Sad Safety Reminder

[Michael]

Very Sad Reminder... I've had my bus fall on me twice in the last 20
years. To date I've only received a headache and a bruised ego.
During the conversion process on my '63 Bluebird I had to get
underneath it often to mount generator, holding tanks, wiring, etc..
but this also applies to our Wanderlodges too. Because I followed
the redudant rule, I'm still here to tell you about it.

The first was using block to raise the bus.. I had stacked the block
with plywood separaters. My old bus was light at only 22,000 lbs but
it crushes blocks very easily. I then used only lumber but then
found that 4x4's split very easily too. Now I support with large
timber and jacks only.

However, here's a good start. I took 4-2x6's and laid them flat on a
1'x2' piece of plywood with about 1/2" space between. I then added a
second piece of plywook and criss-crossed the 2x6's with the first
row. I repeated this pattern until I had aobut 7" high 1'x2' pads
for the front wheels, and 7" high 2'x4' pads for the rears. I used
glue and screws to help hold it all together.

I will drive up on these pads so that my total clearance is the bus
clearance plus 7". On that bus it was enough so that if something
should fail the bus height would be great enough for me to crawl out
and clean my shorts.

Now with my Wanderlodge anytime I have to raise the bus I'll treat it
as if I was going to work on the hydraulics. Never rely on the
hydraulics for human safety, they were chosen to level a bus. There
are no safety pins and lines do burst.

My pads cost about $100 in material and that is very cheap
insurance. If anyone would like pics let me know... These things can
happen so fast.. it just takes one small oversite...

Sincerely,

Michael Putz
1978 FC35SB "Putz'n Around"
Mesa, Az


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...>
wrote:
>
> Our understanding is that Jim's passing was due to his bus falling
on him.
>
> This is again another sad reminder to be ultra safe when working
under
> these things.
>
> I may be a big chicken, but personally, depending on what I am doing
> under there, I use 4'x12"x6" wood ramps, wheel chocks, the bus
jacks,
> two 20-ton hydraulic jacks and two 20-ton jack stands before I crawl
> under the Bird. I never crawl under without at least two redundant
> sets of jacks in place. Any questions on why?
>
> Sad, very sad.
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>