My apologies if this is a repeat, I've sure never seen it before.
I always have known not to use stretch straps/ropes with metal ends because they can be deadly but I never had thought of a ball mount being a missile. So sad.
The ball mount that broke was a major drop and it appears the geometry involved with a mount like that was part of the problem. Wow...
I haven't heard of that happening before, but I have witnessed a stretchable rope like a bungee used in recovery. It stretched and then snapped back, breaking the car's back window. That right there was enough for me to remember the potential energy.
The Super Duty mired in mud would take an enormous amount of energy to extricate due to its weight and the resistance of the mud "lock". Relying on one point to muscle it out is asking for trouble anyway, as in bent frame. If it were me and I drove off-road regularly I would be sure to have a frame-mounted winch. That is what real 4-wheelers use. I am surprised that such an experienced 4-wheeler didn't have one on his heavy, heavy Super Duty. He'd still be here...
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
If it had have been a straight hitch bar for a straight pull it likely wouldn't have yielded and torn off. It was a large drop hitch apparently. So Physics. I think they actually make a straight bar with an end loop just for pulling.
Be ready soon for a new warning label on these drop hitches. Probably a good one, as it's not a well known fact.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
If it had have been a straight hitch bar for a straight pull it likely wouldn't have yielded and torn off. It was a large drop hitch apparently. So Physics. I think they actually make a straight bar with an end loop just for pulling.
Be ready soon for a new warning label on these drop hitches. Probably a good one, as it's not a well known fact.
Agreed, the geometry involved pulling so far from the fulcrum really increased the force on the square tube. I won't be surprised if it broke right beside a weld.
Years ago when I was into off roading I remember seeing a picture of a pickup with a broken back window. They had used a rope/strap with hooks on each end. It broke and slingshotted the hook through the back window. It went right between the passenger and driver, smashing the windshield from the inside in the rear view mirror area. Imagine if there'd been a passenger seated in the middle.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
