Tow vehicles and grass fires

[Bill]

With all the wildfires burning in the west, it might be a good time for this reminder. The exhaust system under your tow vehicle - especially the catalytic converter - can get extremely hot. If you pull onto the shoulder of the road, and there is dry grass more than about six inches tall, the grass can ignite if it contacts the hot parts.

I saw this happen a few years ago near the village of Big Elk Meadows, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park. Fortunately the village VFD was able to keep the fire from escalating into a wildfire. But the driver, who had stepped out of his car for a "quick break", was unable to get back in, and within minutes, the car burned to a total loss.

Bill

 

[Padgett]

Sounds like tow cars should have shields on the cats.

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

Sounds like tow cars should have shields on the cats.

They do. It still gets hot.

 

[tentcamper]

Thanks for the info..

 

[B_and_D]

We were talking about the fire extinguisher in the trailer the other night. I guess if you could open the shells quickly enough, it might help if you come upon a situation where that had happened. We've got so much stuff in the truck under the seats, etc, but there might be room for a small fire extinguisher in there too.

 

[Padgett]

Had not realized how much shielding was under my jeep. Think most taels were about the old flat cats.