Ditch Hitch Documentation Library
Please read bellow for our incident reports, hazardous towing mechanism and product bulletin documents.
Incident & Technical Reports
Ditch Hitch Product Bulletin
Used in conjunction with nylon recovery straps with eyelets, no metal fixtures, the Ditch Hitch® eliminates the need to attach to points such as trailer balls, towing add-ons, tiedown hooks or bumpers never intended to withstand shock load forces and is fast becoming the industry standard for vehicle recovery.
Hazardous Towing Mechanisms
Tow Hooks – fail between 4,000 & 12,000 lbs – cannot withstand shock loads – failure imminent for vehicle recovery
Incident - Trailer Ball
On January 24, 2013 at 2:30pm, two … were checking leases together. Upon arrival at one location, the Operators made it a quarter of the way into location when the truck spun out in a snow drift and was stuck. They called another … to come and pull them out.
Incident - Hook Failure
While pulling a stuck vehicle out of a snow drift the tow hook broke off of the recovery pickup. The tow hook broke away, flew up, contacted the rear of the cab and broke the back window of the stuck vehicle.
Incident - Shackle Failure
An employee was driving through a pasture to a valve site when his truck became stuck in a low spot of the snow bank. There was another truck present. The one truck was equipped with two clevises that fit into a trailer hitch receiver. Each one was made by a different manufacturer.
Incident - Trailer Ball
A ¾ ton pickup was attempting to pull a two-ton truck out of the mud. One end of a chain was fastened to the front guard of the stuck vehicle and the other end to a trailer ball that was mounted on the pickup bumper.
Fatality Incident - Trailer Ball
At approximately 2 pm on March 17, 2004, … , was operating a forklift that was
being used to move boxes into a storage magazine at the … manufacturing facility in
Standard, Alberta, when it became stuck in the mud.
Fatality Incident - Shackle Failure - Fire Fighter
On April 8, 2006, a 38-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (the victim) was struck by a shackle on a recoiling tow rope and died three days later. The fire department was dispatched to a controlled burn that had escaped its boundaries. Fire fighters arrived on the scene, extinguished the fire, and started departing the scene.
Premium Content
Engineering Reports on the Performance & Operation of the Ditch Hitch
The unique combination of materials and components is described along with certified engineering test results and specifications of operating conditions of the Ditch Hitch System.
Vehicle Recovery Test Results
Failure testing of front and rear vehicle frame fastened receivers was conducted by Ditch Hitch and Atco Electric. As well, dynamic loading of front and rear vehicle receivers were tested in both a static and shock load type of pull. All results and peak tension readings were recorded using a Dynameter.
WARN Shackle Bracket Use Restrictions
Directive from WARN restricting the use of shackle bracket to winching or hoisting only.
Shackle Side Loading Shock Loading From Oceanside
Oceanside, one of the largest suppliers of rigging equipment in Canada provides recommendations for shackle retesting following shock loading and rating limitations of shackle side loading.
Fuse Link Testing Results
Documentation of failure testing of the Fuse Link vehicle recovery strap.
Snap Trap Testing Results
Documentation of failure testing of the Snap Trap recovery strap diffuser.
Vehicle Recovery Training Test Questions
A multiple choice competency test designed to measure understanding of the vehicle recovery process and related safety procedures.
Vehicle Recovery Procedure Examples
Sample vehicle recovery procedures provide reference for documenting your own internal procedures or best practices.
Vehicle Recovery Pre-Job Checklist
Ensuring a safe and accident free vehicle recovery operation starts long before you rig up to pull your truck out of the mud. This Checklist will help to reduce job-site loss and ensure all those involved are aware of the dangers of vehicle recovery.
