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Post by YJ Ken on Dec 24, 2005 10:59:16 GMT -5
This is why we don't recommend/allow tow straps with metal hooks or loop them around tow balls. Tow balls are only rated for a couple of thousand pounds. They will sheer from the bumper with catastrophic results. I've heard two different stories about this photo. One where it was wrapped around a tow ball and this really did kill someone. Lots of grey matter to be cleaned up. The other was this staged by Warn to make a point. In either, the case is made that doing wrong can get you killed.
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Post by CORE 4WD on Dec 24, 2005 12:55:48 GMT -5
I would believe the first story as I've seen the aftermath. Won't mention the illegal place (this was quite awhile ago-now there's a soccer stadium there oops!). Anyway, the fellas used a ball mount. The would-be extricater gave a good tug and immediately took the ball to his forehead, this through the windshield of his pick up. He survived to tell the story. You're going to pay to play one way or another. Let it be dollars and not sense! Pun intended.
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Post by KarlVP on Dec 24, 2005 13:51:37 GMT -5
Wasn't a local wheeler killed when linking two straps with metal hooks together. (Either from NOVA or OCC??)
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Post by JeepCJ5 on Dec 28, 2005 9:39:55 GMT -5
Here's what I remember I saw this photo in a Tow Truck magazine about 15 years ago. The guy was pulling another truck out of some mud. They attached to a tow hook or ball that broke loose. As you can see by the left front tire there's a big 3/4" shackle on the strap that was attached to the tow hook. When it broke loose it came through the Back window, through the seat, hit the driver in the shoulder and continued out the windshield. The driver was knocked out and his foot was on the gas pedal. The Jeep took off in 1st gear Low range full throttle, went through a couple of fences and finally stopped 1000 ft later in a ditch. The driver wasn't killed but did suffered a separated shoulder. Scary.
Derek
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Post by toynrnd on Dec 28, 2005 10:28:29 GMT -5
A former club member was injured when he was pulling a stuck vehicle out of the mud. His buddies hooked his strap to the trailer ball of the stuck vehicle and to the tow hook on the front of his Land Cruiser. While pulling backwards, the trailer ball bolt broke, sending the ball through the windshield. The person was hit in the forehead, breaking his skull. He never lost consciousness on his trip to the hospital. I believe he underwent 7 surgeries just to put the skull pieces back together. Cosmetic surgery was required after they were done inside. The doctors say he was "lucky" to have gotten hit by the round end of the trailer ball, and not the broken bolt end which probably would have resulted in his demise.
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Post by Chuck on Dec 28, 2005 10:30:37 GMT -5
And people wonder why I designed such beefy primary recovery points into my new rear bumper ... I like to keep my head attached to my shoulders in the usual arrangement, thanks.
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Post by CORE 4WD on Dec 28, 2005 18:24:03 GMT -5
A former club member was injured when he was pulling a stuck vehicle out of the mud. His buddies hooked his strap to the trailer ball of the stuck vehicle and to the tow hook on the front of his Land Cruiser. While pulling backwards, the trailer ball bolt broke, sending the ball through the windshield. The person was hit in the forehead, breaking his skull. He never lost consciousness on his trip to the hospital. I believe he underwent 7 surgeries just to put the skull pieces back together. Cosmetic surgery was required after they were done inside. The doctors say he was "lucky" to have gotten hit by the round end of the trailer ball, and not the broken bolt end which probably would have resulted in his demise. Was it a TLC? Man I am getting old...
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Post by toynrnd on Dec 28, 2005 21:46:54 GMT -5
You know, I was wondering if you were referring to the same dude. Yup, he had a TLC.
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Post by kwrangln on Feb 27, 2006 8:41:02 GMT -5
You know, I was wondering if you were referring to the same dude. Yup, he had a TLC. Hey, I remember that. Same guy got a pic of his cruiser upside down being rescued by Tom in the first Winch Cable. I recently collected a few recovery gone wrong stories including the one the pic is from for a general safety warning about recovery. Here it is for your reading pleasure. Lets talk a bit about recovery operations in an off road environment. The act of recovering a disabled or stuck vehicle is inherently dangerous, were talking about moving a 4000 lb chunk of metal, plastic, and rubber over uneven terrain using a flexible connection between them. The forces involved are pretty incredible, and these forces are way more than a person made of flesh and bone can withstand. Winches, cables, chains, straps, ropes, highlifts, come alongs, and how much training does the average wheeler have to use any of it? About zero. Maybe what they have seen on the trail (wether that be the right way, or the wrong way), and what they read on the internet or in magazines. So, just how much force are we talking about here? Here's an example, a 10,000 lb rated tow hook, had a recovery strap on it being pulled by another jeep to get out of a mud hole. But straps are soft, flexible, pretty light, how much damage could they do? Here's a video, about half way through, a strap breaks, dents the tail gate of the truck pulling, then goes through the back window about where a passengers head would be. CLICK FOR VID. Here's a story from a while back, two straps connected by a shackle (never do this, bad mojo). STORY HERE. Need another example of why not to use a shackle to connect two straps together? Well, here ya go, the story of a 37 year old husband and father who is no longer among the living since he forgot this rule. Dont you forget. STORY HERE. What about high lifts? How can something as simple as a jack be dangerous? I posted this link a while back, and its linked to the SWB FAQ, but its worth reposting, read and heed. HELP, MY HIGHLIFT IS TRYING TO KILL ME. And finally, winches, the big daddy of ouches, mess up with one and you might not ever get the chance to mess up again. Yup, just like the plastic string on a weedwacker can cut grass, the steel cable on a winch can cut people, trees, fenders, just about anything that gets in its way. BE WARNED, THE FOLLOWING LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC PICTURES SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A WINCH CABLE LETS GO UNDER STRESS AND ENCOUNTERS A PERSON. DO NOT OPEN IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH OR IF CHILDREN ARE HOVERING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AS YOUR READING THIS. CLICK HERE FOR THE PICS AND STORY, WARNING, GRAPHIC PICS. So, with all the pics, stories, and links out of the way, how the heck does all that apply to you out on the trail for a nice relaxing ride? Quite simply, getting stuck happens, getting unstuck has to happen as well, that means you will very likely at some point in this hobby be involved in a recovery operation. Do not let yourself be the main feature in the next story I dig up to post as a warning to others. Treat recovery gear like a bomb that you dont know what the timer is set to. Be careful, pay close attention to what you are doing, as well as what others are doing, spectators wont fare any better when dueling with a cable or strap that decides to fly. Be careful out there.
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Post by ex-tbd85hilux on Feb 27, 2006 11:30:31 GMT -5
Not to drag up old wounds but I seam to remember a year or 2 ago one of our potential members had a run in with a Hilift and ended up in a cast for a couple months. Don't remember the particulars though.
Paul G.
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Post by KarlVP on Mar 2, 2006 11:27:37 GMT -5
That was me. I was using my Hi-lift to winch a guy out of the mud and shattered the second bone in my thumb. I slipped in the mud and grabbed the jack to hold myself up. It was in the "down" mode and ratched my thumb into oblivion. I no longer have full range of motion in my right hand. Previous thread here t4w.proboards10.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1097268287
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Post by ex-tbd85hilux on Mar 2, 2006 11:46:03 GMT -5
I was trying to keep it anonymous incase you didn't want to bring up old wounds (pardon the pun) but Thanks
Paul G.
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Post by KarlVP on Mar 2, 2006 13:33:24 GMT -5
It's okay. I would rather people learn from my mistakes than get thier a$$ kicked by a hi-lift. ;D
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