Community Forums

Wire Wrat · 05-20-2012, 08:57 PM

I haven't seen any posts here for newbys or oldbys, about safety, but May I stress that our rigs are not always friendly towards us?
Praise God!! He is so good!! This morning we were getting our campers hooked up and ready for the road back home, and one of our camping club members got his three fingers caught between the hitch of the trailer and the ball.

This could have resulted in an immediate amputation of his fingers, as I stated above, God intervened. The tongue jack hit the ground before his fingers were completely crushed. Bad news was he had to re-squeeze them when the hitch was lifted off of the ball and his hand. The end result was three broken fingers, and a LOT OF PAIN.... Again Praise God.. Please be aware that your hands and appendages around pinch points are no match for 5-8 hundred pounds of steel coming together.

Take your time and If your ball is not exactly lined up with the hitch DECLARE A DO OVER! and get it right. Extra minutes hooking up might save several hours in the E R waiting room and a lot of pain and agony. OK I'm done Y'all have fun and BE SAFE!!

Pricejh · 05-20-2012, 09:02 PM

Ouch! Proves once again, human tissue and steel don't mix.

Skipper4RV · 05-20-2012, 09:15 PM

Good to know. Slow down and take your time. Thanks!

Kaexel · 05-20-2012, 10:07 PM

Wow that had to hurt! He really is blessed to have fingers broken! I agree...slow down, pay attention, stay safe!

capsfloyd · 05-21-2012, 11:41 AM

Worked around farm equipment for many yrs. you have to make sure everything is clear and off , de- energized .

As for the hitch , take a screw driver to poke around with , not you fingers

Everyone please slow down and be safe this weekend !!!!

Ray,IN · 05-21-2012, 04:32 PM

"Operator error" causes the vast majority of injuries, just like "Pilot error" does with airplane mishaps. That will be a lesson learned he will never forget.

Wire Wrat · 05-23-2012, 10:08 PM

Another post on this forum, referenced a fatal accident involving a class a. The left front tire blew out throwing the rig into the concrete barrier. Please watch those tire pressures, and the age on them. They are not cheep, but after so many years, the age factor tends to deteriorate them. Also when buying them Make sure you are getting new tires.. they have a date code on them. Tire outlets tend to push off those older tires. (batteries too). No sense buying old stuff...