Local lad killed by towball

Newbie here trying to make sense of this as we intend to go off road in the next few weeks:

So is the nett of the above to never use a tow bar or tow ball as a recovery point?

If so, what do you do if there's no recovery point available on the front or it's not accessible?

Would you strap your snatch strap around an axle?

NEVER a towball!!

a square Hayman reese type receiver (Pic someone?)can be used if required,

and always, slowly slowly is the go,,

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Originally Posted by FifiLámour

Newbie here trying to make sense of this as we intend to go off road in the next few weeks:

So is the nett of the above to never use a tow bar or tow ball as a recovery point?

If so, what do you do if there's no recovery point available on the front or it's not accessible?

Would you strap your snatch strap around an axle?

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Best thing to do is go to a training course or ask one of your club trainers -- it's much easier to show than to explain on a forum. But the towball and towbar are quite different. Recovering using a towball is wrong. Recovering using a towbar, for example inserting a strap and putting the hitch pin through the strap is ok.

You have a D3 which has recovery hooks front and rear, use those plus shackles.

If there is no recovery point available then you have to improvise, and many times vehicles can be self-recovered after some digging, jacking and driving, or by use of recovery ramps. If you do need to tow then winch as there's less stress, spread the load as evenly and far as you can. Snatching out should not be seen as an automatic first-choice recovery method, and ALWAYS check the vehicle is not irretrievably hung up before you tow.

If in any doubt just leave it and live.

Arnt we missing a little of the point.


WHO WELDS A TOWBAR TOGETHER!!!

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Originally Posted by Sparksdisco

Arnt we missing a little of the point.


WHO WELDS A TOWBAR TOGETHER!!!

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well I would assume most manufacturers. how else would they be put together

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Originally Posted by Andy-M

A bit of info to clear up the guessing in relation to what occurred in the accident.


The tounge and square section that slides into the Hayman style receiver had been welded in the past. During the snatch the weld broke sending the tounge, ball and strap through the windscreen narrowly missing the driver, into the rear section where the lad was in the third row seat.
Andy

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well I would assume most manufacturers. how else would they be put together

Well derr :p

I dont think it was the manufacturers welds

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Originally Posted by Sparksdisco

well I would assume most manufacturers. how else would they be put together

Well derr :p

I dont think it was the manufacturers welds

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there are many many people out there quite capable of welding a tow bar I can assure you:).....

yes maybe his failed due to poor welding I don't know, but to say who on earth would weld a tow bar. Who on earth would weld a chassi or a roll cage all of which can be put under hugh strain and cause damage if let go

Hi, did a search on the Justice Dept's website for the lad's name and location, but the Coroner's report is not yet listed, if indeed it has been heard to date.
Should be some expert witness statements available when it is published.
cheers

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Originally Posted by dullbird

there are many many people out there quite capable of welding a tow bar I can assure you:).....

yes maybe his failed due to poor welding I don't know, but to say who on earth would weld a tow bar. Who on earth would weld a chassi or a roll cage all of which can be put under hugh strain and cause damage if let go

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Shure if you are qualified to weld to a australian standard and know what you are doing And can certify the welding meets standards then by all means.

But if any one who new what the where doing would of proberly just brought a new one as they are cheep to buy anyway.

I dont condone the use of towballs to recover but like a lot of people said they still use the toung with a rated shackle in it and think it,s safe. even if he did this it still would of ended up killing him.

Still a lot of iffs and buts and assumptions.

I believe that the towbar was a hayman reese type, the square section had been welded in and no locating pin was inserted, most of the weld had broken over time and only a small section of weld failed to cause the accident. This is all here say in the local community but it has come from a realiable source.
blaze