Things That Fly Off Lumber Racks
- Thread starter spikfot
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Yes they do. Then they get recycled for the aluminum. [scared]
Peter
Peter
I have a few friends, myself included, whom have made the mistake.
Luckily, when it happened to me I was just leaving my steep driveway, as I looked up and saw it drifting forward as i headed downhill. Imagining the inevitable damage to my hood, i thought fast and punched it- sped up quick and slammed on the brakes HARD. The ladder shot off like a rocket and just nicked, with the cleated foot, my bug deflector- cracking it.
I have a Good friend who had a 28' extension ladder go airborne on the freeway.... hitting a car behind him and blowing out the front tire... CLOSE CALL.
It isn't uncommon to see their twisted remains lying on the highway shoulders. Word to the wise... don't bother picking them up unless you want to cut them up for scrap. A roadkill ladder is a widowmaker.
Luckily, when it happened to me I was just leaving my steep driveway, as I looked up and saw it drifting forward as i headed downhill. Imagining the inevitable damage to my hood, i thought fast and punched it- sped up quick and slammed on the brakes HARD. The ladder shot off like a rocket and just nicked, with the cleated foot, my bug deflector- cracking it.
I have a Good friend who had a 28' extension ladder go airborne on the freeway.... hitting a car behind him and blowing out the front tire... CLOSE CALL.
It isn't uncommon to see their twisted remains lying on the highway shoulders. Word to the wise... don't bother picking them up unless you want to cut them up for scrap. A roadkill ladder is a widowmaker.
Deansocial
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how the hell you fixing them on? never seen 1 come off or heard of it. Sort it out lads
Deansocial
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when it come to the safety of other road users like that, no i dont make mistakes. It is stupid and dangerous. i was alway taught if you put the ladders on tie them on if not leave them on the floor next to the van/truck if not some one will forget.
Deansocial
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i had a very near miss from a unsecured digger bucket hitting my van just missing my windowscreen which would have injured me very badly or killed me as it was off an oncoming van so it would have hit at 80mph, it wrote the van off, i will judge who the hell i want when it come to unsecure loads after an incident like that!
jmbfestool
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Not actually on topic but a similar thing!
About 3 weeks ago I was on a job and when I was packing up I placed two FULL boxes of screws 40x4 mm and 60x4 on my bonnet near my window wipers!
I forgotten about them and drove off! I went round a few corners and had got up to speeds of 50 and they had not come off! I got onto the straight as I picked up speed next thing I saw where these boxes coming up the window screen before I could do anything they drifted of to the right side! Drivers side in the UK! They landed bang on in the middle of the other side of the road and EXPLODED! I could see all the screws and was about to stop then this car from the other way was coming and drove through all of it! I was like...... ummm nah! I drove of quickly! OOPS!
JMB
About 3 weeks ago I was on a job and when I was packing up I placed two FULL boxes of screws 40x4 mm and 60x4 on my bonnet near my window wipers!
I forgotten about them and drove off! I went round a few corners and had got up to speeds of 50 and they had not come off! I got onto the straight as I picked up speed next thing I saw where these boxes coming up the window screen before I could do anything they drifted of to the right side! Drivers side in the UK! They landed bang on in the middle of the other side of the road and EXPLODED! I could see all the screws and was about to stop then this car from the other way was coming and drove through all of it! I was like...... ummm nah! I drove of quickly! OOPS!
JMB
Deansocial
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jmbfestool said:
NOoooooooooooooooooooo
A friend had something of the reverse happen to him. He was travling an expressway when the hood of an oncoming car sprung open and went airborne. It landed right on top of him. Luckily, he had a kayak up above and it shielded him from the hood coming through his windshield. The kayak was toast. The guy who lost the hood was sure he had killed someone. Great relief all around.
I did once miss a strap on one of our kayaks. The wife and I got out of our normal routine and missed it. We were lucky to realize it before we achieved any speed. I do all the strapping now.
I did once miss a strap on one of our kayaks. The wife and I got out of our normal routine and missed it. We were lucky to realize it before we achieved any speed. I do all the strapping now.
R
Rob Z
Guest
Hi William, I'm glad no one was hurt.
Sometimes we work on jobs where storage is so tight that we put material on top of the trucks while we're working during the day. When we do that, I put a note on the steering wheel to remind me that something is up there.
Sometimes we work on jobs where storage is so tight that we put material on top of the trucks while we're working during the day. When we do that, I put a note on the steering wheel to remind me that something is up there.
Personally, I have never had anything one of my trucks. As a supervisor, I have had to fill out many a damage claim/safety report on those that have.
When I have had to use my racks as 'live storage' I would do much the same as others have stated. Either leave something obviously "un-racked" or leave the keys on the seat (that habit back then was to leave keys in ignitions). It was supposed to be understood throughout our field office that that meant "secure the vehicle for travel". The results were less than optimal.
The single most effective thing I found was a 'mindset'. I cannot think of how many times driving down the road I asked myself, "is my load secure" (pintle hitch closed, trailer chains & lights hooked up, & chain pins in place and locked, etc). the answer to this question should always be NO!
If you had to ask, you have to check!!! Period.
In my case, it was the rare occasion that I had not. Probably had something to do with me following a truck that had a 5000ft roll of 5/16 galv. steel guy strand (wire) fall off the back of it at 60mph. ........... Talk about a slinky! [scared]
When I have had to use my racks as 'live storage' I would do much the same as others have stated. Either leave something obviously "un-racked" or leave the keys on the seat (that habit back then was to leave keys in ignitions). It was supposed to be understood throughout our field office that that meant "secure the vehicle for travel". The results were less than optimal.
The single most effective thing I found was a 'mindset'. I cannot think of how many times driving down the road I asked myself, "is my load secure" (pintle hitch closed, trailer chains & lights hooked up, & chain pins in place and locked, etc). the answer to this question should always be NO!
If you had to ask, you have to check!!! Period.
In my case, it was the rare occasion that I had not. Probably had something to do with me following a truck that had a 5000ft roll of 5/16 galv. steel guy strand (wire) fall off the back of it at 60mph. ........... Talk about a slinky! [scared]
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