Just want to remind you guys of some things....

When working on your vehicle please no matter what always have it secured more than one way.. Jackstands, wheel chocks etc.... Over the weekend the kid I have known for almost 20 years was killed while working on a truck.. He was more than my best friend he was a brother to me. He was there for me after my brother was killed and he helped get me through that time in my life.. Life has a way of doing unexpected things and sometimes we can take life for granted... He had just celebrated his birthday on Wednesday and was killed on Saturday.... Life is unpredictable.

I learned of his death within minutes of it happening... It really has me shook and wanting to hang up my tools... It made me realize some of the dumb things I have done while wrenching and in all honesty I have no urge to crawl under a vehicle anytime soon.. . Im writing this in the hopes that it makes some people think twice before they crawl under their rigs and make sure that there is NO way it will go anywhere... My friend was doing driveshaft work on a truck and it somehow made it over the wheel chocks and rolled over his neck.. He was killed with the wrenches in his hands... So guys take that extra step in securing the vehicle you are working on in more ways then one.. Sometimes something that has worked countless times before might not work that one time and that's all it takes...

Be careful out there fellas..

 

So sorry to hear of your loss, My thoughts prayers are with you and his family. Hearing this really makes me think back of some of the bonehead methods I have used in the past, and how senseless it was. We all take risks everyday in our lives, wrenching should not be one of them.

God Bless

 

I am borderline terrified getting under a vehicle on jackstands, jacks, etc. Even when I know it is secure, I still keep my cell phone handy. I prefer using ramps if possible with wheel chocks or nothing in the case of the Ram, which I can work under without raising it. Wheel chocks should be like seat belts. Automatic. Sorry to hear about your friend.

 

Yea its a tough reminder.. I just wanted to share so maybe some will consider a little extra protection while working on their rigs... If and when I do start turning wrenches again I will be sure to take the extra steps even if some think its not needed

 

I watched a guy at the Ford shop I worked at just barely get out from under a crew cab 4x4 when one of the adapters on the hoist slipped off the frame. I've paranoid since. Even a simple brake job on the ground I use my floor jack AND a jack stand to hold it up. Sorry your friend was killed. It can happen to anyone.

 

Sorry to hear about your friend. That's terrible.

 

Life is unpredictable, and it is too short. Sorry for the loss f our friend, and prayers for you and his family.

But don't be too quick to hang up your tools. Take some time, but learn from this tragedy. And posting for ut to think about is an excellent tribute. By brothere died 22 years ago on the job. He was electrocuted. And I was an electrician at the time. Went back to work and tried to change jobs. Had no interest in electrical work any longer. But I stayed. My brother would not have wanted me to give up the work I loved. Went on to run electrical crews. But I certainly put safety first.

Ask yourself if your friend would want you to stop wrenching.....or would he want you to keep on - just do it safely.

 

Man, I thought I was the only one! A buddy of mine routinely puts his vehicles up on four jack stands so all wheels are off the ground. He swears its safe...Sorry, you couldn't pay me to get under there. I only use a jack and jack stands if I absolutely have to raise the vehicle. Most times I don't as there is enough clearance that I can crawl under the truck without raising it.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

 

Sorry for your loss bud.

My father had a scar on his cheek, probably close to 3 inches long, apparently a car fell on him while he was working on it, I don't have any more details then that, so I don't know what all happened. He got lucky.

 

sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.. I used to use floor jacks with no jack stands a lot back in my younger days and it wasn't the brightest as one leak and that vehicle is coming down on you.

these days I use a twin post above ground lift, and it has always been drilled into my head and 2nd nature habit to always lift the vehicle an inch or two off the ground and try to rock it to make sure it is stable on the lift before going any higher, and to always lower the lift onto its safety locks before going under it. also if truck is on ground...always set parking brake or work on level ground if you need it to be movable.