like a work horse.

[Doug Lavoie]

I agree with KrisHamilton on the jacking up onto some planks, to skid it out. I had my carrier recovered recently from a rough area. If you want, I can send you the pictures of the recovery?It may give you some idea`s.
Doug

[Doug Lavoie]

A little off this issue, but still on the same topic. A toy for some a across the way, who may need some recovery assistance, check this out it, might do the trick.. E bay # 330384860695
Doug

[Randy Croke]

Hi Doug

Could you post some of your recovery pics for all of us? I always need more ideas - even if I can't put them to use...yet.

Thanks

Randy Croke

[martyn]

Not being funny but i would try backing the brakes off and see if giveing it a tug with a 4x4 on a solid bar A frame makes it move,the tracks should free off thats how i freed my tracks if not split the tracks nothing to loose.

[greg anderson (RIP)]

When I began restoration of my mortar carrier I bought a parts carrier which was on tracks and bogies but missing armor etc. -to free up the tracks I put it in neutral and pulled it around my property here with my tractor -the tracks freed themselves -I think being pulled 5 or 10 miles out of the bush will do it more good than harm-don't overdo it lest you harm the transmission

[alwaysbroke]

thanks everyone for your ideas this will help me alot. it is nice to hear that some of the tracks did free up. i dont want to jump the gun but being optomistic on this recovery is a must.
thanks again

Pete Harris

[jim fraser (RIP)]

hi.about 12 years ago we pulled one out of the bush in huntsville,ont.it had been parked for about 30 years up a hydro line.i hired a skidder to do the job.it worked perfectly.took about 12 hours but we did it.after pulling it a bit both tracks freed up.regards jim.

[RichardT10829]

my pal up Thunder Bay pulled a number of carriers out of the scrub with the aid of a good chainsaw and a timber jack as a towing vehicle, pending on how severe your is located i would spend great time on selecting the recovery vehicle...... landrovers are excelent but only to a degree.... and you dont want to end up recovering two vehicle buddy

any pics of its locale ?

[charlie fitton]

...or too far in the bush.

As stated , I wouldn't cut the tracks untill I had to. Maybe pull the axles.

Do a google earth look and determine if there is a road closer. Ordinance map recce to assess the ground, time and space constraints.

Two or three serious off - roaders on dirt bikes confirm that the routes are good.

And now the good part: two or three carriers to ferry the recovery crew and tow the cripple out.

I know a few land rover -types that would start to quiver if you proposed an expitition like this.

[alwaysbroke]

charlie. my freind and I have been drooling about this ttreck for about a month, we have talked about it almost every day. guys at work are starting to get sick of the converation, but still has all my attention.

[alwaysbroke]

Hey doug. just looked up that add on ebay. great idea. i just happen to have an old tandom axle equipment trailer hanging around and a buldozer handy to pull it.

Thanks for that great idea

Pete

[Doug Lavoie]

Pete,
Thanks,
I`m glad someone was able to get some use out of it. If you go on to "My first carrier" in this forum, at reply #15. I have included a few of the pictures of when my carrier was pulled out. A tractor, and a truck with a tilt trailer, with a winch. It went sooth and quick. My friend Pete did the organising. I did the paying!
Doug

[alwaysbroke]

hey doug i checked out your recovery, a little nicer than what ive got myself into but good to see the process. my friend and i both work for a mobile crane company, he is and operator and I am a licensed crane/truck mechanic. we half the access of a float trailer and a truck to haul it. and the means to get everything out now. now we just have to find the time.
will post pics and video when the time comes. i still have to get the pics for the carrier as it sits right now.

thanks Pete

[KrisHamilton]

i look forward to seeing the outcome of this recovery

[pzrwest]

Well the snow has hit here in Cardiff/Bancroft area and most likely be the same for the Haliburton area as well. We got about 3-4" yesterday and last night and it's been comming down quite heavy tonight as I type this, and I just checked outside and looks like another 3 to 5" has fallen up till now and supposed to snow all night

[dugmckenzie]

hey can you get a bed truck in there? you guys must have a trucking company that has one out there? we used one to pull a 70 chevelle out of a swamp and it was in the swamp for 20 years(still had some good parts left). we just attached the winch cables to the bumper mounts and let her rip. i dont know how heavy a carrier with mud is going to way, but it cant be more than a mud shack. being alberta there is alot of trucks from the oilfield around that can get into places alot of haulers cant get into.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wn96QQS-NU

this video is what i mean.

[alwaysbroke]

There is no way a flat bed of any kind that would make it down the trail. its a glorified goat path. we will be using a small bulldozer to clear the path. trust me if i could fit and find a c550 kenworth like the one in the video down the trail i would, but is has 2 hills along the path that are questionalble about getting over in the snow. if you are worried about the windows in a pick up then this is not the trail for driving. now there is 4 feet of snow the trip should be way more interesting

[Phil Waterman]

Here is a link to a youtube set that covers some of the recoveries one of the guys in our group has done. http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...=&aq=3&oq=cckw or go to http://www.youtube.com and search cckw rescue.

Don't know why but it seems that Steve always goes out recovering vehicles in the rain. Silly boy every body knows its more fun in the snow.

Cheers Phil

[Jon Bradshaw]

Is your friend Lyndsey I was talking to him about a carrier that sounds just like yours. Good luck he told me he found someone else that wanted it. Might be the same might not. Still interested in some pictures when you get it out.

[alwaysbroke]

bought a log skidder to get the carrier out of the bush.

[alwaysbroke]

Hey there Jon. You have the right couple of guys. lyndsey and i just bought the skidder. are you the fella that lives in the kingston area?. I may have picked up an other carrier. same deal. in the middle of no where. i will keep evryone informed

[Jon Bradshaw]

I read the post and there was enough detail to sound like the right guys. I am still interested in some pictures and if you know of more maybe I could help get at one of them instead. Welcome to the club. Always broke is a good name because in this hobby you will be.

[Randy Croke]

Hi Pete

Did you make an attempt to get at the UC in the bush? Any photos?

Randy