Deaths from towballs

Came across a rather large group all bogged on the beach, as we passed there was one car attempting a snatch utilizing the tow ball on both vehicles. It was at this point I made a conscious decision to leave our group to conduct some education by assistance. Turns out none of them had a clue about anything 4wd related, I informed them about the deadly dangers of tow balls and then proceeded to drop their tyres from the 45 PSI that they had them at to something more appropriate. The looks on their face when they drove out was priceless. Every car stuck (6 in total) ended up driving themselves out once at proper pressures.


Sent while temporally motionless

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Originally Posted by russ81

Came across a rather large group all bogged on the beach, as we passed there was one car attempting a snatch utilizing the tow ball on both vehicles. It was at this point I made a conscious decision to leave our group to conduct some education by assistance. Turns out none of them had a clue about anything 4wd related, I informed them about the deadly dangers of tow balls and then proceeded to drop their tyres from the 45 PSI that they had them at to something more appropriate. The looks on their face when they drove out was priceless. Every car stuck (6 in total) ended up driving themselves out once at proper pressures.


Sent while temporally motionless

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good for you mate if more ppl like your self stopped and helped there maybe fewer accidents
and you have just maybe saved someones life
thanks for your effort

Curious, If you came across a car that was stuck and proceeded to help them out, But they had no recovery point on the rear except a towbar, would it be feasable to removed the towbar, place the snatch strap into the hole then put the pin back in thus using the snatch strap on the pin? Have never done this but wondered would it be safe?


Cheers.

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Originally Posted by trekster

Curious, If you came across a car that was stuck and proceeded to help them out, But they had no recovery point on the rear except a towbar, would it be feasable to removed the towbar, place the snatch strap into the hole then put the pin back in thus using the snatch strap on the pin? Have never done this but wondered would it be safe?


Cheers.

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IMHO yes mate for sure


HaveA tapped out new year

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Originally Posted by trekster

curious, if you came across a car that was stuck and proceeded to help them out, but they had no recovery point on the rear except a towbar, would it be feasable to removed the towbar, place the snatch strap into the hole then put the pin back in thus using the snatch strap on the pin? Have never done this but wondered would it be safe?


Cheers.

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same as growlers mate best to do it that way

I will keep this in mind if I ever need to help someone out, thanks for the replies.

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Originally Posted by trekster

Curious, If you came across a car that was stuck and proceeded to help them out, But they had no recovery point on the rear except a towbar, would it be feasable to removed the towbar, place the snatch strap into the hole then put the pin back in thus using the snatch strap on the pin? Have never done this but wondered would it be safe?

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In theory - yes. A properly fitted (using the correct amount of suitable high tensile bolts) HR style tow bar will do the job. Many rear recoveries have been done safely this way for a long time now. The problems start when some numpty has worked on the car and has replaced the bolts with mild steel ones, or has not replaced all of the bolts. MS bolts will simply shear off with even the slightest amount of force. When the vehicle you are recovering is an unknown, it pays to poke your head up underneath and have a look at the bolt heads to make sure.

We came across a 4WD tray back one time that had a tow bar that looked home made and very much down scale. I refused to snatch him and he became upset and said his tow bar was fine. I thought otherwise. I did pull him out with the winch. We attaced chains to his spring points and used a bridle to spread the load. We covered the rope with dampers and if something broke - it would only be his truck.

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Originally Posted by russ81

Came across a rather large group all bogged on the beach, as we passed there was one car attempting a snatch utilizing the tow ball on both vehicles. It was at this point I made a conscious decision to leave our group to conduct some education by assistance. Turns out none of them had a clue about anything 4wd related, I informed them about the deadly dangers of tow balls and then proceeded to drop their tyres from the 45 PSI that they had them at to something more appropriate. The looks on their face when they drove out was priceless. Every car stuck (6 in total) ended up driving themselves out once at proper pressures.


Sent while temporally motionless

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Good onya mate, Job well done!

PS, how many soldiers do you still see forgetting to carry there weapon properly, even though they have been taught the proper way! The dick-brains still do the unthinkable! Civi's are no different!

Regards,

RLI

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Originally Posted by russ81

Came across a rather large group all bogged on the beach, as we passed there was one car attempting a snatch utilizing the tow ball on both vehicles. It was at this point I made a conscious decision to leave our group to conduct some education by assistance. Turns out none of them had a clue about anything 4wd related, I informed them about the deadly dangers of tow balls and then proceeded to drop their tyres from the 45 PSI that they had them at to something more appropriate. The looks on their face when they drove out was priceless. Every car stuck (6 in total) ended up driving themselves out once at proper pressures.


Sent while temporally motionless

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And that right there is why we bother. Not only have you provided a great service there but you have educated a group of novice 4wders that hopefully will remember the lesson for ever. Not only that, that group of amateurs will now pass that knowledge to their friends and their kids and their clubs.

Nissanpatrol.com.au is spear heading a fundamental campaign that IS educating the masses and IS saving lives.

To everyone here that carries the warning in their Sig Line - Congratulations and well done.

To our community for supporting the inclusion of the warning in the Forum Header well done.

I am proud of our achievements, our message hits every new member and even picks up the 26poster group.

Nice one

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Originally Posted by trekster

Curious, If you came across a car that was stuck and proceeded to help them out, But they had no recovery point on the rear except a towbar, would it be feasable to removed the towbar, place the snatch strap into the hole then put the pin back in thus using the snatch strap on the pin? Have never done this but wondered would it be safe?


Cheers.

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Dont do that!!!! I have seen this done. The pin bent just a tiny amount making it almost impossible to get it out of the tow bar. Doing this is safe enough, but it can be a night mare getting a bent pin out of there. Especially if you just un-hitched your trailer to do a recovery in the middle of no where......