RIP

[stefdds]

Father Killed In Off-Road Recovery Accident When Drop Hitch Snaps

Ryan Woods was only 43 years old when he was killed instantly by a tow hitch snapping back into his truck.

www.roadandtrack.com

Note: "drop hitch" in narrative ; (bracket ,with weld, and ball missing from square stock); see windshield opening

drop hitch at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[Uwe]

Yup, a drop-hitch is not the appropriate thing to use for that.

I keep some recovery gear in my truck, including this:

However, I absolutely refuse to use the "snatch" technique (i.e. a running start) because I don't have any experience with it and I know it's freaking dangerous, and it's also very hard on the recovery equipment as well as both vehicles. So the only way I'll even try is with a steady pull. But even with a steady pull, I've managed to break one strap:



I suppose better the strap than any hard parts!

-Uwe-

 

[stefdds]

Absolutely Uwe, your set up is under tension and it would be rare to gain enough force to "pull" that apart (metal items above) ; the drop hitch was not (primarily) in tension and one could argue that it actually had a mechanical advantage to fail : a lever arm (drop portion of hitch); much like a extended breaker bar to loosen a fastener.
So sad.

 

[Bruce]

I subscribe to a Youtube channel all about off road recovery. Their machines are designed specifically to recover vehicles stuck like this one. They operate out of Utah but are also out in the mud. With all the drought in the southwest, people think it is a good idea to go out in what was Lake Powell or Lake Mead thinking the mud looks dry. Well it might be on top.. but underneath? It is still drying out.

https://www.youtube.com/c/MattsOffRoadRecovery

Matt's crew know what they are doing... most of us have no clue!

 

[Crasher]

Shit! At least it was quick but for his kids to see that...