On Tuesday, in article
<
[email protected]>
[email protected] "Chris Phillipo" wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
> > On Tuesday, in article
> > <[email protected]>
> > [email protected] "Chris Phillipo" wrote:
> >
> > > > > Bolted to a chrome plated piece of sheet metal.
> > > >
> > > > Well, there you are. Obviously an inadequate installation that doesn't
> > > > meet current EU standards. No wonder your balls keep falling off.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Tell me, what stock car or truck are you people driving that has a 6"
> > > frame cross member in the back were we normally would put a license
> > > plate. Does this vehicle pass any crash safety standards?
> >
> > Well, I'll stick to a Land Rover. But you might want to look at the
> > products of an American company called John Deere. Or maybe
> > Caterpillar.
> >
>
> Exactly, neither of which make a Geo Saturn or a nissan pickup truck
> AFAIK.
>
> > But why don't you explain just how you'd fasten that winch of yours to a
> > vehicle you're trying to recover, whether you're using the snatch block
> > or not.
>
> You attach it to the frame or something directly bolted to the frame
> like a winch mount or tire carrier bumper. If you can do that, STOP,
> TAKE OUT YOUR CELL PHONE, CALL AT TOW TRUCK. Unless you are some god
> damn redneck who wants to make a video for the internet.
Excuse me a moment...
[SFX: door opening, footsteps fading into the distance. Slow ticking of
nearby clock. Fade in footsteps. Door closing]
The Ford in the garage doesn't have a frame.
The Land Rover has a NATO tow-hook bolted to the frame, but I understand
this ancient design couldn't be sold as a new vehicle in the US.
I suppose you can use your winch for self-recovery, but there doesn't
seem to be much else you can do with it.
And I'm a bit doubtful about a "tire carrier bumper" as an attachment
point; I'd have to take a close look to be sure.
In any event, I still can't figure how a tow truck could do any better.
The folk I know over here who have winches seem to have other stuff to
help attach to the vehicle being recovered, such as a bridle to spread
the load between two points, and there are various methods of absorbing
the rebound energy if a cable or attachment breaks. You're giving me
the strong impression that you haven't thought through what you're
saying, and, unless you have some other use for that winch, you're a bit
of a show-off.
Yes, you're right about the risks, but while I've seen towing points on
vehicles, for _on-road_ recovery, they're front only, and usually the
only attachment point at the rear with any reliable strength in the tow-
ball mounting.
Not enough strength for your winch, but that's _your_ problem, not mine.
--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.
"History shows that the Singularity started when Sir Tim Berners-Lee
was bitten by a radioactive spider."
