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Be careful on windy days.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by jbatmick, Mar 4, 2014.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Mar 4, 2014 #1
    jbatmick

    jbatmick Road Train Member

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    hastings, Fl
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    Yesterday morning I raised the hood to my Freightliner, going to check everything out. Found I needed some oil, so got a gallon. Just as I was pouring it in , a gust of wind blew the hood back down, trapping me between the tire and hood. I basically was stuck in the wheel-well, with the hood across my back, pinning me against the tire and frame. Nobody was close around, and I could not reach my shirt pocket to get my telephone. I thought for a minute,waited for a lull in the wind, braced my hands against the frame rail ,and pushed the hood up with my back.Just barely could do it, took maybe 3 minutes to get out from under there. No serious injury, but my upper back was bruised. No permanent damage, but had I been leaning over more, possibly could have wedged my neck down. I was lucky.
    Reminds me of the time many years ago when we were working on a COE KW, with the cab up and locked in place.Bracket broke, cab came down , pushing mechanic out of the way instead of crashing down on him. Lucky again.
    Another friend of mine was not so lucky. He was working on a 10-wheeler dump power divider, with the body raised . He did not block it up,something broke, and the bed fell down on him, killing him instantly.
    When you least expect it, Murphy's Law will find you. Learn from others mistakes.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2014
    jbatmick, Mar 4, 2014
    jbatmick, Mar 4, 2014
    #1
    Jrdude5, Lepton1, Sly Fox and 8 others Thank this.
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  3. Mar 4, 2014 #2
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    I'm glad you're alright.Maybe you should get checked out just to be on the safe side.
     
    pattyj, Mar 4, 2014
    pattyj, Mar 4, 2014
    #2
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  4. Mar 4, 2014 #3
    Sly Fox

    Sly Fox Road Train Member

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    Glad your injuries were just some bruising and soreness. Could've been a lot lot worse.

    I was in Pine Bluffs, WY at the little truck stop there in a wind/snow storm. I was hauling 10k, so I had to park. Was there for over two days waiting for the light trailer advisory to be lifted. However, while there, I was idling to stay warm, and apparently sprung a coolant leak at the water pump. So, I had the unenviable pleasure of trying to put coolant into the resevoir WHILE facing into the wind. Another drive helped hold the hood up, I stood on the wheel, and poured coolant in. Wasn't a fun situation. Never could've done it by myself without trying to turn the truck around, which was not easy if you've ever seen that small lot.
     
    Sly Fox, Mar 4, 2014
    Sly Fox, Mar 4, 2014
    #3
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  5. Mar 4, 2014 #4
    Touk

    Touk Light Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2013
    Clarksville, TN
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    Glad you're ok, next time it's windy use a ratchet strap attached to grab handle and bumper. A lil added security never hurts, plus the small straps from Walmart are pretty cheap and easy to stow away.
     
    Touk, Mar 4, 2014
    Touk, Mar 4, 2014
    #4
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  7. Mar 4, 2014 #5
    Sly Fox

    Sly Fox Road Train Member

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    Good idea. I have a few little ones at home, but never thought to use one to hold up the hood in the wind.
     
    Sly Fox, Mar 4, 2014
    Sly Fox, Mar 4, 2014
    #5
  8. Mar 4, 2014 #6
    Touk

    Touk Light Load Member

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    Clarksville, TN
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    I can't take all the credit, it's an old Army trick I was taught back in the late 90's lol
     
    Touk, Mar 4, 2014
    Touk, Mar 4, 2014
    #6
    NavigatorWife Thanks this.
  9. Mar 4, 2014 #7
    NavigatorWife

    NavigatorWife Road Train Member

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    I posted the one a couple months ago about a woman who had the hood of her truck come down on her hand trapping her. I guess it turned out to be a p/u truck though. She ended up loosing her hand after being out in the weather for 15 hrs.
     
    NavigatorWife, Mar 4, 2014
    NavigatorWife, Mar 4, 2014
    #7
  10. Mar 5, 2014 #8
    paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

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    That's crazy...
     
    paul 1052, Mar 5, 2014
    paul 1052, Mar 5, 2014
    #8
  11. Mar 6, 2014 #9
    TGUNKEL

    TGUNKEL Light Load Member

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    Mar 16, 2013
    Spokane,Wa
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    You can also use a load lock to brace the hood open. Been there done that.

    Gunk
     
    TGUNKEL, Mar 6, 2014
    TGUNKEL, Mar 6, 2014
    #9
  12. Mar 6, 2014 #10
    biggare1980

    biggare1980 Medium Load Member

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    Apr 29, 2009
    Springfield, Ohio
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    Glad your ok!!! Another idea is maybe look into putting gas shocks on the hood like the Cascadia has. Makes the hood drop nice and slow when you close it!!
     
    biggare1980, Mar 6, 2014
    biggare1980, Mar 6, 2014
    #10
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