Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[duramaxsky]

This was before cell phones so unfortunately no video.
In the 80s I bought a new GMC van and I had a heavy duty trailer. One day a friend calls and asked if I could use a Clark propane forklift for $600? I said I'd be there with cash in an hour. I left work...went home getting everything and I was there.
I backed up to their warehouse loading dock but it was about three feet above my trailer.
Inside I checked forklift out...great shape so I handed the $600. Now how to load it? We're standing around outside trying to figure it out when I hear my forklift start up!
A worker said "Yall stand back" as another worker drove it other end of warehouse.
I'm not sure how fast a Clark forklift goes wide open but I see it flying out the loading dock!!!!!
What happened next would be amazing in slow motion. As it came out of course it went down. Forks caught end of trailer which made van and trailer shoot forward I'm guessing 30-40 feet, the hitch held but it looked like an "A"...van's rear up about 5-6 feet! The axx end of the forklift hit the pavement with a tremendous "BOOM" making a decent sized crater. Knocked the worker's glasses and hard hat off...he climbed out red faced.
Now what?!?
I heard construction going on nearby so I walked over and some guys running this big Cat loader like a 950. He brings over a huge chain, wraps it around the forklift cage, hooks to the bucket picking it up like a toy and says "where do you want it?".
So he puts it down over the axles and I dog it down.
It didn't seem to hurt the van, trailer or forklift.

That guy is lucky he lived through that.

 

[ultrarunner]

Wonder if he's still alive pulling stunts like this?

 

[i7win7]

... and lookin g at the picture of the 53 foot van trailer and the pickup truck, an empty 53 foot van trailer might weigh 10,000 pounds, well within the towing capacity of the pickup truck. heck, I pull a 28 foot gooseneck with my 350 Ford all the time, loaded with 20,000 pounds of round bales. You can tell the van is empty, look at the tires on the dolly, they aren't squatting at all. Not fond of the tow method but he's actually 100% legal weight wise. and if the dolly is securely attached to the landing gear, there is no issue other than maybe lights.

AIR BRAKES - if he can't generate the 60+ psi to release them, they have been mechanically disabled. Semi's run 125psi air with low pressure alarms that sound off at 60psi-brake warning

 

[i7win7]

Well considering that the trailer has air brakes and the truck don't, brakes would be totally optional...

Tractor/trailers have spring loaded brakes. DOT doesn't care if it moves - it must stop. Takes 60+ psi to release brakes

 

[paulfun9]

Tractor/trailers have spring loaded brakes. DOT doesn't care if it moves - it must stop. Takes 60+ psi to release brakes

Bypassing the spring brake is easy to do with basic hand tools. I have to do it myself occasionally as have many truck drivers when they spring an air leak and need to get a few miles down the road to the exit.

 

[5030]

Tractor/trailers have spring loaded brakes. DOT doesn't care if it moves - it must stop. Takes 60+ psi to release brakes

They stop only if in adjustment. If the slacks have too much travel they don't work anyway.

 

[fidowanttobe]

View attachment 686390

View attachment 686391

Chevy Pickup Towing 53-Foot Semi Trailer on a Car Dolly Is a Catastrophe Waiting to Happen

I like how the reporter mentions 3 times that it is "only a single cab", like that has ANYTHING to do with a tow vehicle.

 

[KennyG]

I like how the reporter mentions 3 times that it is "only a single cab", like that has ANYTHING to do with a tow vehicle.

If he had a crew cab, there would be that much more steel between the driver and the trailer when it comes off the dolly and through the rear window.

 

[RobS]

I like how the reporter mentions 3 times that it is "only a single cab", like that has ANYTHING to do with a tow vehicle.

Maybe he expected it to be a "sleeper cab"!

 

[woody]

my wife was sitting in her car eating lunch when she seen this. she sent the picture to me to share with on here.