'As I sit here typing this it is only by the grace of God that I am still breathing. I was getting ready to bring a couple of tractors down to the local show this afternoon. I was planning on bringing my unstyed D and my Case C, both on full steel. I knew better than to try to drive them onto the trailer and was using my winch to load them up. I started with the D any everything was working fine, until the tractor reached the half way point of the trailer (25' dual tandem gooseneck). The trailer/truck must have been sitting with a slightly downhill angle, all of a sudden the tractor started rolling toward me faster than the winch cable was moving, there was only about five feet between me and the front of the trailer by the time I realized what was going on. I tried to get out of the way as soon as I realized what was happening, but even at my relatively youg age (34) I did not move fast enough, the rear tire crushed me between the tractor and the front of the trailer. I was standing sideways when it happened so my pelvis took the brunt of the force, and by some miracle the wheel spikes went on either side of me putting a large gash on the front and back of my hip. I then jumped off the trailer on my stomach about ten feet away. The tractor proceed to fall off the trailer sideways. If I wouldn't have gone as far as I did, this would be my memorial.

I had to call my wife on my cell phone while I was laying on the ground in the front yard as I could not stand up or move on my own. I spent the next three hours in the emergency room and by some miracle, nothing is broken, although I am very badly brused and can only walk a few feet at a time with the help of crutches and pain killers. I'm fortunant to even be able to walk at all. I thought I was doing every thing right, but now I know that you should never load a trailer on even the slightest decline, and I mean slight, you cannot tell there is any slope to the trailer at all with the naked eye.

I was lucky, 1) to still be alive, and 2) to be able to even walk at all. They tell me the pain will get worse before it gets better, and I will be bed ridden for a few days, or more.

I tell you all this just to keep you thinking at all times about worse case scenarios. And remember to hug your family tonight, you just never know...

Feel free to use my posting. The more info there is for people to think about the better. I'm not doing this for sympathy; I want others to be aware of what could (and does) happen no matter how careful you are. The biggest lesson I learned is to leave the front legs down on the trailer when loading something, that helps keep the rear of the truck from squatting down, thus making things roll down hill.

I am starting to be able to put pressure on my legs again, I hope to be walking on my own within a couple of days.'

FINAL NOTE - - - be careful men. This is a great hobby!! Make sure you're around to enjoy it!!!