Thread: Another injury from an incorrectly used snatch strap

Originally Posted by POD

Reading the article, it sounds unlikely to have been a towball as the object came through the back window and hit him in the back of the head, I'm the last one to assume any accuracy in media reporting but if that is true it's more likely a front recovery point failed on the stuck vehicle and the injured kid was doing the towing.

There is no point speculating what may or may not have broke, though, one thing is reasonable to speculate they must not have used a recovery dampener otherwise it would not have flown through the back window and struck him.

In nearly all cases it comes down to either not having the right gear or not bothering to use it or lack of knowledge. If you use the right gear correctly then there is little chance of it going wrong.

Knowing that i don't know i have booked myself in for the following, I feel i have an obligation to protect myself and those around me as a newbie

I have had a quick chat with our senior trainer. He suggests the SISODRV302 Drive and Recover a 4WD vehicle would be an appropriate course for you. This covers:
Perform pre operational vehicle checks;
Change a wheel on a 4WD vehicle sited on uneven ground;
Stall/key start recovery downhill forward and reverse;
Implement minimal environmental impact practices;
Operate a 4WD vehicle competently in off-highway conditions,
including;
a) Up and down steep inclines;
b) correct range, gears and techniques;
c) through muddy terrain and ditches;
d) across side slope involving irregular terrain;
e) irregular sandy terrain;
f) through water; and
g) along dry and wet dirt roads.
Use a single Snatch Strap to recover a vehicle;
Operate a 4WD vehicle giving due regard to Occupational Health and Safety issues;
Knowledge and skills required to use a 4WD vehicle with due regard to environmental issues.

The cost of this course is $545 for up to x2 persons in the same vehicle on the same day. Alternately if this a booking for a single driver the cost will be $415. The course cost includes all course material and our glovebox size manual 'Getabout Training 4WD guide, Essential driving skills and recovery techniques'

I don't know much about Four Wheel Drive Recovery. I'v seen a fair bit of it on U tube though and it seems to me that there are a lot of people who think that if you connect two vehicles together with a snatch strap, then charge off at full clip in the recovery vehicle, you will have the best chance of success.
I hope no one ever expects me to do that. How do they calculate the forces on their gear? Have they never heard of Kinetic energy? If this is common practice, it is little wonder that people are being injured.
I do know this though: If i had ever done anything remotely like that when I was working in Marine Recovery, I would have been given a savage dressing down by anyone who witnessed it.

We know that energy is neither created or destroyed. In some cases potentially energy is converted to kinetic energy and then to stupidity.

Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

you connect two vehicles together with a snatch strap, then charge off at full clip in the recovery vehicle, you will have the best chance of success.

best change of success, yes
quickest, no
safest, no

sometimes the only way out is via snatch and as long as its done with rated recovery points, i see no harm.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

We know that energy is neither created or destroyed. In some cases potentially energy is converted to kinetic energy and then to stupidity.

Nearly...

Stupidity is converted into Kinetic energy then (sadly) Fatality or Injury...

I am presently the only Four Wheel Drive Trainer in Australia, certified by the International Four Wheel Drive Trainers' Association and also hold the Master Tread Trainer certification from Tread Lightly.

I have undertaken many courses both here and overseas, Germany, UK and the USA.

The number of people who will spend large sums of money on purchasing a vehicle and equiping the vehicle with a vast array of accessories and then complain at the cost of a Four Wheel Drive course never ceases to amaze me.

The second most common question posed, 'I have owned a Four Wheel Drive for ... (insert any number) of years. What are you going to teach me?'

Owning a Four Wheel Drive and actually using a Four Wheel Drive are two very different scenarios. There are lots of people towing caravans, trailers and horse floats and boats, to name a few. Who use a Four Wheel Dive vehicle purely for the towing capacity and have no intention of ever taking the vehicle 'off-road'. This is entirely acceptable and is a choice of the consumer and user. However, owning and driving a Four Wheel Drive vehicle does not mean that the driver is capable of driving the vehicle 'off-road' with any consideration for his safety or that of the environment.

Unfortunately, 'youtube' does not have many videos of people doing the 'right thing' and lots and lots of people doing the wrong things. Which does not really help when it comes to educating people. Again lots of people will tell you how they saw something being done on 'youtube'.

Education is only part of the equation, drivers attitude, makes up the balance and in some cases is the more important part of the equation.

I undertake many training courses for vehicle manufacturers and dealerships and alhough there is merit in many of the features of modern vehicles, if you still do not understand the basics, you will at some point in time find yourself in strife. Modern vehicles allow more and more novice Four Wheel Drive, drivers to go further 'off-road' than older type vehicles with less electronic 'trickery' and this presents a real problem when these individuals do find themselves stuck, as in some cases it takes an expert to get the vehicle unstuck.

Recoveries are never the same and care should be taken to ensure that injuries are avoided and damage is kept to a minimum. Even one training course does not necessarily equip you with the skills to perform all recoveries and on-going training and practice are what is required. Which is one of the reasons why Emergency Services and Rescue personel are always undertaking training excercises, in order to hone skills and practice various different techniques.

I do hope that the individual injured, recovers, although a significant head impact/injury is always a considerable concern.

Thanks for that XDrive. Would you know the best trainer in the Sydney region?