Sad Safety Reminder

[Pete Masterson]

We have similar oil-change places here. Most require you to get out of the car and the attendant drives over the pit -- a few have you sit in the car while they go about the service (with the request that you do _not_ get out of the car. 

All of the pits (in these facilities) have metal grates that prevent anyone from falling in. The service is performed by sliding a grate out of the way to access the bottom of the vehicle. The design has the pit more like a basement, with a separate stairway (for the employees) to enter and leave the basement area with access to 2 or 3 service 'slots' cut into the "roof" of the basement.

I had assumed that most quickie-oil change places (in other states) were similar, but the design may reflect CA building code for such structures. I haven't really looked at similar business in other states...

While I admit having a service pit "would be nice" -- it ain't going to happen for me. My current home actually doesn't have a place on the property where I can put the bus (due to the slope of the land -- I live on a STEEP hill). Indeed, the coach is parked in front of the house on the street. (I'm in the county, not a city, so there's no enforcement of parking term rules although a nominal 10 day limit applies throughout the state.) Due to the slope, I run my power cable from a plug on the front of the house over the top of the coach (tying it to the goat rails). With the slope, the cable is about 10' above the sidewalk, so there's no problem with those passing by...

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 10, 2008, at 6:01 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

I think you are entirely correct about the pits.  I use a quick 

change oil place to have the oil in my cars changed.  They have a pit 

which you drive over. It's situated in a garage with a garage door in 

front of and in back of the pit (drive thru). <snip>