Another fatal tow ball failure (USA)

[Hodge]

This stupidity seems to be ongoing. This time in the US.
This time not so much the tow ball that broke, but a complete hitch. That angle and side force leverage it would have received, it stood no chance.
Have a look at the size of that drop hitch. Imagine that hurling towards you at great knots. And the dent it left on the steering wheel. Family in the car when it happened... Far out.
RIP.

https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads%2Fanother-tow-ball-tragedy-rip-ryan-warning-graphic-images.50910%2F&fbclid=IwAR1akcezedg4VSIHZrwBTYVg4bmRL01M747QsgKVT 7x6BEutdIsaMFKgvKs

[pollenface]

It's actually not surprising it ripped off, imagine the leverage forces upon it.

Very sad and didn't need to happen :(

[MudRunnerTD]

https://fb.watch/eBCXV8cTVg/

[PeeBee]

I was out in the field with the site surveyor and he bogged the landcruiser in a creek. The recovery hilux finally arrived and the driver pulled out his strap and I connected it thru the hayman reece towbar by the pin and he flicked the strap eye over the towball. I corrected that but he was in absolute disbelief, carrying one etc. Anyway, we did it the right way, took an extra 60 seconds to rig properly

[mudnut]

Excellent video, Darren. The Hierarchy of Recovery was brilliantly explained.

[MudRunnerTD]

I was out in the field with the site surveyor and he bogged the landcruiser in a creek. The recovery hilux finally arrived and the driver pulled out his strap and I connected it thru the hayman reece towbar by the pin and he flicked the strap eye over the towball. I corrected that but he was in absolute disbelief, carrying one etc. Anyway, we did it the right way, took an extra 60 seconds to rig properly

Show him that Video PeeBee or our Towball thread. Ya xant make that shit up!!!

[Hodge]

Excellent video, Darren. The Hierarchy of Recovery was brilliantly explained.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rHvQykNt2M

I don't agree with Matt's hierarchy personally... But opinions and scenarios differ.
Winch is mentioned in the later stages.
In my opinion it should always start with... Do you have a winch and is there a suitable point to winch off? If so, USE IT!
The most expensive and heaviest recovery tool you fit to your car. Use it!! I see it over and over again, where people pull out every trick in the book to get unstuck, generally wasting so much time, where a simple winch would've done it in quarter of the time. And a lot of times, in the end , the winch rope comes out anyway.

As above scenarios change. And every tool and method has it's place.
But if safety is the topic, I reckon winch is the most controlled, viable, option, you have.

[MudRunnerTD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rHvQykNt2M

I don't agree with Matt's hierarchy personally... But opinions and scenarios differ.
Winch is mentioned in the later stages.
In my opinion it should always start with... Do you have a winch and is there a suitable point to winch off? If so, USE IT!
The most expensive and heaviest recovery tool you fit to your car. Use it!! I see it over and over again, where people pull out every trick in the book to get unstuck, generally wasting so much time, where a simple winch would've done it in quarter of the time. And a lot of times, in the end , the winch rope comes out anyway.

As above scenarios change. And every tool and method has it's place.
But if safety is the topic, I reckon winch is the most controlled, viable, option, you have.

I agree Eric, when in doubt winch out. But his hierarchy of control was bang on mate. Here it is.

* Don't get stuck

* Deflate tyres and check to ensure you are in 4wd

* Use a shovel to dig and remove some of the obstruction (mud or sand) this will lighten the load.

* Try traction boards if you have them.

* Use your Winch if you have one.

* Use another vehicle to attempt to TOW (Pull Not Snatch) if possible.

* Attempt a Kenetic recovery lightly. Ie. 5% above Tow strain, 10% above tow strain etc.

*** DO NOT attempt a 50% additional or greater Kenetic recovery as the first pull. JustSentIt kills people and is likely what killed this young fella.

In my opinion though if you have failed to winch recover then get back on the shovel and add a snatch block for a double or triple line pull over getting the kenetic rope out.

I have recently invested in a Kenetic rope and retired my Snatch straps.