http://michiganjeepers.com/eve/ubb.x...=902106753&p=1

My best friend Died today at age of 37 Over a basic simple mistake!
We where at our truckwars/mudbog for The Moonlight stompers On Duffield RD.

After he broke his front end he desided to still play in 2wd. I had left and didn't see it happen but what happend was everyone got in a hurry and lots of trucks stuck with dozers and 6" straps all over the place ...

David was an advacate of safety But we'll never know what went through his head this time... But they broke the cardanal rule os Hooking 2 (small) 3" straps together with a Clevis (wich is like a rocket and what killed him)and David was unfortunate to have the brand new strap on his Jeep (they where out of 6" straps that day so he bought a 3") so when the strap let loose from the other Jeep while David was truned around looking backwards being pulled out from the back...The Clevis hit him in the head and killed him instantly..
He was the nicest man I know and would do anything for anyone!

He was survived by his Wife and 5 yr old Son Both where there the wife seen it happen the son still doesn't know and wont be told untill tomorrow!
I will post funeral arangments tomorrow and would request that anyone who cares PLEASE Show up and pay respects to his family..

He died doing what he loved best and the wife said it would be a blessing to her to see all his friend show suport!

He was the man that came Up to Grandmans and yogies with me....and if anyone has a picture of us in teh Jeep AT ALL could you post it here so we can print it out ...we are doing a clage of him and his Jeep for his wife and also a vidieo of him at all our mud bogs!

We will set up a trust fund for his wife at a later date! I will repost all this info when I get back in town or have my wife do it all becasue im going away for work for 4 weeks But I will get the info to you!

Any donations would be Great! also all vidios of that bog and of the vidieo of Just him will go to his wife!

SO please use this as a warning and be more careful of using to small of a strap while pulling out people..and try to never use a Clevis in the middle..
David knew this but failed to do it this one time probley figureing he wasn't stuck back and it would be ok and he paid for it with his Life!


In loveing Memory of David Wycoff
Aug 19th 1967- Oct 9th 2004

I don't know how to post pics on here but he was the one with the V-8 Purple YJ

I posted this on another Jeep site we go to that i know how to post pics on so you can see it
http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/t...TOPIC_ID=32986



Hello sorry it took so long!

For now I havent got a chance to set up a way to pay on line but you can send your donations to

First national Bank
Hartland MI
48353
F.B.O.
David E.Wyckoff Memorial Fund

 

I'm sorry for the loss. I'm wishing you, your family, and the Wyckoff family my condolences. It is a sobering story of not cutting cornors and that even our sport has conseqences.

 

Im sitting here at my computer reading this and Its a very sad incident. Im very sorry John - I have lost my best friend due to cancer and life is a bit different without him. You and the Wycoff family are in my prayers -and God bless your friend David. Sincerly Tim - 95f250nut

 

Really sorry to hear about that Rebocardo. A lot of guys seem to think these are "urban legends" but it really has happened and it will continue to happen if people aren't really careful. There's no mud worth losing your life over . . . this was a simple mistake that cost dearly. Sad thing is even using the clevis and 2 straps had they thrown a jacket over each strap this would not have happened.

My condolences to all who knew him.

 

David's family and your's are in my prayers. I can't imagine the terrible time Mrs. Wykoff is having, or what she'll have to face tommorow.
In times like this, it's easy to forget the here and now. Stay sharp Bro, you're needed on this planet.
God Bless, Mike

 

thats really rough, i'm very sorry and i'll be sure to think of this every time i got to pull out or be pulled out as a reminder. hopefully everyone else who reads this will learn as well from a very unfortunate mistake.

 

Real sorry to hear that.

My best friends dad was killed in the same way when we were 9 or 10 (now I am almost 22) and believe me, if his kid was close to him like my buddy was to his dad, get him help now! I do not think my friend ever had anyone to talk to, and all I can say is be there for your friends kid.

 

Yea, I saw this posted over at Pirate early in the week. Quite the bummer. This was a repost and not actually anybody you know, wasn't it Rebo?

 

That is just aweful and I feal for the family I just attended one of those functions and there is a lot going on at one it's overwhelming trying to keep your focus I entered a tug of war contest and had some concern myself but was pleasantly surprised that the guy running the event had custom made a bar of very heavy metal with a hitch welded on each end like the ones on a car hauler and they put them on our hitches the bar was about 20 feet long and seemed to provide a safe alternative I only mention this idea to maybe save someone else the tragedy that happened to this family.

 

man, i cant count how many times we have used multiple chains or straps, you never think of things like that when you need to get out of a mud pit. that will make me think twice next time.

Jason

 

there is no words to describe the sorrow i feel for you and your family but i know things will be ok. I know at first it is real hell and you can't make anything logical but all i gots to say is that He has a plan for us all and it must have been time for David to begin his duties in Heaven looking out for you and his family. Also, as was stated before....he died doing what he loved and you prolly wouldn't have been able to hand pick a better time! times like this really make me (dunno about anyone else) step back and take a look at the way i do things. i know i always try to do things the safest but you HAVE to remember.....the SECOND you dont' respect your equipment is the second you could very well lose your life!

i look forward to hearing back from you Rebo....let us know if there is naything we can do. i live in GA so if you give me a place i could very well attend the service if i know where i am going

-cutts-

 

that is a big shame.. I'm sure everyone feels bad about that.. I feel bad for the guy's family and friend...

Probably everyone here does at least one stupid thing everyday, but I hope that every one can learn & remember to properly rig your extraction equipment..

 

It was not my friend! I just reposted what was on the Jeep forum! It just seemed like a tragic, sad, and worthless loss that was 100% preventable. Using shackles like that is something we probably all do time to time to tie straps, which defeats the purpose of a tow strap without hooks.

By all accounts this was a great guy and husband and the loss of his life will be a gut wrenching impact on many lives, all over one stupid mistake. They were a family that Jeeped together. If you follow the links you can find pictures of him and his purple Jeep :-)

I know people sometimes chuckle because when I pull something with a cable or strap I lie across my seat (my truck is armored in the back with 1/8 plate steel) and drive blind. This is the reason. I posted in the hopes it will prevent another 4 wheeler from getting killed or torn up.

 

1 thing to remember when using cables strap chain lay a jacket over it it will cause it to fly low and beneath the truck instead of high and through the truck

 

no not necessarily...all the jacket/blanket does is take the force and devert it down to the ground that way when it breaks all it does is fall straight down or snap a couple of feet and drop

rebo, you had us under the impression that your friend you wheeled with got killed! don't scare us like that again!

-cutts-