I always have a hell of a time getting the rope untied, so i figured maybe i better learn how to tie a proper knot. I found this knot: http://igkt.net/sm/index.php?topic=3753.0 I think it would be great for around the trailer hitch. What about around the tree though, maybe the same know would work, i think it needs to sinch down as it pulls though. Its a 1 inch rope and very stiff.
Hi Ak.
I would recommend the Timber hitch. Not sexy or complicated, but sure to do the work and untie easily.
SS
Is this what you had in mind?
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/story_images/1/2121/2481/5301240001_large.jpg
You may be interested to read the comments on the situation in that picture:
http://autoholics.com/2011/05/07/Stump-Pulling-Torque-530124
Here is a link to four methods to remove tree stumps: http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Tree-Stumps
Please note the absence of ropes, knots and cars in those tutorials. They are absent for a reason.
Here is the reason; a scary story of what might happen if you actually do use a car to remove tree stumps:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/man-removing-tree-stumps-with-suv-dies-in-freak-accident
Take care now!
Twine
Assuming you keep all safety precautions in mind, you may want some hitch that can take lengthwise pull as the stump will likely tip before it’s pulled free. With that in mind, you might just make a few round turns around the stump for added grip and then finish with a Gnat Hitch.
At the trailer hitch end, a simple Timber Hitch or Bowline would probably work and be easy to undo.
Hey, ak_47_boy, if you decide to go through with the tree-pulling after all, I think you at least need to know the following, if you don’t already know it:
The longer the rope you attach, the more it will stretch, storing energy as it does so, and the more energy it stores, the higher the speed of anything that comes flying toward your car when that thing is pulled free. Long nylon ropes can store a tremendous amount of energy as they get stretched.
So short ropes with low elasticity (so they won’t stretch so far) would be the way to go, it seems. The timber hitch is good for timber, just as its name implies, and I think that for allowing some lengthwise pull on that stump as it starts leaning, you could take a half hitch around the stump before you tie a timber hitch lower down on the stump.
Great help! Many thanks. I printed off these pages for the next time i need to do this sort of work. The job was already done when i posted this, took me over an hour to untie the crappy knot i made. This rope is so over sized and heavy it really doesn’t stretch too much, not that i would ever stand in the way of it. I’m sure to work safe.