Man killed by snapped towing strap

PeterX · Senior Member

Man killed by snapped towing strap

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I am sure those who regularly use their 4x4 'tow' vehicle to wander away from the main roads either carry a 'towing strap' (snatch strap) or have some knowledge and experience in how to use one.

However, just in case there are those who are not familiar with using a snatch strap to de-bog another vehicle this article may be helpful.

https://www.4x4australia.com.au/gear/1602/how-to-use-a-snatch-strap

Used properly and safely a snatch strap is an excellent 'recovery item' to carry. They take up little space and even if you only use it to get someone else out of a bog it is worth it.

Of course, it is valuable if you get stuck and someone who turns up to assist does not have one.

Cheers - John

Delta18 · Guru

After all the warnings they still don't learn, except the ones that do. cry

Smithy · Veteran Member

narsty not good last week i was out in the bush playing in the mud with my son and friend i had a strap that looked a bit dickie i used it about 3 times that day and i said to my son this is the last time we use this strap and when i pulled the son out of a bog hole i said thats it trow this away its had it time so there you go if it looks no good trow it away.

Izabarack · Guru

Another poorly written story that provides no education on just what kills. Clickbait value only. It has been my experience that a towing strap does not have the mass to smash throw glass and have enough energy left to kill someone. Lazy reporting I expect.

Snippy · Senior Member

More than likely used the towball as anchor point.

landy · Guru

Towing strap or snatch strap ? A snatch strap certainly can generate enough power to catapult the broken tow fitting through the back window of the car and kill some one. I suggest any one that is going to use one, take some instruction on their proper use before they do so. Something not mentioned in rocky's link is never be tempted to join 2 straps with a shackle if one strap breaks it can turn into a projectile.

-- Edited by landy on Monday 19th of March 2018 03:03:41 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

Bloody snatch straps!

I do own one but have never used it and do everything in my power with the hand winch and normal tow straps/Dyneema rope before I would consider it.

An unqualified elastic band, kept in unqualified conditions for an unknown time with unknown loads applied and used by an unskilled person in an uncontrolled situation - where are the Safety Nazis when you need them - these things are an accident waiting to happen.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

People with limited common sense and knowledge !! Sheesh . Boat ramps are SOoo entertaining !!

vince56 · Senior Member

I saw a person using a shackle to join two straps together and warned them against it, possibly what happened here, plenty of inertia to go through glass easily.

rockylizard · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Bloody snatch straps!
I do own one but have never used it and do everything in my power with the hand winch and normal tow straps/Dyneema rope before I would consider it.
An unqualified elastic band, kept in unqualified conditions for an unknown time with unknown loads applied and used by an unskilled person in an uncontrolled situation - where are the Safety Nazis when you need them - these things are an accident waiting to happen.

Gday...

Interesting opinion you have shared Mike. I can certainly understand why you, and maybe some others with little knowledge and experience in using one, may feel the same way.

unqualified elastic band - au contraire. Snatch straps MUST pass evaluation and meet an Australian standard
kept in unqualified conditions - if being kept in a purpose-built canvas bag with the necessary shackles, all in the boot or similar part of a vehicle - praps mebbe
for an unknown time - I guess everything we purchase, store, use, cherish is often kept for an 'unknown' time - hard to qualify exactly I think
with unknown loads - unless a snatch strap has been bought with the incorrect 'strength/load capability' then it certainly is not unknown loads
used by unskilled person - always the weak link unfortunately. However, the greater majority of people who purchase, carry and use a snatch strap (or any other recovery gear) are aware of how to use the equipment.
in uncontrolled situation - I think that is exactly when the snatch strap (and other recovery gear) comes into its own - to restore some control to an uncontrolled situation.

However, I concede it is your opinion and one would have hoped that opinion had been formed by actually using one - or assisting in the use of one.

Your choice and opinion. However, over many decades now, the snatch straps I have owned have been able to recover many, many other drivers from 'uncontrolled situations' they found themselves in.

Cheers - John

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Dont people know knots any more ? Sheet bend , two bowline . ??

rockylizard · Guru

landy wrote:
Towing strap or snatch strap ? A snatch strap certainly can generate enough power to catapult the broken tow fitting through the back window of the car and kill some one. I suggest any one that is going to use one, take some instruction on their proper use before they do so. Something not mentioned in rocky's link is never be tempted to join 2 straps with a shackle if one strap breaks it can turn into a projectile.

Gday...

Good advice Landy ... this is the best way to join two snatch straps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5BMbExC6kU

Cheers - John

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

An update to the article - stating what the actual cause of the death -

https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/man-killed-in-towing-accident-identified/3366675/

Cheers - John

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

So who killed him ? I thought he died at the scene ??

rockylizard · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
So who killed him ? I thought he died at the scene ??

Gday...

The article states - Mr Dilges was killed at the scene of an accident at Billys Creek, east of Hydeaway Bay at 7pm on Saturday. Mr Dilges was hit in the head by a factory tow point which came off the front of the bogged vehicle and was catapulted through the back window of the tow vehicle.

Cheers - John

The Belmont Bear · Guru

I am not an expert on snatch straps or their use so I was reading though the thread with some interest. After lot of comments about the competency of the user and the safety of using this type of equipment it would appear from John's link that a factory anchor point on one of the vehicles has failed. This means regardless of your level of competence or the condition of your gear something could still go dangerously wrong due to the loading that is involved - or am I misreading this ?

BB

Mike Harding · Guru

The Belmont Bear wrote:
This means regardless of your level of competence or the condition of your gear something could still go dangerously wrong due to the loading that is involved - or am I misreading this

No, of course you're not, no one has any idea of the forces involved with a snatch strap - an accident waiting to happen.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

noun: assassination; plural noun: assassinations the action of assassinating someone. "the assassination of President Kennedy" synonyms: murder, killing, political execution, slaughter, butchery, homicide, liquidation, elimination, extermination, termination, putting/doing to death, martyrdom; More informalhit; literaryslaying "the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Deathnoun the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism. "he had been depressed since the death of his father" synonyms: demise, dying, end, passing, passing away, passing on, loss of life, expiry, expiration, departure from life, final exit, eternal rest; More the state of being dead. "even in death, she was beautiful" the permanent ending of vital processes in a cell or tissue.

elliemike · Guru

The "Factory TOW Points" are not recommended for Snatch Strap "SNATCHING" attachment points.

Realistically these are just "Tie Down Points" and OK for Towing along the bitumen.

Most 4x4 Clubs recommend and will only allow snatching using dedicated snatch points. Usually an after market item.

Even the Shackle and Tongue type in the Tow hitch are not liked by some.

Image result for Snatch point pics

landy · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:

The Belmont Bear wrote:
This means regardless of your level of competence or the condition of your gear something could still go dangerously wrong due to the loading that is involved - or am I misreading this
No, of course you're not, no one has any idea of the forces involved with a snatch strap - an accident waiting to happen.

" Give me a big enough lever and I'll move the world " Trouble is a big enough lever in the wrong hands will break something.
Landy

Craig1 · Guru

Another site has suggested it was a " Tie Down Point'. which in almost every owners manual says exactly that. It is very sad for all concerned however.

Tony Bev · Guru

I carry only a 8,000 tow strap

I believe that if I was to tow my vehicle with a snatch strap, (with the towing vehicle having a bit of a run up), the front end would probably pull off