Woman killed by tow ball in failed snatch in WA... When will people learn!

[Darren253* Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Darren253*]

So sad... Somebodies family ruined!
I have had this debate with so many people that think the tow ball is a suitable recovery point.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/west...-1226118702921

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

As sad as it its that another family has been broken in another accident that could have been easily avoided with correect training.

It should be noted that at no point does the news article state the recovering a vehicle by means of the tow ball it dangerous and should not ever be attempted. There are never any lessons learned from these avoidable incidents and unfortunately they will forever continue.

I wonder if she was in control of the vehicle at the time or a passenger?

[Darren253* Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Darren253*]

The news said she was a passenger. You're 100% correct about the quality of the article and the useless comments from the RAC.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

As you said Darren, this is a very sad day for a family and friends that could have easily have been avoided...

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

My thoughts go out to the family involved.

After being a member of this site and attending 4WD courses it is drilled into you dont use a tow ball as a recovery point. I showed this to my wife and explained the dangers, previous deaths as a result - her question to me was if you assess their vehicle does not having suitable recovery points - do you leave them there? They were probaly good samaritans helping out a fellow 4WD bogged (and most times would recover them without an incident)

[Darren253* Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Darren253*]

I know what you are saying... They sound like they were the good guys helping out!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing especially after such an event... It's not fair on the family for the "I would have..." to gain too much media.
If I found myself in this situation, I would look to slip knot (loop) the snatch strap around the tow bar frame if possible, but would preferably remove the tow ball and install shackle through the hole where the ball was. I guess it's about being prepared and what you have with you.
I've been snatched many times in my 4x4 days, but must admit my Maxtrax are by far the best purchase I have made. I prefer to use them on every opportunity rather than use the dangerous amounts of energy that is stored up in a snatch strap.

[Plado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Plado]

definately go with the Maxtrax.
A safer and more controlled recovery

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

The course did 2 weeks ago Maxtrax used in one situation did not work and another seperate situation with demo snatch worked - ie either option is not 100% reliable in any situation.

This is what I was shown as correct procedure for a snatch - to minimise energy stored in a strap, 1st gear low for vehicle extracting and 2nd gear low for vehicle being extracted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPmu7fsqC6w

or found this more detailed info

http://www.aaronschubert.com/4x4/snatch-strap/

However this is all theory, go do a course with a qualified instructer

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Very sad loss. So unavoidable as well which is the real tragedy. The Maxtrax are great but I have had a couple of occasions where they didn't help and a snatch was the only option but done correctly is also very safe.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

One of the basics of a safe snatch recovery is to make sure the only people in the vehicles are the drivers, even this small change would have saved a life! KIMBOPRADO in that recovery video were the dampeners just the normal recovery dampners over the snatch strap or where they something more, those dampners are not considered good enough for a snatch nowadays. Having seen video footage testing the various dampners those blankets look preety poor, but still better than nothing.

Cheers Andrew

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

If I found myself in this situation, I would look to slip knot (loop) the snatch strap around the tow bar frame if possible, but would preferably remove the tow ball and install shackle through the hole where the ball was. I guess it's about being prepared and what you have with you.

Or remove the receiver completely and hook up to the receiver pin itself.

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

One of the basics of a safe snatch recovery is to make sure the only people in the vehicles are the drivers, even this small change would have saved a life! KIMBOPRADO in that recovery video were the dampeners just the normal recovery dampners over the snatch strap or where they something more, those dampners are not considered good enough for a snatch nowadays. Having seen video footage testing the various dampners those blankets look preety poor, but still better than nothing.

Cheers Andrew

They said to us in a snatch strap if its going to break it would be in the stitching either end. Years ago they use to only have put one dampner in the middle, but they told us to use one each end. If I remember they used ARB dampners in the demo - if these not good enough nowdays?? what is??

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

They said to us in a snatch strap if its going to break it would be in the stitching either end. Years ago they use to only have put one dampner in the middle, but they told us to use one each end. If I remember they used ARB dampners in the demo - if these not good enough nowdays?? what is??

I am shortly going to be involved with running a drive and recovery course which will be part of my training to become a qualified instructor, what we will be teaching people is to attach a weight (a chain) at 1/3 and 2/3.

Just to explain this a bit, the winch dampeners work on the theory that in the event of a breakage they will act as an air brake by catching in air and slowing down the momentum of the strap, this is only moderately successful. We show a DVD in the course that clearly demonstrates that a weight will slow down the momentum of the strap much quicker than a winch dampener; the weight should be around the 5kg mark.

If you are using the ARB dampers they have a pocket inside, I would add some sand into that pocket in the above scenario to give you more weight, I am not so sure I would be as keen to fill up the pocket in a snatch recovery from mud if mud was all I had to put in the pocket.

If you do attach a chain to the strap there is a proper knot, a prusset knot that is recommended, bit hard to explain but maybe I might be able to get a video and show you.

Added to the above I would recommend the use of a bridle wherever possible, it is important that the snatch strap is the weakest link, better a webbing strap breaks and is hurled towards you than a piece of steel.

Anyone other than the drivers should be a minimum ( and I stress the minimum) of 1.5 times the length of the strap away from the recovery, It is human nature for people to want to get close and look; but it really can be a dangerous operation as the above story shows and getting everyone else as far away as practical is a good idea.

Of course there is far more to it than the brief things I have mentioned here, If you (anyone reading this) are unsure of exactly what to do then maybe a recovery course might be a good idea for you, it might just save someones life.

Cheers Andrew

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

out of interest, how bad is a failed snatch for an auto (or manual) gearbox?
if the vehicle is that stuck that it stops the recovery vehicle dead in its tracks surely thats going to put substantial load on the drivetrain?
I commented in the other thread, but it really is a tragedy when it could have been so easily avoided.

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

Of course there is far more to it than the brief things I have mentioned here, If you (anyone reading this) are unsure of exactly what to do then maybe a recovery course might be a good idea for you, it might just save someones life.

Cheers Andrew

Agree Andrew - If your going to buy any sort of recovery gear - do a course by a qualified instructer, so the driver and their passengers get home safe after a day enjoying our 4WD'S