Hillsdale Township (Michigan) man killed trying to free bulldozer

[JDgreen227]

It made me sad to read this and report it: The Hillsdale County sheriff's department said a 39 year old man was operating a bulldozer last Friday afternoon and when it got stuck, he asked a family member for help. Quote: "A strap was hooked up between the pickup truck and the bulldozer, but a ball on the back of the truck broke and struck him. He died at the scene".

Yes, I know enough not to hook a strap to a hitch ball, but I have done it. And yes, I know enough to throw a blanket over a tow strap and stay well clear of the strap---most times, anyway. May have been a clevis that broke, or a hook on the strap, or even a tow hook on the truck itself that killed him. Play it safe, please. And that is why I am posting this.

 

[tractorworks]

Good reminder. It is too easy to get caught up in the moment and take short cuts.

 

[mfreund]

Wow, feel for the family.

I cannot believe they thought they would be able to pull out a bulldozer with a pickup truck.

 

[JDgreen227]

To all: I cannot find any details to the story other than what I reported aside from the fact that the man killed was a prison guard in Jackson, Michigan. And yes, I too wondered about it being a bulldozer, but every source I read says it was.

 

[jagyzf]

Wow, feel for the family.

I cannot believe they thought they would be able to pull out a bulldozer with a pickup truck.

Depending on the situation it may have just needed a small pull if the operator didn't bury it. I have pulled out large machines with much smaller ones myself. Even used an ATV because it was what I had.

Now if the dozer were up to the belly pan, no way.

 

[s219]

That is sad to hear. With such a variance in ball ratings and attachments, I'd be real nervous about hooking up to a ball unless the specs were real well known.

 

[JDgreen227]

That is sad to hear. With such a variance in ball ratings and attachments, I'd be real nervous about hooking up to a ball unless the specs were real well known.

So many variables...my ATV has a 1 7/8" ball rated for 2000 pounds, and the 2 5/16" ball I use for my TT is rated 10,000 pounds. I would think the ratings are for a ROLLING load, not a stationary load.

 

[jagyzf]

That is sad to hear. With such a variance in ball ratings and attachments, I'd be real nervous about hooking up to a ball unless the specs were real well known.

I also try and avoid any hitch, chain or clevis from China, which is getting harder and harder to do. I know people who have had very bad luck and read about stuff failing.

 

[MHarryE]

I picked up a new made in USA 2 5/16 ball for use on my tractors in pulling my dump trailer. First time use when I dumped the trailer the trailer hitch jumped up with the ball still secure in the hitch. The threads had stripped out of the nut - very strange failure. Everything felt like it tightened up fine, no sign of yield and the stud end went all the way through the nut. No idea where the nut came from - it was in the package with the ball. I never before bothered with safety chains on the tractor because there is nothing in the area to hook them too but the drawbar and I mistakenly assumed if it went it would be the drawbar falling off for some stupid reason. Now I have a clevis in another hole on the drawbar so I can safety chain all my trailers. Our 2 John Deeres already have a safety chain attaching point but not the Kubotas.

 

[CowboyRon]

That happened to a girl I went to school with 30 years ago. The hook broke off the front bumper, and went through the back window of her blazer striking her in the back of the head.