Dave65

Bad news,family witnessed this.

Please be carefull out there

http://www.tctimes.com/site/news.cfm...d=494488&rfi=6

phox_mulder

At least they were trying to do the right thing.
Not using a chain that is.

Article says "tow rope" instead of strap, reporter might not know the difference.

Always throw a coat or blanket over the strap.
This will stop the momentum of it breaking.

And never use the Checker Auto Parts variety of tow strap,
with the metal hooks on the end.
If you have this type strap, cut those hooks off right now.
Stop reading, go out and cut them off.
In fact, throw the whole strap away, they are usually only rated for a couple thousand pounds.

Mine is rated for 36,000 and has big loops on both ends.
I keep a cheap mexican blanket with my winch accessories.


phox

Dan Brooks

More info here: http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums...hreadid=575468

Dave65

This happened in my area and from what I have heard it was a chain or a rope with a metal hook,someone told me it looked like a rope for a boat ancher with a big hook on the end..

Hannibal

Man that brings back a bad memory of a very lucky day. My brother in law took me muddin' with him. The guy behind him got stuck. He used a rope with a piece of chain as the other guy didn't need to be yanked out but just a little help so he could move mostly under his own power. The part that the chain was wrapped around broke, went through the back window, right past his head and through the windshield. We were all shaking so bad it was in our voices as we properly pulled the guy out, packed up and went home. It's those little chances we take that get us.

BlowBy

Man thats sad.

Back when my dad and uncle were still farmin they used a old cable to get stuff unstuck.It was the cable used to operate the old Cat bulldozers (thats what my other side of the family does) front blade.Now this cable it about an 1 inch in diameter with 2 big hooks on the end so it pretty strong.

Well on dad my uncle was goin around the field in our ol 82 chevy 2 ton flatbed truck full of sweet potatoes when he ran into some mud and got stuck pretty good but not all that bad.So my unlce tells me dad to go back to the shop and the get the "Big Tractor" (I believe it was our John Deere 4040) and that cable to get him out.Well we go out there and he stays your gonna have to jerk it pretty good cause of all the weight and it had sunk down some.Well my dad gets in the cab (It' doesn't have any windows though) gets some slack in the cable and tears out full throttle.It jerks and then breaks.The blame cable went right up on the outside of the cab and tore the corner of the cab.

After that we used a 2 30,000 pound tow straps without hooks.

FastZilla

I've had similar instances towing water skiers. When pulling out a first timer, sepecially a heavy one, when the let the rope go...sometimes the handle lands in the boat.... Can't imagine the force when a rope or chain snaps.... WOW!!! Have heard the blanket, coat, or somethng trick....

trailblazenyj

We were at Tellico this past weekend. Nature of the trails, especially when wet is that there is always a lot of pulling, tugging and winching. We all know better but many times we just relax for a second and think it will be ok. Always lots of bystanders watching as well.

And to think one of our group got really upset when he broke an axle...

Got Smoke?

I am a member of www.pavementsucks.com a 4-wheeling website.

Just last week someone posted a link to the Jeep board of the club that this actually happened too. The board said that it was two clevis's used in junction with the two tow straps. Now I'm not sure if they actually meant to clevis's or a tow strap with two metal hooks on the end. Either way it wasn't a very good idea, and unfortunately it ended a young man's life prematurely and will cause his child to grow up without a father.

I think this should remind us all to take a good look at how we extract people from situations like this.

It actually scares me because now I think back (which isn't very far cause I'm only 21) to my high school days and everybody used to call me or come to me when someone was stuck because I carried a 20-25ft. logging chain of my father's in my toolbox because one of my buddies was always doing something stupid.

I can't count the number of times that thing was jerked on......and a few by my previous 900-1000FT/LBS TQ CTD!

We are very lucky that the chain never snapped on us looking back now. I've always said "yeah eventually I'll order one of those 30K lbs straps from __________" in the magazine, but I never got around to it......guess I might better do that next payday!

2500CTD

Man I use a chain to move my dead cars around in the yard. Not stuck, just no engine, but still, I was in the service and saw a 2" mooring line snap. I use next to it as a tug boat boat was docking a sub next to my ship. The fins on the sub caught the "camel" and started taking the camel with the back of the sub, so the camel (big floating bumper) is being dragged by the back of a sub that is being pushed by a very powerful tug boat. The tug didnt even slow when the rope broke!

DieselDaze

Christmas will never be the same for that family.

Sad news indeed.
Rich.

ArkansasRam

So sad may God be with the family.

Dave65

I was wondering in your pics the 6th one with the red ford in it why is the boat in the background parked wrong?

tool

Has anyone ever heard of using a truck tire between two chains??

Someone was telling me recently about jacknifing their milktruck and pup into a ditch and this is how they pulled it out with a big tractor..


NOT SAYING GO DO IT!!!!

Just asking if anyone ever heard of this.

Stamey

If you happen to have a tire handy, and loop the chain through it, it might help, depending on where the chain breaks. It will certainly slow it down.
I suppose using it in the middle of 2 chains would allow some give, but then you'd need 2 blankets, to go over each chain.
I snapped a chain once, in my younger, dumber days. Fortunately it only dented the tailgate and trim panel.

Chris

Dave65

Oh my neighbor,god rest his sole,use to do that for winter with his boat so it wouldnt fill with water.
He got a bit goofy the older he got,but he was a great neighbor