Slingshot Style Recovery Overcomes Forces of Nature

By George L. Nitti A slingshot is a powerfulf force. Remember how the meek David slew the mighty Goliath? For one tow company, handling a recovery required the use of a slingshot technique to overcome some mighty resistance and win the battle out on the road.  On June 4, 2022, Sumter Wrecker of Sumter, S.C., was called in by another tow company to help with a semi-tractor-trailer that went off the side of Highway 521. The nose of the tractor and front tires were buried in mud, below grade. The job first called for a winch out, but after examining a photo and knowing the terrain, owner Hal Watts of Sumter knew better: the recovery would require more iron than the 35-ton wrecker that Kiss Towing brought to scene, and a powerful towing technique that would be essential to recover an entrenched tractor.

“They just didn’t have the ability or capability to get the job done,” said Watts. “and they called us to help out.”

From their 14-unit fleet, Watts plucked out two of his Vulcan V100 50-ton wreckers, one with a 2006 Peterbuilt 379; the other, a 2016 Kenworth T880.  

Upon arriving, Watts assessed that the job would be best executed by employing a slingshot technique he had seen in a training video. Simple execution included placing the wreckers between the casualty and then, like a Slingshot, hooking the arms of each wrecker to the furthest points of the casualty – to the King Pin Plate at the front of the trailer and to the landing gear on both sides. Then, cranking together, the wreckers slowly slid the casualty between both wreckers back to the highway. For additional support, Kiss attached their 35 ton to the rear axle of the trailer to help break suction.

“The most challenging part of the recovery,” Watts said, “was the amount of resistance that we had to overcome. We didn't have much space to work which made the job even harder.” He compared the resistance of the casualty to the suction of a pair of boots tramping in “soupy mud.”

Watts said, “Once we got it up on the road, we twisted the trailer around.” Kiss then took over, bringing the casualty back to their facility and two hours later, the roadway was cleared.

For Watts, another challenge overcome, which he considers one of the best parts of being a tower - solving problems. He said, "Nothing is ever the same.” And overcoming stupendous hurdles like the forces of nature with physics at the helm.

Show Yours @ TIW

Do you have a recovery to share with TIW readers? Send some pics and info to our Field Editor George L. Nitti at georgenitti@gmail.com; your story may even be selected for print in American Towman magazine!