Sunday, February 20, 2011

Fire safety

I was on my way to Costco yesterday.

I passed an old Ford pickup. It had been modified so the ENTIRE BACK OF THE TRUCK was gone. They'd shortened the axle, and had the rear wheels under the cab.

They had the gas tank welded to the roof of the cab, with fuel lines running down over the windshield to the engine. There was no hood.

The windows were open. The driver was smoking.

57 comments:

Kate said...

There's no way that's legal; is there?

OMDG said...

What an amazing feat of engineering....

Donna said...

Ah, a Darwin Award winner in the making!

Grumpy, M.D. said...

Probably not legal. But I doubt the driver cares, either.

Jasper said...

It proves that even with all the advances in the medical field Darwin's theory still holds...

danielle said...

No photo?????!!!!!!

Claire said...

I think it fits that he was smoking. If his little rebuild project didn't kill him how, he is making sure the groundwork is laid for a nasty death later.

DaddyBear said...

Hey y'all! Watch this!

Unknown said...

You gotta be in redneck country. You know you are in redneck country when you see a couch driving down the road.

Anonymous said...

Give a heads up to the local burn unit.

I don't understand the reason for the modification. Back beds of pick up trucks aren't THAT heavy (maybe uppping his mpg), so I'm guess subgenius was in an accident which removed the back half of the truck.

Nothing like doing your own cremation.

SkullCandy

Anonymous said...

The next sound you hear ....

--Queen Anne's Lace

KYLady said...

Was he wearing his seatbelt?

M2 said...

Now that's what I call a handcrafted artisanal pickup truck.

ttulizzy said...

Ugh, that's insane. It reminds of the time recently when I stopped to get gas at a place in the little town where I live and the guy at the pump in front of me was filling up a gas can in the back of his pick-up. With a cigarette in his mouth.

I was amazed, appalled and honestly...scared.

I was already in the process of filling up my car when I noticed him. After I picked up my mouth from the ground, I stopped, finished the transaction and drove off!

People are crazy!

Loth said...

Photos! We needed PHOTOS of this!

thatsit said...

Boom!

Crazed Nitwit said...

Cracking up at the comments.

Kat's Kats said...

But man! It was a dare!!

Deena said...

Maybe that's the same guy I saw pumping gas with a lit cigarette in his hand. I couldn't get away from that gas station fast enough.

ERP said...

Are you sure it was not a stolen bumper car?

myoclonicjerk said...

M2, well said.

SuFu PhD said...

M2, bravo

+1

Li'l Azathoth said...

So by putting the gas tank on the roof, the driver can save the weight of a fuel pump. Pretty clever. Of course, that might make it a little top-heavy, especially with the extremely short wheelbase, and there's always the matter of the increased cross-section exposed to the wind. But as long as he drives 10 mph on smooth roads on a perfectly still day, he should be fine. As long as there's no rain, since he won't be able to use his windshield wipers. And as long as he doesn't smoke.

Anonymous said...

I assume he was on his way to Wal-Mart.

Wayne Conrad said...

Assuming competent workmanship, What makes this a fire hazard? Since 1970, fuel systems are not vented to the atmosphere. They're closed.

watercolordaisy said...

bwahahahaaaaa to M2!!!!!

08armydoc said...

Darwin at his most influential

Anonymous said...

Seriously, no photo??

Not House said...

....wow.

Reminds me of the story of the guy who wanted to see into his fuel tank, so he took his lighter and stuck it down there to get a better look.

Anonymous said...

He was smoking a little glass pipe, right?

Brit said...

And you didn't take a picture!?!

Rathskeller said...

wayne conrad - for one, he now has to fill the gas tank on the roof. So any leakage that drips off during this awkward change is not necessarily his friend. the gas tank is in the sun all day, so you've increased the chance of any gas vapor leaking out, perhaps through a badly made connection. you seem to assume the fellow made every connection competently; I don't.

safety is a series of layers. I can leave the gas cap off my car, and little bad will happen. If this guy leaves his gas cap off, he and his passengers could be immolated.

he'll probably be fine, odds being what they are. but if there's a problem with his set up, it leads to a dreadful death or painful injury.

terri c said...

Is there any hazard left out of this project??? You've got short wheelbase and poor weight distribution, presumably unprotected fuel tank and I don't know how in hell he pumps gas into it, you've got exposed fuel lines, disabled wipers, heaven only knows what level of workmanship, and a driver who smokes right under that tank. Plus, does the thing have any kind of exhaust system? Sounds like an incredible kludge job but I bet it turns on a dime. IF he takes it slow.

amy said...

Nice one, M2.

Anonymous said...

Yeah?...but was it cool?

Ben S said...

Sounds like he was trying to make a DIY Smart Car, I'd like to second the call for the good Doctor to carry a camera with him for such occasions.

Anonymous said...

Stick to what you know Doc. That truck is probably safer than most
in house gas tanks--know what I mean. Oh yea--ever think about
another Job? You seem miserable?

C. said...

Obviously, we dont know where you live, however some states dont have inspection laws.In new york we have ridiculous inspection laws, florida has none. A three wheeled truck, without doors and a gas tank on the roof is just fine.

MsCee said...

picture or it didn't happen. haha, but really, i would love to see a picture of this!

Grumpy, M.D. said...

Look, people, when I'm passing a highly flammable object at 60 mph, I don't want to hit it and die.

So I keep my hands on the steering wheel, NOT my cell phone camera.

Anonymous said...

Those crazy meth heads

Anonymous said...

Trust me, I don't think you'd need to hit it to be afraid it might kill you.

Camille said...

Where I come from that's called "thinning the herd" Priceless!

donna2 said...

Well, If you worked at a burn center; I would say you just got
a peek at your next customer!

WV: He needs to be COPTIV of the police!!

Red said...

Reminds me of when I saw the guy with FF Union tags filling his car up at the local 7-11 - with his 20 year old female companion hanging her cigarette out the opposite side window. Since I am a union FF I wanted to run over and slap him.

Anonymous, I think the doc is pretty healthy. He tells you right up front that he is venting. I get the sense that he enjoys his real work (dealing with patients who need him) but not all of the extra crap that people in the medical field have to deal with. As an outlet his writing is a better therapy than drinking heavily.

mcgee said...

Red Green meets Top Gear.

Anonymous said...

Ah, artisan craftmanship at it's finest.

terri c said...

I did think of one possible additional hazard--he could have put a lightning rod next to the gas tank.

Anonymous said...

Well he survived welding the no-doubt not-quite-empty gas tank onto the roof....

OldSquid said...

If you haven't check out the website peopleofwalmart or something akin to that. This person would fit right in.

The Merry said...

Rathskeller said:
safety is a series of layers.


I misread this originally as "safety is a series of lawyers."

I too want to know what exactly the driver was smoking.

Theansweris U said...

He deserves a Darwin award :D

Anonymous said...

You was staring, so I just waved. It is for sale too.

The Mother said...

But the important question is: pre or post reproduction?

Doris said...

I'd say it sounds like something from Mythbusters, but Jamie is a stickler for safety and doesn't smoke.

Death wish on wheels?

>:p

WV: flarame - siler or gold lame on fire?

donna said...

@annon

I think that any sane person would know that the 'truck' was unsafe!
Come on! BTW: If you read all of his posts you would know he loves his job.

Anonymous said...

Found it.

http://i.imgur.com/fUPKw.jpg

 
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