Hi-Lift safety PSA

[Johnny Quest]

ran AF Canyon up to Mineral Basin yesterday. first time for us, and we were the smallest rig by far (TJ on 32's, open/open), but still made it by using a couple of the bypasses. Anyway, on the way back down one of the TJ's in our group of 9 had a a failure of all studs on his passenger rear. I wrote the following on another forum, but i figured id post it here as a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong:

"4 out of the 5 original studs that the adaptor were bolted to ripped off of the passenger rear. we ended up salvaging one of the studs, then pressed 2 studs out of the drivers rear to limp the Jeep off the trail with 3 studs on either side. HUGE bottleneck situation; about 20 vehicles stuck uphill of breakdown, and another 10-15 stuck down hill. overall breakdown of 2.5+ hours."

"At one point the Jeep fell off the hi-lift/bottlejacks and shifted to the drivers side about 1.5 feet. I was working on putting the drivers side axle assembly back together when it happened. The axle missed me by inches, but the woman who was holding the flashlight for me took a sharp piece of the bumper/mudflap bar to the leg and had to get taken to the hospital with a pretty gnarly cut. No word or her yet, but i'll keep everyone updated as i hear more. AFAIK, it was nobodys fault that the Jeep shifted; people were working on both sides of the rear axle to get it mobile again, and something shifted. Unfortunately, accidents happen."

it happened VERY quick. luckily i got out of the way; a few minutes earlier, i was sitting with a leg partially under the Jeep, but moved it cause i got a weird feeling. the side of the Jeep i was working on was about 3' from a pretty nasty drop off, so when it shifted, there wasnt anywhere to go. it was a bad situation, but couldve been ALOT worse. we thought we were playing it safe with 2 bottle jacks and a hi-lift, but it still dropped. once the jeep started going, there was no stopping it. we put rocks both in front of and behind the front tires, but didnt think about the possible side to side movement.

be careful out there.

 

[offroadlogan]

Good reminder.Glad everyone seems to be OK.

 

[RogueJeepr]

Good thing you listened to that "wierd feeling" .
Last time I listened to that "vioce or odd feeling" it saved my life a few times.
Sometimes I get it just before I leave to go wheeling, then I decide to cancel the trip all together. Better safe than sorry or dead.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Good thing you listened to that "wierd feeling" .
Last time I listened to that "vioce or odd feeling" it saved my life a few times.
Sometimes I get it just before I leave to go wheeling, then I decide to cancel the trip all together. Better safe than sorry or dead.

I have been there as well, always listen to that voice or gut feeling. As for the hi-lifts, I avoid using mine at all costs and carry a small floor jack that has safely saved my butt a few times.

 

[Team1k]

Picture of said incident

Sorry this thread is a little older, i just havent been as diligent in checking all the posts on here lately. Anyway here is the picture of the situation.

 

[Kevin B.]

I use my hilift all the time, but this right here is why I don't get under a rig supported just by jacks, especially on uneven ground.

Thanks for the post.

 

[jeeper]

Instead of blocking 40+ vehicles while you work on your problem, Why not drag the jeep out of the way?

 

[Team1k]

It wasnt my jeep, dont shoot the messenger I just had a camera with me and was one of the rigs stuck behind him. That portion of the AF canyon trail is only wide enough for one vehicle for about half a mile with a few pull outs. He was about 15 feet away from a turnout, just not sure how he was supposed to get there with one wheel missing.

 

[Kevin B.]

It wasnt my jeep, dont shoot the messenger I just had a camera with me and was one of the rigs stuck behind him. That portion of the AF canyon trail is only wide enough for one vehicle for about half a mile with a few pull outs. He was about 15 feet away from a turnout, just not sure how he was supposed to get there with one wheel missing.

I've seen folks wedge a log into the frame for the axle to rest on while the rig is rescued to a parking lot or some such. That probably would have gotten them to tibble.

 

[Greg]

One more word of advice when in a situation like this... If you can, put the loose tire under the axle, bumper or transfer case skidplate. That way if the vehicle does fall off the jack, it doesn't hit the ground and anyone that may be in the way when it goes over.

A good friend of mine had a buddy that died after his car fell off the jackstands onto him while he was under it... I've tried to remember that and think of what I could do to avoid putting myself in a similar situation.

 

[Team1k]

I've seen folks wedge a log into the frame for the axle to rest on while the rig is rescued to a parking lot or some such. That probably would have gotten them to tibble.

True ive seen that done for broken c clip axles and such however this road definitely is limited in that section as far as trees/logs go and the trees that are there i bet you would get fined for cutting them down since they are holding that road in place from washing away. Not saying he couldnt have worked something out, but i think when they first started working on it they thought they could just use the non damaged studs out of the adapter and put them into the axle shaft and go. after taking it all apart though they realized the adapter had press in studs and the shaft had screw in studs.

And i agree on the using tires as jack stands comment. They did have one under the control arm on one side but would have been better under the axle.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Unless someone is dying, cutting down a tree should NEVER be an option.

I'm guessing this is what happened:

He tried to use the hi-lift to get the wheels off the ground. ALl that happened was the bumper went up and the axle sagged. So he got out the little bottle jacks to lift the rear axle. At this point, it's a dangerous situation. All the rear jack is doing at that point is lessning the spring rate, and causing an unsafe condition ready to drop and shift. I'm not picking on the guy that did it, I've done stupid stuff in my day. But you shouldn't ever need 3 jacks to lift an axle. If one isn't doing the trick, lower it and start over.

WHen I used to carry a hi-lift, I would also carry a ratchet strap with me. You can strap the axle to the frame, then when you lift, the axle comes with it instead of drooping.

 

[jeeper]

WHen I used to carry a hi-lift, I would also carry a ratchet strap with me. You can strap the axle to the frame, then when you lift, the axle comes with it.

Like

 

[RogueJeepr]

Looking at the pic. shouldnt the Hi-lift be on the right side with the missing wheel ?