A caravan on the head.....
Discussion
Need some input as I'm in two minds.
Had to call the yellow breakdown patrol out at the weekend to help me get a wheel of a caravan. The caravan was in it's storage yard. I had started to change it until I was defeated by lack of strength. My jack was under the caravan.
Once the patrolman had loosened the bolts he asked me to jack it up using my jack that was in place. As it was not hitched this was proving difficult and the patrolman put his jack under the caravan further forward and also jacked it up - he asked if that made it easier - which it did.
Until whatever he was doing pushed the caravan off my jack. I took a nasty blow to the head, and had a very scary moment. Luckily there was just enough room between the ground and the chassis rail for my head.
No long term hard has been done to me (did have a nasty headache). It has been suggested to me that I should make the AA aware as I should not have been put at risk in this way.
I do not want to cost the chap his job, and I am not looking for compensation. I do wonder whether lessons need to be learned (I've certainly learned some). It could have been a lot more serious.
Thoughts?
Had to call the yellow breakdown patrol out at the weekend to help me get a wheel of a caravan. The caravan was in it's storage yard. I had started to change it until I was defeated by lack of strength. My jack was under the caravan.
Once the patrolman had loosened the bolts he asked me to jack it up using my jack that was in place. As it was not hitched this was proving difficult and the patrolman put his jack under the caravan further forward and also jacked it up - he asked if that made it easier - which it did.
Until whatever he was doing pushed the caravan off my jack. I took a nasty blow to the head, and had a very scary moment. Luckily there was just enough room between the ground and the chassis rail for my head.
No long term hard has been done to me (did have a nasty headache). It has been suggested to me that I should make the AA aware as I should not have been put at risk in this way.
I do not want to cost the chap his job, and I am not looking for compensation. I do wonder whether lessons need to be learned (I've certainly learned some). It could have been a lot more serious.
Thoughts?
surveyor said:
...the patrolman put his jack under the caravan further forward and also jacked it up - he asked if that made it easier - which it did.
Until whatever he was doing pushed the caravan off my jack. I took a nasty blow to the head, and had a very scary moment. Luckily there was just enough room between the ground and the chassis rail for my head.
Let's ignore the AA man and his jack for a second... Why was your head so far under the caravan, perched only on a crappy jack...? I thought you were just trying to get the wheel off...?Until whatever he was doing pushed the caravan off my jack. I took a nasty blow to the head, and had a very scary moment. Luckily there was just enough room between the ground and the chassis rail for my head.
Come to that, why was your jack there at all, given that you'd not cracked the nuts loose?
surveyor said:
I should make the AA aware as I should not have been put at risk in this way.
You're right. He certainly shouldn't have pushed your head under the caravan and held it there with his boot on your back...Or he shouldn't have done anything until you'd moved your own head out of the way.
surveyor said:
I do not want to cost the chap his job, and I am not looking for compensation. I do wonder whether lessons need to be learned (I've certainly learned some). It could have been a lot more serious.
Thoughts?
Unless he's a total sociopath, he'd have come out in a bloody cold sweat at how close a call it was, and will have already learned the lesson...Thoughts?
Two muppets, one very close call.
Seems there was a lot of it about this weekend - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...
TooMany2cvs said:
Why was your head so far under the caravan, perched only on a crappy jack?
Reach. Small DIY jacks don't have much and getting it onto the chassis is a stretch.Either way, lucky escape for the OP, and I'd say extend that lucky escape to the breakdown bloke too and let it lie - otherwise, as described that's probably a sacking offence.
shtu said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Why was your head so far under the caravan, perched only on a crappy jack?
Reach. Small DIY jacks don't have much and getting it onto the chassis is a stretch.Either way, lucky escape for the OP, and I'd say extend that lucky escape to the breakdown bloke too and let it lie - otherwise, as described that's probably a sacking offence.
TooMany2cvs said:
His usual pish, disecting every comment...
Rawwr said:
....
Why are you such a cancerous reptile? I mean, really, what's the end game here? How do you live knowing that more 50% of the people you encounter on a day-to-day basis would laugh if you contracted some sort of terminal wasting disease? How do you manage? Just curious.
The comments from Rawwr on other thread did give me a massive laugh! Why are you such a cancerous reptile? I mean, really, what's the end game here? How do you live knowing that more 50% of the people you encounter on a day-to-day basis would laugh if you contracted some sort of terminal wasting disease? How do you manage? Just curious.
Regards
Norris's Stalker...
Glad you are OK surveyor!
750turbo said:
TooMany2cvs said:
His usual pish, disecting every comment...
Rawwr said:
....
Why are you such a cancerous reptile? I mean, really, what's the end game here? How do you live knowing that more 50% of the people you encounter on a day-to-day basis would laugh if you contracted some sort of terminal wasting disease? How do you manage? Just curious.
The comments from Rawwr on other thread did give me a massive laugh! Why are you such a cancerous reptile? I mean, really, what's the end game here? How do you live knowing that more 50% of the people you encounter on a day-to-day basis would laugh if you contracted some sort of terminal wasting disease? How do you manage? Just curious.
Regards
Norris's Stalker...
Glad you are OK surveyor!
surveyor said:
Need some input as I'm in two minds.
I can't understand which two options we are commenting on?surveyor said:
I do wonder whether lessons need to be learned
By whom?!surveyor said:
Thoughts?
I think you need to pour yourself a strong drink and think twice before sticking your head underneath precariously balanced caravans for the foreseeable.I don't understand why you had your head under it? Surely the wheel / lug nuts should be cracked whilst the vehicle / fiberglass abomination is still on the ground? And if not, it should be on axle stands and stable before anyone goes full-hulk on it.
C.A.R. said:
surveyor said:
Need some input as I'm in two minds.
I can't understand which two options we are commenting on?surveyor said:
I do wonder whether lessons need to be learned
By whom?!surveyor said:
Thoughts?
I think you need to pour yourself a strong drink and think twice before sticking your head underneath precariously balanced caravans for the foreseeable.I don't understand why you had your head under it? Surely the wheel / lug nuts should be cracked whilst the vehicle / fiberglass abomination is still on the ground? And if not, it should be on axle stands and stable before anyone goes full-hulk on it.
In two minds as to whether to report it. I was not going to. Someone else suggested that I should as it could have been potentially dangerous and should be investigated. Option 1. Say nothing. Option 2. Report it.
But would it be fair for the other guy (competent or not) to get any form of disciplinary action from his employer from just trying to be helpful?
I'm sure he learned a lesson just as much as you did. I don't know what else could be achieved by reporting it, other than potentially an investigation which would require all sorts and probably waste a lot of folks time...
I'm sure he learned a lesson just as much as you did. I don't know what else could be achieved by reporting it, other than potentially an investigation which would require all sorts and probably waste a lot of folks time...
absolutely don't report it IMO.
1. He was there to help you,
2. You are a responsible adult (I presume) who are quite able to make decisions about your own safety.
3. Likely to be sacked or heavily disciplined for it and I'm sure he's learned his lesson watching that happen
4. How many of us have not made bad judgments in work once or twice
1. He was there to help you,
2. You are a responsible adult (I presume) who are quite able to make decisions about your own safety.
3. Likely to be sacked or heavily disciplined for it and I'm sure he's learned his lesson watching that happen
4. How many of us have not made bad judgments in work once or twice
Knowing from the other forums on here you have had a bad week I am guessing this is because the car was stolen and the keys were in it from for caravan. You managed to get in to the caravan but the wheel clamp was still on. Was this the main problem?
I am guessing you were underneath hitting the back of the wheel with a hammer to get it off? They often stick to the hub as they don't come off very often.
That might be the reason he was underneath as this might have been a two person job.
I am guessing you were underneath hitting the back of the wheel with a hammer to get it off? They often stick to the hub as they don't come off very often.
That might be the reason he was underneath as this might have been a two person job.
This still isn't clear in my head. Why do you have to be under the van to start jacking it up?
Anyway, if the guy was actively jacking with his jack whilst you were under the van, then i'd say that's a pretty major safety violation.
You'd want the van to be stable whilst you're under it, not being jacked up by the other guy.
Anyway, if the guy was actively jacking with his jack whilst you were under the van, then i'd say that's a pretty major safety violation.
You'd want the van to be stable whilst you're under it, not being jacked up by the other guy.
chasingracecars said:
Knowing from the other forums on here you have had a bad week I am guessing this is because the car was stolen and the keys were in it from for caravan. You managed to get in to the caravan but the wheel clamp was still on. Was this the main problem?
I am guessing you were underneath hitting the back of the wheel with a hammer to get it off? They often stick to the hub as they don't come off very often.
That might be the reason he was underneath as this might have been a two person job.
I am guessing you were underneath hitting the back of the wheel with a hammer to get it off? They often stick to the hub as they don't come off very often.
That might be the reason he was underneath as this might have been a two person job.
IanCress said:
This still isn't clear in my head. Why do you have to be under the van to start jacking it up?
Anyway, if the guy was actively jacking with his jack whilst you were under the van, then i'd say that's a pretty major safety violation.
You'd want the van to be stable whilst you're under it, not being jacked up by the other guy.
Wheel clamp was the problem. I was under the caravan as my jack was under a structural member that is tucked behind the wheels. There is no 'easy access' jacking point like on a car. Anyway, if the guy was actively jacking with his jack whilst you were under the van, then i'd say that's a pretty major safety violation.
You'd want the van to be stable whilst you're under it, not being jacked up by the other guy.
I was pretty surprised (and reluctant) when the chap asked me to use my jack. I expected him to just pull it out of the way. I was even more surprised when he decided to sling his jack under another point at the same time....
The only reason that I did not steam in was that the guy was only trying to help. But I partly balance that with the fact that I could actually have been killed. Should I have said No? Probably - but then at that point he had not slung his jack under another bit of the caravan.
A lucky escape.
I do bodywork repairs for a local caravan company & they're very hot on caravan jacking.
Opposite side wheels must be chocked fore & aft.
Axle stands must be used if work involves removing/ rotating wheels and/or brake servicing and if work is to be done under the van.
No-one is permitted to go under a jacked unsupported van.
I was there on one occasion when a van was jacked a bit too high & slipped off the jack. No-one injured but the one doing the jacking was a bit shaken.
If work is to be done under a van with no need to do anything with the wheels but extra headroom needed they jack the van & put steel wheels (minus the tyres) flat on the workshop floor. The van is then lowered onto the wheels & the jack removed.
I do bodywork repairs for a local caravan company & they're very hot on caravan jacking.
Opposite side wheels must be chocked fore & aft.
Axle stands must be used if work involves removing/ rotating wheels and/or brake servicing and if work is to be done under the van.
No-one is permitted to go under a jacked unsupported van.
I was there on one occasion when a van was jacked a bit too high & slipped off the jack. No-one injured but the one doing the jacking was a bit shaken.
If work is to be done under a van with no need to do anything with the wheels but extra headroom needed they jack the van & put steel wheels (minus the tyres) flat on the workshop floor. The van is then lowered onto the wheels & the jack removed.
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 18th April 11:36
youngricharduk said:
Could you not have just jacked it up, then wound the caravan legs down to support the weight on that side. I can often lift the wheels clean off the deck just winding the caravan legs down on there own and mine is a twin axle however they are heavy duty steadies which helps.
Problem was it came off during the jacking. One thing I need to look at is if therre is a way to get my jack in place without going under. I don’t think there is with my present one.
surveyor said:
Problem was it came off during the jacking.
One thing I need to look at is if therre is a way to get my jack in place without going under. I don’t think there is with my present one.
Put the steady down although they are not designed to take the weight I would rather they brake then my skull.One thing I need to look at is if therre is a way to get my jack in place without going under. I don’t think there is with my present one.
Wind them down so they touch the ground then go underneath to the chassis and put axle stands in then start jacking a bit at a time and raising the axle stands bit by bit. One thing you don’t want is the caravan falling onto its steadys from height as they will likely go through the floor. For initial jacking and placing of axle stands I believe this is the safest way.
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