Tree on BMW

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
Concern is cutting and relieving pressure from car without it doing more damage. It looks like it’s resting nearly on top of mirror. No crane or bobcat or anything.
 
Build a couple I-Beam Sawhorses and use a high lift floor jack to elevate the stem off the vehicle. 2x4 I-Beam horses will each support 800 lbs. Straddle the jack across them and you should be able to lift the stem enough to take the weight off the vehicle while you gingerly remove it. Be sure to write in a disclaimer that the vehicle is already damaged and you're not responsible for additional damages which arise during the removal, and photograph every step of the process.

 
In a pinch, I'd measure distance from ground to trunk where it contacts mirror, plus an inch or two. Then cut a log that length from the part of the tree hanging over the hood. Should be manageable as it's stone dead and pretty light. Could lay some shirts or a tarp across the hood to protect from scratches. Then use the cut section as a prop/support for the remaining trunk near the mirror. Cut a v-notch in the upper end of the prop piece so the supported piece will not roll off. Then have helper hold the supported piece to catch it when you undercut the trunk at a spot just far enough from the car so it won't get hit by the falling trunk. Hope that makes sense.

I would note that most customers are very understanding in situations like these. They understand that as long as you make reasonable efforts to mitigate, the tree falling is blamed for the damage not you. Of course, if you can get that in writing, all the better.
 
cerviarborist said:
Build a couple I-Beam Sawhorses and use a high lift floor jack to elevate the stem off the vehicle. 2x4 I-Beam horses will each support 800 lbs. Straddle the jack across them and you should be able to lift the stem enough to take the weight off the vehicle while you gingerly remove it. Be sure to write in a disclaimer that the vehicle is already damaged and you're not responsible for additional damages which arise during the removal, and photograph every step of the process.

Click to expand...
My thought were similiar
 
Whatever the final outcome, it's still an act of God. The car owner's insurance should cover the tree removal and repair, minus their deductible. Looks mostly cosmetic, from what I can tell.
 
I've never had to pull a tree off of a car...so take this with that in mind:

Could you prop the tree (logs, saw horses, rent a tractor with forks - that is $100 a day here...insurance is paying, right?) then cut off the downward pointing branches with a handsaw and drive out from under it?
 
Build an A frame under it with 4x4’s and remove all weight from the side off the ground. When you get to the car chunk out small pieces you can grab handle or rig from above. Maybe put some bean bags (or some kind of padding) on the hood under ply wood?
 
John@TreeXP said:
Whatever the final outcome, it's still an act of God
Click to expand...
This may be questionable due to the fact that the homeowners left a stone dead tree that was left standing next to where they park. Nonetheless that is an issue for the insurance company to decide.

@climbingmonkey24 any of the above methods should work well. if the base is still attached or at least resting on the ground you should be able to lift this fairly easily depending on what equipment you have available. A farm jack seems like it'd be the easiest to setup considering the high lift height, although I suggest you have a helping hand while lifting with it. I consider them to be fairly unstable (tip over hazard) due to the height that they can lift vs the size of their footprint.
 
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