Lorry Saftey VERY lucky escape at wkend!!!

madalicedj

madalicedj

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 May 2010
Messages
361
Location
Farnham, Surrey. But from Scotland
www.ciclaimsuk.com
Ok Im ready for the abuse. and sorry this is long but its not even the half of it trust me.

Last Sat I travelled up from surrey to Sotland to bring my horse back down after a 4wk stay due to family issues.
My horse box is a short wheel base 7.5 ton F reg.Ford cargo. Old n tatty but full service history and regulary looked after.

I would have just missed snow timing wise and yard he was at was in disarray as the people who had taken in on had up n offed and even when there had not been caring for horses as agreed and paid. So I wanted my baby safe at home asap.

Im just gone 4 months pregnant and my babe hates big noisy traffic, loading etc etc.
Thank fully a few horse owners at yard stayed back and helped me load by parking their vans by side of ramp to stop him carrying on too much. jumping off sides of ramp.

Loaded up we (horse and I) set off. Drove through one awful white out on high ground but came out the other side.
80 miles from Birmginham traffic was stop starting on M6 due to accidents and i thought I was getting a flat. I continued after checking but all seemed ok so told myself perhaps it was snow and ice packed up near brakes or something.

After 14 miles near disaster struck. it was 8:15pm and my lorry suddenly tilted to side and dragged across road. I steered into hard shoulder thinking the tire had blown. .....no. It was gone!! both the rear passenger wheels were off. Thankfully I was going slow and in slow lane. Thankfully the tyres didnt hit any other cars etc. And thankfully it was rear passenger side so my horse weight in part stopped us tipping totallt or worse.

I could have kicked myself. I have so often heard to check wheel nuts after long trips. Due to worsening weather conditions it took nearly 4hrs before the low loader could move us. (there was a 2 fatality accident behind so access to me was closed!!)
Thank god I had wind up lantern and high vis clothes foe emergancys. And that my horse didnt kick off. And that no one hit us.
I watched so many cars crashing etc. Traffic police and cops were unable to stay with me too long due to volume of accidents.
I checked on my babe and he wasnt happy but nibbled at hay but only played with water.
made a tent with his turn out rugs and waited on snowy bank for help.
Thank god I had break down cover that would get us home!!

Ok so they didnt have correct equipment and there were more delays waiting for further 2 lorrys but they got my hunny and I back to surrey alive.

From leaving Dumfries at 3pm on Sat I arrived at new yard at 8am sunday.

The lorry travelled at angle for over 100miles till wheel could go back on and last 60 miles tilted on nose being towed in reverse. I am so glad my boy didnt give in.
Typical man once in stable with grub he was happy. Very tired im sure but happy.

PLEASE always check wheel nuts regulary. Ramp springs etc. Get break down cover and carry emergancy high vis, food n clothing. The worst doesnt often happen but try and be prepared as best you can. Im lucky police didnt charge me.
We can NEVER be too safe. Check and check again folks. Stay safe
 
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OMG, you've already done the beating yourself up so let's leave it at that.

You were one lucky lady and your boy was very lucky too! May I add to your list of recommendations that you make sure your recovery people will send a separate lorry for your horse in the event of such an occurence? Maybe yours does and they didn't have a lorry available but I was pleased to find that on the most recent time I had to call the breakdown people I was immediately offered that someone would come and get my horse - I didn't need that service in the end however.

I'll bet you were both utterly shattered!
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
OMG, you've already done the beating yourself up so let's leave it at that.

You were one lucky lady and your boy was very lucky too! May I add to your list of recommendations that you make sure your recovery people will send a separate lorry for your horse in the event of such an occurence? Maybe yours does and they didn't have a lorry available but I was pleased to find that on the most recent time I had to call the breakdown people I was immediately offered that someone would come and get my horse - I didn't need that service in the end however.

I'll bet you were both utterly shattered!
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Yes still a tad wiped now but that could be baby:)
They did wonder why another lorry wasnt sent but to be honest we would have struggaled to re load him. I guess it was best to keep him where he was rather than unsettle.
New friend at new yard was up all night and was even trying to find help ie livery close to us.
So so lucky most people say oh well the weather forcast did say. But this wasnt down to weather but my lack of checking wheel nuts. The snow only added to delays behind.
Just seeing if i can fix lorry now. Def not moving anywhere in a hurry fast!!
 
I still can't believe they tow you like that :eek:

I woudl have wanted to reload, but then mine is ok to load I guess. I have to to load on the motorway before, but towing wasn't raised as the trailer was kaput :eek:

A similar thing nearly happened to me and the OH with our 4x4 - we'd had to change the tyre, but didn't stop to retighten the nuts after a few miles - we lost two wheel nuts, and the rest of them were grimly hanging on by the time we noticed. These things happen, they shouldn't admittedly, but we are only human! :)

I'm sure you won't let this happen again! :)
 
Stencilface said:
I still can't believe they tow you like that :eek:

I woudl have wanted to reload, but then mine is ok to load I guess. I have to to load on the motorway before, but towing wasn't raised as the trailer was kaput :eek:

A similar thing nearly happened to me and the OH with our 4x4 - we'd had to change the tyre, but didn't stop to retighten the nuts after a few miles - we lost two wheel nuts, and the rest of them were grimly hanging on by the time we noticed. These things happen, they shouldn't admittedly, but we are only human! :)

I'm sure you won't let this happen again! :)
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Yup ill will be more than carefull!!!
The second lorry driver started arguing with 1st when he saw position on lorry and we said 17.1h live horse was on board (by this point in deep snow)
I just broke them up n said whatever we need to do do it now pls my horse could die. And my baby is kicking! And they apoplogised. and called for more help. Rolls eyes to be fair the 1st guy had no choice police were lecturing them i shd have been collected within the legal 2hr frm hard shoulder so he just wanted us off motorway
 
oh lord what a nightmare for you....can,t believe you did the trip on your own what a trek, I would have been cr*pping myself.I hate going on motorways with the box, towing is horrible anyhow as when big trucks come past it feels like its gonna swing out:eek:.I tow twice a week to lessons but only go 15 mins up the road...so your trip would be my WORST nightmare,glad you got back home safe xxxxx
 
Very lucky for you and glad everyone got home in one piece, but I can't believe they towed a horsebox with a horse IN! They are NOT supposed to do that at all, I don't believe it is actually allowed/legal. A proper insurance company with recovery ensures the horse is transferred to another horsebox whilst the broken one is towed/put on low loader. They really should not have done what they did at all.
 
ladyt25 said:
Very lucky for you and glad everyone got home in one piece, but I can't believe they towed a horsebox with a horse IN! They are NOT supposed to do that at all, I don't believe it is actually allowed/legal. A proper insurance company with recovery ensures the horse is transferred to another horsebox whilst the broken one is towed/put on low loader. They really should not have done what they did at all.
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indeed and with it sitting at such an angle too Just glad its all over Puts are on my profile album shame i didnt get one of it 1st on low loader with wheel off
 
God, you are very lucky nothing went wrong as I don't think they would have been covered at all. I don't think it's even legal to do what they did - I recall when I worked for insurers we were looking at adding recovery to pur horsebox cover and this is when we found out some of the recoveries do this and we were advised by a proper company that it is not legal.
 
How awful for you, sounds absolutely terrifying. Hopefully this will remind people that anything really can happen though. Have seen the pictures too, not nice :( So glad both you and your horse and both safe and sound though, you are very lucky indeed
 
You were extremely lucky, firstly that nothing happend to you or your baby and also that no one else was injured by the wheels coming off...

There is a very simple and inexpensive way to prevent this from happening, you can use 'Checkpoint Wheel Nut Indicators' they cost around 30p each and you will need one for every wheel nut on your vehicle... so for the sake of a few pounds you can save yourself a potential accident and hours of waiting for recovery...

The photo below shows what I mean and you can clearly see on the photo which of the wheel nuts have moved... (the ones on the left)

Next time you're out and about, keep your eye out for HGV's... most of them use these on there wheel nuts.

But if your vehicle was maintained regularly then this sort of this would of been picked up on straight away, as it is and should be one of the most important parts of any inspection/maintenance which is checked.

You should always check over your vehicle even when popping out to a local show and more importantly when you are travelling the length of the country, this is your responsibility... you were very very lucky this time.

wheelpointers.jpg
 
What a nightmare for you very glad you made it home safely in the end.I would be interested to know who you have your breakdown cover with as others have said towing this way with the horse on board is not allowed except only the shortest distance to find a safe place to off load the horse. although i do appreciate in the circumstances they may have had problems finding a transporter for you.What we have done in the past when we have been called out to a breakdown & the horse is a difficult loader is to drop one ramp across the other & the horse can then walk across into our lorry,just a thought if you are unfortunate enough to be in the same situation again.
 
Omg sounds terrifying, so glad you and your boy are safe!

edit; I just had a look at the pictures and he must have behaved like an absolute angel getting towed at that angle for so far!! Sure a lot of horses would have had something to say about it! As others have mentioned i'm pretty sure they're not supposed to tow you like that, but at least you got back safe and sound. What a good lad, you must have been so relieved to be back home after your nightmare journey.
 
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The indicators are good/ or you can tap the nuts with a small hammer should make a ting noise if they are tight, a dull clack if they are loose !! another sign of problems is rust streaks from and round the nuts , seems that people (Idiots) in tyre places are very good at just winding them on with an air gun, a perfect recipe for wheel loss!!, if the threads are rusted they should be wire brushed along with the mating flange/hub and a little oil applied to the nuts, they should then go on easly by hand and be tightend to the correct settings with a torque wrench then re checked after a few miles if this is done the chance of wheel loss is remote and they can be removed again without problems if need be .....
 
glad you got to your destination. but it really makes a joke of the ACET or the CET that us proffesionals have to do! or the SVS 1 or 2 that we have to hold. did you not do a journey log? with stop over point? with breakdown services at various points? vet details on route? available stabling en route? etc etc? and as for driving hours???????????????????
 
ofcourseyoucan said:
glad you got to your destination. but it really makes a joke of the ACET or the CET that us proffesionals have to do! or the SVS 1 or 2 that we have to hold. did you not do a journey log? with stop over point? with breakdown services at various points? vet details on route? available stabling en route? etc etc? and as for driving hours???????????????????
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So it wouldent hapen to you you profesional perfect person with a 100% reliable and safe lorry!!!! The op did NOT break any laws she maybe should have checked the lorry or maybe most likelely sufferd from a mecanical failure ...could happen to anyone !! I know owner drivers who are anal about their trucks and mainternance and they have lost wheels off trailers and suffered blow outs so I dont think your comments are very fair to someone who had a misfortune that ended without loss or injury to people or horse...
 
perfect11s said:
The indicators are good/ or you can tap the nuts with a small hammer should make a ting noise if they are tight, a dull clack if they are loose !! another sign of problems is rust streaks from and round the nuts , seems that people (Idiots) in tyre places are very good at just winding them on with an air gun, a perfect recipe for wheel loss!!, if the threads are rusted they should be wire brushed along with the mating flange/hub and a little oil applied to the nuts, they should then go on easly by hand and be tightend to the correct settings with a torque wrench then re checked after a few miles if this is done the chance of wheel loss is remote and they can be removed again without problems if need be .....
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I would go for indicators personally... as I do, simpley because they are a visual reminder and stand out if something isn't quite right. Tapping the ole toffee hammer works too, you just need to 'remember' tap and check the nuts in the first place lol I'm guessing if this had of been done then this thread wouldn't exist! I'm guessing VOSA were otherwise engaged on a tea break during this nightmare lol
 
i think i would know (or i hope i would!!) that my back wheels had fallen off!!! and yes i would have a contact for over night stabling and vets on route! from scotland to surrey i would expect at least 2 stops and checks but hey ho as private lorry owners you can flout all the safety laws, drive over hours regardless to the cargo on board, and all in a 25 + yr old lorry???????????????????????????
 
ofcourseyoucan said:
i think i would know (or i hope i would!!) that my back wheels had fallen off!!! and yes i would have a contact for over night stabling and vets on route! from scotland to surrey i would expect at least 2 stops and checks but hey ho as private lorry owners you can flout all the safety laws, drive over hours regardless to the cargo on board, and all in a 25 + yr old lorry???????????????????????????
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So your point is????? what laws has The op flouted if private own horse and lorry???? Its not realy a police state yet......
 
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Thank you for all tips on future safety peeps
I made the same trip but in reverse 4 wks prior in 8hrs and that included 3 20 min stops to rest n check horse
I am going to be looking further into how recovery was handled as I use a supposide specialist in horsebox recovery and it was anything but But to be honest still just glad we made it
Knew the lectures would come
I know after a long trip I shd have double checked everything but I was up in arms at horse being abandoned by people who ran yard n trains bn delayed getting there I hate the drive even by car never mind lorry
My box is regularly serviced but I overlooked the wheel nuts n yes it was the side that was last worked on She may be Old n tatty but she's legal n gets me about well till I messed up last wkend
And yes thank god no other drivers were hit by wheels
U believably lucky but just why I'm flagging my experience up to warn others to take heed check che k n check again you can never be too safe
 
P.s.
I knew when wheel came off too that's why I stopped god you don't think I actually drove on 3 wheels do you lol it's not a reliant robin
Laws I follow safety precautions I take but wasn't aware I was ignoring laws in safety ?? Prob as I wasn't
Oh n I checked recommended mac travel times thanku and was just within limit although there seem to be varying opinions
The point here is everyone n animal was safe in end but I want to warn people to be extra vigilant it's not about acting all high n mighty geez I know plenty well known international riders who transport their horses way longer n further on less prep than I did still they have more sponsors to pay when needed I afraid I'm just a boring girl who loves to cuddle her horse n try my best to care for them n try to learn to ride better lol no big money for me
 
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