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.
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57 comments:

  1. KateFebruary 20, 2011 at 8:59 AM

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

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  2. OMDGFebruary 20, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    What an amazing feat of engineering....

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  3. DonnaFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    Ah, a Darwin Award winner in the making!

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  4. Grumpy, M.D.February 20, 2011 at 9:02 AM

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

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  5. JasperFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:04 AM

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

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  6. danielleFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:08 AM

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

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  7. ClaireFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    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.

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  8. DaddyBearFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Hey y'all! Watch this!

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  9. UnknownFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:16 AM

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

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  10. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    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

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  11. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    The next sound you hear ....

    --Queen Anne's Lace

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  12. KYLadyFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Was he wearing his seatbelt?

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  13. M2February 20, 2011 at 9:59 AM

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

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  14. ttulizzyFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    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!

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  15. LothFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    Photos! We needed PHOTOS of this!

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  16. thatsitFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    Boom!

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  17. Crazed NitwitFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    Cracking up at the comments.

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  18. Kat's KatsFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    But man! It was a dare!!

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  19. DeenaFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    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.

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  20. ERPFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    Are you sure it was not a stolen bumper car?

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  21. myoclonicjerkFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    M2, well said.

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  22. SuFu PhDFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    M2, bravo

    +1

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  23. Li'l AzathothFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    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.

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  24. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:22 PM

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

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  25. Wayne ConradFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:28 PM

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

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  26. watercolordaisyFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    bwahahahaaaaa to M2!!!!!

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  27. 08armydocFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    Darwin at his most influential

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  28. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Seriously, no photo??

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  29. Not HouseFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    ....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.

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  30. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    He was smoking a little glass pipe, right?

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  31. BritFebruary 20, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    And you didn't take a picture!?!

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  32. RathskellerFebruary 20, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    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.

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  33. terri cFebruary 20, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    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.

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  34. amyFebruary 20, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Nice one, M2.

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  35. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    Yeah?...but was it cool?

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  36. Ben SFebruary 20, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    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.

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  37. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    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?

    ReplyDelete
  38. C.February 20, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    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.

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  39. MsCeeFebruary 20, 2011 at 7:20 PM

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

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  40. Grumpy, M.D.February 20, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    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.

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  41. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    Those crazy meth heads

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  42. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:12 PM

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

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  43. CamilleFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:29 PM

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

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  44. donna2February 20, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    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!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. RedFebruary 20, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    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.

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  46. mcgeeFebruary 20, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Red Green meets Top Gear.

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  47. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Ah, artisan craftmanship at it's finest.

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  48. terri cFebruary 21, 2011 at 3:12 AM

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

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  49. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2011 at 5:41 AM

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

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  50. OldSquidFebruary 21, 2011 at 7:28 AM

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

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  51. The MerryFebruary 21, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    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.

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  52. Theansweris UFebruary 21, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    He deserves a Darwin award :D

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  53. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2011 at 12:38 PM

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

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  54. The MotherFebruary 21, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    But the important question is: pre or post reproduction?

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  55. DorisFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    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?

    ReplyDelete
  56. donnaFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    @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.

    ReplyDelete
  57. AnonymousMay 28, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Found it.

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

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?