Cement Block Safety

[papermaker]

With all of the snow and ice people tend to put cement blocks in the back of their trucks for weight to give added traction. If you do this,PLEASE secure these.I lost a classmate several years ago when his truck went off the road in winter. He had several cement blocks in the back of his truck which became projectiles when the truck suddenly stopped. One of the block went through the rear window and struck him in the head. He died at 18 years old 35 years ago. Be safe and use bags of tube sand instead.

[grumpy]

Very true. I saw an accident that a young man was involved in and a radio he had in the back window killed his passenger at a low speed collision. Grump

[Yogie]

I see this everyday at work and try to warn people of the dangers. I also say not to haul anything inside the truck cab that you couldn't take up the side of your head.
Here's what I've done for winter weight for the last 20 years. This pipe is filled with melted solid lead, it'll weigh in between 200 to 300 lbs. The boys at the shop roll their eyes each fall when it's time to bolt it on again.
As you can see, the salt's starting to get to it and the hitch, it's about time for painting again.

[grumpy]

I like that Yogie. Grump

[ricky racer]

With all of the snow and ice people tend to put cement blocks in the back of their trucks for weight to give added traction. If you do this,PLEASE secure these.I lost a classmate several years ago when his truck went off the road in winter. He had several cement blocks in the back of his truck which became projectiles when the truck suddenly stopped. One of the block went through the rear window and struck him in the head. He died at 18 years old 35 years ago. Be safe and use bags of tube sand instead.

The sand tubes setting in the back of an open pick-up bed will collect moisture in the sand and freeze making it as lethal as a cement block. A friend of mine had some sand bags in the back of his pick-up, right next to the cab, a few years ago and while going up a steep hill while off roading, the sand bag which had frozen to the bed, broke free and slid back and bent his tailgate in the middle.