Rollovers Made Easy Part 2 of 2 By David Lambert Many of us would readily admit that one of the scariest moments in our career was when we responded to our first light-duty rollover/recovery? If you've never performed a rollover, or never seen one demonstrated, this article and last month's, Rolling Away From the Truck - Part 1, November 2002, should make rollovers easier. Photo 2: Using a chain with grab hooks on each end (or two chains), attach to the corners of the vehicle, on the opposite side of the tow truck. Photo 3: Straps may also be used. Photo 4: With the boom lowered (See Photo#4), attach the winch line hook to the chain, sister hooks, or grab link. Photo 5: Place the 4x4, angled upward at a 45 degree angle, with one end wedged against the frame, on the side closest to the tow truck. When rolling from the side, or "T-boning", there are two options; rolling away from the truck and towards the truck. Roll Toward the Truck Rolling a light-duty vehicle away from the tow truck, and on level or near level ground, begins by: o Backing to the overturned vehicle, leaving space for the vehicle to roll without hitting the truck o Raise the boom. This produces the "lift" that is essential in rolling the vehicle (See Photo #1) NOTE 1: Extending the boom may not be necessary when the tow truck is close to the vehicle; however, if there are obstacles that prevent getting close enough, an extended boom may achieve the "lift" necessary to roll the vehicle. o Using a chain with grab hooks on each end (or two chains), attach to the corners of the vehicle, on the opposite side of the tow truck (See Photo #2). Straps may also be used (See Photo #3) NOTE 2: Attach the chains in a way that they will not be caught in the springs when the roll is completed. Once the vehicle is on its wheels, the springs will be compressed and removing the chains may be extremely difficult. o Ensure the vehicle will not roll away once it's back onto its wheels. o Engage the parking brake o Place the transmission in "park" or in gear o Use chocks outside the wheels (See Photo #1) o If the vehicle is on a slope, it may be necessary to attach an anchor line to the uphill end of the vehicle NOTE 3: If the vehicle begins to spin rather than roll, you may need to move the "point of pull" slightly towards the heavier end of the vehicle. Use "sister hooks" or a grab link to move the "point of pull". NOTE 4: If the entire vehicle slides towards the truck, place a chock, a floor mat, or other object at the point of contact between the vehicle and the ground. o Begin winching the vehicle o Usually, the vehicle will stop on its side and all lines will go slack o Remove the slack and recheck all attachment points o Recheck the chocks for proper placement on the wheels NOTE 5: It is very likely the vehicle will bounce slightly, towards the truck, when the wheels hit the ground. This should be accounted for when placing the chocks outside the wheels. o Lower the boom. "Lift" is no longer wanted or needed. Pull from a low point o Complete the roll by continuing to "winch-in" Using a "Stiff-Leg" When it's not possible to get close to the vehicle, a raised boom may not produce the "lift" that may be needed to roll the vehicle. The vehicle may slide toward the rear of the truck without rolling. By using a 3-foot, 4x4, and the angle of the pull can be redirected. There are also commercial products available that work well. o Attach the chains to the corners of the vehicle as outlined above o With the boom lowered (See Photo #4), attach the winch line hook to the chain, sister hooks, or grab link o Ensure the vehicle will not roll away once it's back on the wheels, as previously discussed o Place the 4x4, angled upward at a 45 degree angle, with one end wedged against the frame, on the side closest to the tow truck (See Photo #5) o Route the winch line over the raised end of the 4x4 (it helps to have a notch in one end) and down to the chains NOTE: If the cable termination rests on the 4x4, the wire rope will be protected. This works best when a 2nd operator is available to work the winch control, but a lone operator can set this up. o Winching in slowly and steadily, pull the vehicle onto its side. The 4x4 will fall out just before the vehicle rolls onto its side o If the vehicle does stop, which is likely on level ground, lower the boom, remove any slack in the lines, recheck attachment points and chocks for proper placement outside the wheels o Complete the roll by continuing to "winch-in" Rolling a vehicle back onto its wheels is a relatively easy operation and should not be feared. For tow operators who have access to junk cars, the techniques should be practiced before called upon to perform one. David Lambert has been in the towing industry since 1982. He teaches courses in light-duty towing instruction and is a frequent seminar presenter at the American Towman Expo and Festival. He's a past member and chairman of the SAE Towability. David is AT's Field Editor, he can be contacted at JdaveLambert@aol.com.