Another Tow Ball Tragedy - RIP Ryan - Warning graphic images

[Rusty Panels]

A huge vehicle, very well stuck in mud which has undoubtedly glued the entire underneath down as well. The use of static straps which have no give and a lot of horsepower being used in the attempt. Something had to give and looking at that situation it obviously was not going to be the Ford F truck. It was either going to require a lot of digging or a complete lift with a crane. A D9 dozer and a couple of aircraft carrier mooring ropes may have done the trick but then the recovery points would more than likely have sheered off and caught the dozer operator. Very sad situation. Hopefully others learn from their mistake.

 

[Cassy0110]

It's awful!!

 

[Petunia]

I had the benefit of hindsight, looking at the pictures. There was no hurry, no incoming tide? the chain is glorified dog chain, but why has not one of you even remotely suggested trying to pull it out backwards?

And ..... go [tell me your expert opinion on that?]

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Every time I see a snatch recovery it scares the shit out of me.
I bought a recovery hitch & snatch strap from Supercheap Auto to go in my towball slot in case I had to get snatched out backwards, but would be very loathe to use it.
I also bought a Hilift jack and that hook attachment which goes in the wheel slots. Digging, lifting and putting wood/rocks/mats under the wheels would be my 1st port of call if I get bogged. I saw what happened to my mate when his BT50 was bogged down to the chassis and the difficulty local farmers with 2 Hilux's hooked up to it with chains had getting him free.

The only time I ever got snatched out was decades ago when I had borrowed someone else's Hilux for a guiding job as mine was in the workshop & being a complete 4WD newbie, I did not realise it had manual hubs unlike the auto hubs in my old girl which were not engaged. So I got stuck in a little bog hole at a camp site & this bloke said "excellent, I just got this snatch strap & have been busting to use it". So he hooked it all up, raced to his 4WD and flawed it while I was still standing by the open drivers door of my 4WD about to hop in. Effin' idiot nearly cleaned me up with my own door! Then of course my 4WD rocketed out of the bog with no-one in it. Thankfully, it stopped just before hitting a tree.

That incident put snatching down the list as a last resort for me.

 

[boobook]

Every time I see a snatch recovery it scares the shit out of me.
I bought a recovery hitch & snatch strap from Supercheap Auto to go in my towball slot in case I had to get snatched out backwards, but would be very loathe to use it.
I also bought a Hilift jack and that hook attachment which goes in the wheel slots. Digging, lifting and putting wood/rocks/mats under the wheels would be my 1st port of call if I get bogged. I saw what happened to my mate when his BT50 was bogged down to the chassis and the difficulty local farmers with 2 Hilux's hooked up to it with chains had getting him free.

The only time I ever got snatched out was decades ago when I had borrowed someone else's Hilux for a guiding job as mine was in the workshop & being a complete 4WD newbie, I did not realise it had manual hubs unlike the auto hubs in my old girl which were not engaged. So I got stuck in a little bog hole at a camp site & this bloke said "excellent, I just got this snatch strap & have been busting to use it". So he hooked it all up, raced to his 4WD and flawed it while I was still standing by the open drivers door of my 4WD about to hop in. Effin' idiot nearly cleaned me up with my own door! Then of course my 4WD rocketed out of the bog with no-one in it. Thankfully, it stopped just before hitting a tree.

That incident put snatching down the list as a last resort for me.

Interesting how people have different point of view. Not wrong, just different.

I think a snatch, properly done, is quite safe, and much safer than a high lift jack. That means getting a quality one, caring for it and mounting/loading it properly.

I would never carry or use a high lift jack because I can't think of any use for one that can't be done more safely and more effectively another way, and they scare the living shit out of me since I have seen a few incidents with letting go and sliding sideways. Heavy, bulky useless outdated accessories IMHO.

 

[rogerazz]

Have used both snatch straps and High Lift Jacks for recoveries. Using right tool and common sense is the go.

 

[mikehzz]

High lift jacks are too heavy for me to bother with, but then. I don't ever want a car that has a massive lift and suspension travel. I've seen people hurt badly after getting hit with the lifting arm unexpectedly springing up...ouch! I wouldn't let a stranger snatch me either, I don't want "killed by a dumb arse" on my tombstone if I can possibly help it.

 

[dwaynejk]

I can't see them being that effective. With the energy put into strap that suddenly breaks part of the vehicle off, a small additional strap isn't going soak up much recoil, especially when the vehicle that is accelerating suddenly has extra acceleration from being freed from the load its pulling.

Turns out Mad Mat has already done the testing:

I'd say the crack started in the heat affected zone right next to the weld, right about where this brace is welded on. The brace would provide some strength to stop the drop hitch from tucking under the vehicle if you backed into something or the trailer pushing you down the road, but under tension its the point where a ludicrous amount of leverage is focused.

Once it started to yield, the aditional leverage of the drop hitch would tear the crack wider and it would propagate rather quickly.


View attachment 74062

Unlucky mate! I've run into a similar issue before but fortunately was able to carry out a DIY repair and save $. Used gouging carbon rods (this is what I used) for the clean and preparation work before re-welding. Happy to share any further tips

 

[DogSec]

That truck looks pretty stuck in the mud. What do people think would have been the best way to get it out? It is a big truck, so I am not even sure that a proper snatch would have worked.

When something is stuck in mud, you have to get it "unstuck" first.
The suction of the mud on the bottom of a vehicle can make it seem like it is up to four times (or more) its real weight.
Winching is the BEST option by far in this given situation.
Using a spade or shovel and digging away the mud etc from under the stuck vehicle helps with releasing the stuck vehicle from the suction of the mud too.
"Snatching" using kinetic ropes or "snatch straps" will only cause real damage as they are not at all intended for this type of recovery.
Also DO NOT USE a chain / static strap / winch extention strap / tree protector / or standard rope as a kinetic strap or kinetic rope (snatch-strap or snatch-rope), they will not work as there is no "give" in them.

 

[John U]

Hilift jack should only have the handle open when in the process of raising or lowering. When stopping, the handle should ALWAYS be in the closed position. It is impossible for it to snap back when left closed.

When raising or lowering EVERYTHING should be kept clear of the handle, especially your head.

When I take my hilift jack out with me I give it a practice lift on the bullbar, in the driveway, on flat concrete, to ensure every mechanism is working as it should, an lubing/cleaning if required.

I haven't used it anger yet. If I need to use it it will be with much caution. If I had my time again I probably wouldn't buy one.

 

[cam04]

Hilift jack should only have the handle open when in the process of raising or lowering. When stopping, the handle should ALWAYS be in the closed position. It is impossible for it to snap back when left closed.

When raising or lowering EVERYTHING should be kept clear of the handle, especially your head.

When I take my hilift jack out with me I give it a practice lift on the bullbar, in the driveway, on flat concrete, to ensure every mechanism is working as it should, an lubing/cleaning if required.

I haven't used it anger yet. If I need to use it it will be with much caution. If I had my time again I probably wouldn't buy one.

There was a time when they were as ‘essential’ as maxtrax are now. They are handy on cars/trailers that have rails or bodywork that you can use them on. Not many vehicles these days could be lifted with them. I still have two but it would be a hardcore type of outing that I’d take one along to. You can winch with them also but you’ll only bother once and you need chains to do it. The ‘good’ old days haha, I don’t miss the dodgy stuff we did.
And yes, with a small load, a hilift can set up a semi automated walk down with the handle going like mad bouncing up and down. Keep the handle up at all times under load if not actuating them.

 

[boobook]

The only useful place for a high lift jack these days is on Gumtree. IMHO.

 

[Albynsw]

The only useful place for a high lift jack these days is on Gumtree. IMHO.

I bought one back in about 2005 thinking I needed it but it is still in the shed in the packaging it came in.
They make a good roof rack ornament but not much more

 

[discomatt]

I gave mine away when I sold my Johnnos camper trailer, would never own another one

 

[Ron0z]

Two experiences of jacks to not trust them. Never get under a jacked car.

1. Most cars have scissor jacks. I had to jack my ute that was parked on dirt on ever such a slight slope. It was positioned parallel to the slope (ie. no need for the handbrake). Had to get the back wheel off. The jack was on the downhill side. As I jacked, the car slumped down the slope, causing the jack to lean. I let it down and repositioned it. It leaned again. You'd think with three other wheels on dry ground would have been enough to hold the car. Ended up putting the jack on quite an angle and got the wheel changed. But I must have nudged the car slightly, maybe when tightening the wheel nuts, and the car began to move, rolled over destroying the jack. I was glad I wasn't in a tight space as I took a step back as the car moved sideways. Okay, high lift jacks are a different kettle of fish, but I can't help wondering about the problems of trying to jack on slippery terrain, particularly if there's a bit of a slope.
2. Had an old Falcon once. The jack hooked onto the bumper bar. Similar principle to the high lift jack. Loved the thing. Easy to use. Fast. I let the handle go, as you do. I was ready to do whatever it was. I forget the exact circumstances. But was shocked to see that handle suddenly going six to the dozen up and down and the jack was lowering the car all by itself. The weight of the handle was being 'thrown' so violently from one end of its reach to the other that it must have triggered the release mechanism to lower it another a notch before being thrown again for the next release, over and over. I could have been under there.