Quote Originally Posted by mike_ie View Post
Sad to say, but I've seen it in Ireland too. The basic problem is, they don't have the same practical experience of vehicle recovery that somebody off-roading in Australia has. There's nowhere you can really go that you are going to get stuck, so the weekend's entertainment is heading off to the local abandoned quarry or mudflat and getting as stuck as possible, and seeing if you can get back out. And sadly, things like "I know the procedure" quite often means "I watched a youtube video of some guy in Australia doing this", or "I read this article in 4x4 Monthly...."
You only have to go to the beach on any given weekend in Aus and you will find people (mostly young) snatching off a tow ball.
I think they figure it's made to tow/carry a heavy weight, it kind of has a ball on top to keep the strap on, so it's obvious we can use it.
It amazes me they have 10 to 30K to buy the car, but not $80 to buy a decedent shackle and receiver.

It wasn't so long a go (<12 months) in Australia a young fella died from a tow ball going through the window on a snatch rope.