Sad story from the web site of the West Australian newspaper:
A 29-year-old woman has been killed in a freak accident on a Geraldton beach today.
Police say the mother-of-three was sitting in a car which was reversing in an attempt to pull another car out of sand at Drummond Cove, about 12km north of Geraldton, just after noon.
According to officers, the tow ball on the bogged car dislodged and was flung backwards through a window of the rear car, hitting the woman in the throat.
People at the scene drove her to the outskirts of Geraldton and met an ambulance at a road house.
The woman died soon afterwards in Geraldton Hospital.
The lesson here is NEVER use a tow ball in a snatching exercise.
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Hi Tony, what a tragedy and one all to easily averted if people were informed of the dangers of snatching bogged vehicles. All passengers should be standing away from the danger zone and a dampener over the snatch rope. Sadly these incidents will continue to occur until these issues are part of our driving skills.
Underlines the advice that comes with most instructions on vehicle recovery .. don't use tow balls, use a damper on the recovery strap or rope & stay well clear to the side.
Know the place , thats so sad that people dont know the rules with snatch straps. just a wheat bag or a old blanket, even a coat will stop the strap or what ever the strap is hooked to becoming leathal.. Not good...
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Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C. Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.
A damper weight wont always stop a projectile. The correct use of sntch straps is the only way to prevent deaths. I have seen a snatch strap remove a tray off a hilux where the towbar was only attached to the tray and not the chassis, the tray ended going up about 15 foot in the air. Very sad indeed cheers blaze
A sad story and one must feel for the family left behind.
BUT it does bring to light what happens if the rules are not considered.
I do not mind helping anybody out of a bog, BUT how many vechiles and 4x4 do not have the correct towing points, I have refused to help a guy once because he wanted me to tow him out using the 4x4's tie down points, now these points are on most vechicles, BUT they are not for towing, you need to purchase from a car dealer or 4x4 shop the correct towing points.
It is a BIG NO NO to use the tie down points, they are only used when a vechicle is being shipped somewhere by truck or train etc, it is my opinion that these tie down points should be removed from vechicles prior to a customer picking up their vechicle.
When I bought my Toyota campervan and reading the manual later, I found I was supposed to have a towing eye on a screwed shaft in the toolkit which wasn't there, it is inserted through a hole in the front bumper into a fixing point underneath, this has a removable plug which hides the hole. the towing eye shaft is screwed in then tightened with the tyre lever acting as a crossbar. The manual specified using this for a front tow, and around the rear leaf spring shackle for a rear tow.
Mine was missing and I had a bun fight with the dealer that sold me the van as it was supposed to be standard equipment to make the vehicle fit for purpose. Outcome after some written persuasion was they sent me a cheque for a new one.
Might be an idea for those with campervans to check their logbook for towing points etc.
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 21st of August 2011 12:31:19 PM
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
I remember you having probs with your one Vic, and a good point for others to check their manuals
Yes I wasn't aware of the screw in towing eye shaft before this, my DIL's Toyota car also has the same set up, it might only be something they bought in for later model Toyota's I am not sure where earlier models have their towing points.
There was another problem with the same dealer, but they paid out on that as well (leaking rear window which like the towing eye initially they didn't want to know about it), but all ended well in that case, another case with a window repairer is still pending.
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
According to officers, the tow ball on the bogged car dislodged and was flung backwards through a window of the rear car, hitting the woman in the throat. The lesson here is NEVER use a tow ball in a snatching exercise.
As a former 4wd instructor the first lesson in snatching was never ever use a snatch strap over a tow ball.
Tow balls are made to withstand lots of stress that is constantantly applied as in towing however a sudden snatch places sever inertia stress and has the capacity to decapitate the tow ball itself resulting in a projectile more deadly than a bullet.
I for one would like to see written instructions with every snatch strap purchased and an air brake such as ARB sell included in the purchase.
Sadly this does not happen.
Dodg.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
Commenting generally and not in relation to that terrible accident:
Tow points be used for snatching either, unless they have been expressly rated for that purpose. Then there is the vexed issue of shackles, which can become missiles too.
The other problem is that even where proper snatch eyes/hooks have been installed, it is possible that the bolts are not properly rated because existing bolts were (wrongly) re-used. Few could identify a properly rated bolt. Only specialist 4X4 mechanics are worth their oats.
Although this issue is raised often on 4X4 and caravan/camper trailer boards, no-one ever thinks to post some photos of the chassis of common 4X4s and RVs showing the wrong (for snatching) tie downs and tow points. It would be a public service if it could be done for the common vehicles such as Landcruisers.
The use of a tow ball has been a no no for a long time as this kind of thing happens too often, as said tow balls are not designed for this type of load.
Same with many tow hooks, there is a major difference between a general tow & a snatch strap tow, the forces are multiplied many times hence the affect of a snatch strap.
Proper tow hooks & mounts must be used ,& NOT mounted to alloy b/bars.I have seen a hook torn off a alloy bar, not good. Seen many pics in 4x4 mags etc of these missiles hitting cars.
A strap is like a over sized sling shot so care must be taken.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
I for one would like to see written instructions with every snatch strap purchased and an air brake such as ARB sell included in the purchase.
Sadly this does not happen.
Dodg.
When we bought our set of recovery equipment from ARB, it came with a video showing clearly how to use it, and the bag in which it all came was the damper. We did a 4 WD course later with Tow-ed and they explained the all of the safety issues very thoroughly.
Theres another issue of inexperienced people driving on unfamiliar beaches. It can look so easy but be quite treacherous.
