When heavy construction equipment gets stuck, time, safety, and technique matter. Recently, Red Tow was called to recover a 17-tonne knuckle boom mobile platform that had slipped into a deep roadside ditch during a morning delivery. The operator had attempted to unload on the shoulder of the road to keep traffic flowing, but the soft ground gave way. Within moments, the machine had sunk, tilting at an angle and sitting knee-deep in mud—making a standard tow impossible.
This recovery was a prime example of why specialised heavy-duty towing equipment and experienced operators are essential for machinery incidents across Melbourne’s West.
Assessing the Risk and Stabilising the Machine
When Red Tow’s Mack Titan heavy recovery truck arrived, the first priority was safety. A 17-tonne knuckle boom leaning into a ditch carries a genuine rollover risk. Our operator assessed soil condition, the machine’s centre of gravity, tilt angle, tyre sink depth, and available anchoring points before committing to a winch plan.
To prevent the unit from rolling during extraction, the Titan’s 20-tonne hydraulic winch was rigged in a specialised dual-purpose configuration:
- Lateral support to counter the lean and stabilise the machine
- Forward recovery pull to ease it out of the ditch without shock loading
This calculated setup allowed full control over movement and kept the platform secure throughout the process.
Controlled Winching for a Safe, Damage-Free Recovery
With all anchor points confirmed and stabilisation lines tensioned, Red Tow began the recovery. The winching was conducted slowly and progressively, allowing the machine to lift, shift, and climb back onto firm ground without straining the boom structure or damaging hydraulic components.
Within minutes, the 17-tonne knuckle boom was safely repositioned, inspected, and cleared to continue its job. The entire recovery was completed without damage to the machine, the roadside, or the delivery vehicle.
Heavy Machinery Recoveries Across Melbourne and Regional Victoria
This job highlights Red Tow’s capabilities in heavy machinery recovery, construction equipment winch-outs, and off-road extractions throughout Melbourne’s West, Sunshine, Laverton, Derrimut, Werribee, Geelong, and Regional Victoria.
With a fleet that includes our Mack Titan underlift, Freightliner Argosy crane truck, and SuperTilt transport combinations, Red Tow is equipped to handle everything from bogged prime movers to sunken machinery and trailer recoveries.
For heavy vehicle or machinery recovery, call Red Tow on 0407 733 869
www.redtow.com.au