Jim Frame, post: 408018, member: 10 wrote: Ouch -- that arrangement definitely needs a cage. Way too many javelins-in-the-making!
Rods are aligned to they exit through center of windshield!
Until I started there everything was just piled in the back of the trucks. Took me a year to convince them to spend $60 on plywood, a cage request would be like asking for a first born.
A cargo net, bungee cables or winch rope to hold down loose tools would be better than nothing.
Is the entire unit secured to the vehicle?
Currently working out of an '02 Trailblazer. They are smaller inside than they appear from the outside. But it works out well. Gas mileage is horrible, though. I am gonna have to replace it soon.
You guys talking about things flying around in a truck reminded of something that got my crew's attention a number of years ago. We had a green C-20 4x4 Suburban that earned the affectionate nickname "the tank". The box in the back must have used 4 sheets of 3/4" plywood to construct; it was massive.
With an inkling of safety we had 2 by timber "bulkheads" that would keep the rods from forward travel in case of some sort of accident, and they occupied the lowest level of the box. What we didn't take into consideration was the 18" 8 lug studded snow tire spare that sat vertical immediately to the left when you opened the door. It wasn't secured because there were a few hand tools we stored forward of that position and occasionally we had to drag out the spare to retrieve them.
Murphy's Law materialized when the PC looked away in heavy traffic running full tilt and nailed a station wagon stopped in front of us. Even though the box had been "secured" with some 1 x slats and stove bolts, they sheared and the whole box mushed the back seat all the way forward, leaving one compressed rodman squealing like a piglet 'til we could dig him out.
The major damage was the sixty pounds of spare tire that was ejected perfectly out of its resting spot, tore the side of the rear bench seat off and squished the PC's side of the front seat up against the steering wheel so bad he broke a collar bone and a couple of ribs. It was a nasty wreck. I was sitting shotgun with my feet on the dash and actually didn't get hurt much at all.
The 'tank' was replaced and an expanded metal headache rack was professionally installed in all the new trucks after that. Moral of the story: If you have loose crap floating around, make sure it's dull and light.
paden cash, post: 408069, member: 20 wrote: It was a nasty wreck.
What was the fate of the station wagon and its occupants?
Jim Frame, post: 408070, member: 10 wrote: What was the fate of the station wagon and its occupants?
It was a painter on his way home from work. I remember it made a total mess of his wagon (as you could imagine). He was out walking around so I guess he lived. The tank was a '66 model and the wagon we hit was somewhat older I think...something to be said for good old United States Steel.
I do remember it made a big "bang"....
Luke J. Crawford, post: 408047, member: 11382 wrote: Rods are aligned to they exit through center of windshield!
The tripod in the second pic is going to hit the driver in the back of the head. I do like the idea of having the rods on hangers on the side of the box. Especially that shorty.
paden cash, post: 408069, member: 20 wrote: You guys talking about things flying around in a truck reminded of something that got my crew's attention a number of years ago. We had a green C-20 4x4 Suburban that earned the affectionate nickname "the tank". The box in the back must have used 4 sheets of 3/4" plywood to construct; it was massive.
With an inkling of safety we had 2 by timber "bulkheads" that would keep the rods from forward travel in case of some sort of accident, and they occupied the lowest level of the box. What we didn't take into consideration was the 18" 8 lug studded snow tire spare that sat vertical immediately to the left when you opened the door. It wasn't secured because there were a few hand tools we stored forward of that position and occasionally we had to drag out the spare to retrieve them.
Murphy's Law materialized when the PC looked away in heavy traffic running full tilt and nailed a station wagon stopped in front of us. Even though the box had been "secured" with some 1 x slats and stove bolts, they sheared and the whole box mushed the back seat all the way forward, leaving one compressed rodman squealing like a piglet 'til we could dig him out.
The major damage was the sixty pounds of spare tire that was ejected perfectly out of its resting spot, tore the side of the rear bench seat off and squished the PC's side of the front seat up against the steering wheel so bad he broke a collar bone and a couple of ribs. It was a nasty wreck. I was sitting shotgun with my feet on the dash and actually didn't get hurt much at all.
The 'tank' was replaced and an expanded metal headache rack was professionally installed in all the new trucks after that. Moral of the story: If you have loose crap floating around, make sure it's dull and light.
We built our box using 6 sheets of 3/4 sanded pine. It has a bed length drawer which we put on wheels. We carry 6 Trimax tripods. When scanning an investigation scene it's nice having the tripods because then I can just move the scanner from CP to CP without having to setup a tripod every time. Sometimes we set them up all in a row on a traverse, just move the TS over the top of tripods. Difficult setups, only have to do it once.
There is no way I'm carrying all those steel missiles in a SUV type vehicle.
Joe the Surveyor, post: 408066, member: 118 wrote: Currently working out of an '02 Trailblazer. They are smaller inside than they appear from the outside. But it works out well. Gas mileage is horrible, though. I am gonna have to replace it soon.
I have an '06 and the mileage is notable. But I've never had a vehicle with bigger discrepancy re: highway vs. city. If I fill it up, climb on the interstate, and set the cruise control to 75 and drive it till it runs out of gas I'll get almost 30 mpg. In town though it's as bad as the 5.4 in the Silverado (about 12 mpg). But it's a good old I-6: stout as can be. I think it'd pull an aircraft carrier full of lead up pikes peak. For a few short months when I got out of college I was a terrible new car salesman at a Ford dealership- right when they announced the death of the 300. Best motor ever made.
A Harris, post: 408064, member: 81 wrote: A cargo net, bungee cables or winch rope to hold down loose tools would be better than nothing.
Is the entire unit secured to the vehicle?
It is secured, yes. I've done some pretty rough offroading and made many quick stops/turns in MYC, nothing has ever left it's spot but the cones which tipped over.
Mark Mayer, post: 408074, member: 424 wrote: The tripod in the second pic is going to hit the driver in the back of the head. I do like the idea of having the rods on hangers on the side of the box. Especially that shorty.
Tripods load from the back, can't go out the front, it's solid, that's where the Chrome Clad is. I know it's not a perfect solution by any means but the gear doesn't get banged around and everything stays where I put it. We do what we can with what we have sometimes.
Luke J. Crawford, post: 408096, member: 11382 wrote: It is secured, yes. I've done some pretty rough offroading and made many quick stops/turns in MYC, nothing has ever left it's spot but the cones which tipped over.
When you get T-boned, everything will go in every direction. Spikes, nails, stakes, rods, tripods. Don't kid yourself. It is not a question of, if this will happen. The way you are "tempting Murphy" merely makes this a question of when. We criticize because we care.
Brad Ott, post: 408106, member: 197 wrote: When you get T-boned, everything will go in every direction. Spikes, nails, stakes, rods, tripods. Don't kid yourself. It is not a question of, if this will happen. The way you are "tempting Murphy" merely makes this a question of when. We criticize because we care.
Like I said, before this it was just a pile of equipment in the back. I guess I can seek other employment.
I don't see it as criticism, it's more like common sense.
