Vehicle destroyed at Lake Eyre

Submitted: Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:25
ThreadID: 80587 Views:5768 Replies:9 FollowUps:20
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Received the following in an email on Saturday from a friend currently touring in the north.
They were camped at Muloorina & drove out to the Lake
Sounds like a disaster for the Mitsi drivers. Any one else have any more details


"We ventured out the 50kms to Lake Eyre (atrocious corrugated road) only to arrive to see a car almost completely burnt out and still smoking. Apparently it was a Mitsubishi 4 WD and when the couple from Brisbane had arrived there, they stopped to make a cup of tea and bang, the gas cylinder must leaked on the way, out from the corrugations and have blown up when the fellow lit a cigarette. They were blown backwards and they lost everything. Her bag was in the car with cards etc. all gone. How horrible would that be. Apparently they had a brand new caravan sitting back at Marree, and had just come out to check out the Lake. . I keep on thinking how horrible and traumatic it must have been. There were no tyres left and all the aluminium wheel rims had just melted on the sand. Poor buggers."

Daz
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Reply By: Member - Patrick (QLD) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:34

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:34
They were very lucky that no one was killed.

It is easy to replace a car and personal items than a loved one.

They should buy a 'scatchy' when they return to Brisbane.

Poor buggers!

Patrick
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Reply By: Member - Bucky - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:34

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:34
daz
Definately a tragedy.
I feel very sorry for them, and I cannot imagine their trauma

I hope they escaped without injury.


Bucky
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Reply By: blue one - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:37

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:37
Daz,
That is exactly the reason I moved from gas to duel fuel stoves and lights.

Glad to hear they are ok.

Even though traumatic, everything lost can be replaced.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - daz (SA) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:54

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 09:54
This has made me think a bit.

Where was the gas cylinder,? & if in the vehicle where I suspect it was, the consequences should he have decided on a smoke while driving would have been fatal.


daz
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Follow Up By: ross - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 10:56

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 10:56
I cant see how it would happen if the gas was turned off at the bottle and the installation was approved.
Of the 2 gas bottles I have seen go up,in both cases it was because the hoses to the appliance or bottle were not tight.
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Follow Up By: Road Warrior - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 12:00

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 12:00
Unless the bottle(s) was loosely mounted and the corrugations caused it to be smashed up against something else, breaking the valve??
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Follow Up By: Paul G K (vic) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 18:55

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 18:55
You could have the same thing happen if you spilt the fuel for you duel fuel stove.

Regards Paul
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Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:44

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:44
Nah LPG is heavier than air and pools.
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Follow Up By: Gazal Champion - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:04

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:04
Yah Blue one just like petrol!

There is very little difference in the danger factor with petrol or LPG. Once they have vapourised the behave very similarly. They are heavier than air and pool in low places.

But wouldn't you think the guy would have smelt it, before lighting his cigarette I mean.

Bruce.
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restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Gazal Champion - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:11

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:11
This afternoon I was watching The Gall Boys (Kedron Caravans) Journey to the Kimberly and they had exactly the same thing happen to them because of the corrogations.
That is a gas bottle leaking into the cabin and it was an 80 series as well I think. They got to it before anything dissasterous happened.

But it is a wake up call for anybody travelling with gas bottles inside the cabin.

Mind you it could still happen if placed on the tray of a ute.

Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:39

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:39
Gazal Champion,
There are a couple of important issues that you are not considering.

LPG is under pressure and it leaking will produce a large quantity of product in a relative short amount of time.

Dual fuel systems operate under relatively low pressures which substantially reduces the event of leakage. ie: at atmosphere or marginally above due to temperature.

The calorific content of a pool of LPG to petrol vapour is significantly more which would produce a larger explosion than petrol vapour.

I do prefer dual fuel systems to LPG for the reasons stated above.

Opening a door to grab a stove with a smoke would mask the LPG odour, hence the accident at Lake Eyre.

Again it is fortunate that no one was injured.

Cheers

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Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:48

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 20:48
Just to a lay and other fears all tanks are vented before packing away
.

Regards
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Reply By: Member - MISFIT - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 11:00

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 11:00
we were there when it happened yes they were very lucky not to have been in the vehicle. made everybody rethink where they keep there gas cylinders just fore the record it wasnt a mitsi it was a gu patrol about 2004 vintage
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Follow Up By: Member - daz (SA) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 11:42

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 11:42
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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:31

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:31
Poor buggers!

I would like to think that everyone around them pitched in to help them?

Cheers

Brian

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Follow Up By: pmk03 - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:58

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:58
I was there only hours after as it was still smoking while I was there. No one was there by then I guess they got a lift back to Maree.
I have some pics too but won't bother posting as the one above gives a pretty good idea of the result.
The gas cylinder & stove were set up in the back.......maybe cooking? .. not something I would do....... Well you live & learn.
It was the main topic of coversation around the campfire at the Oasis Caravan Park that night.
Hope things go a little better for the owners in the future & that they learn from the experience.
PMK
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Follow Up By: d04 - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:02

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:02
It is not a gu with that back door
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Follow Up By: d04 - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:03

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:03
Sorry my mistake.
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Follow Up By: pmk03 - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:06

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:06
Have a closer look,,, You can see the small door behind the door with the spare wheel mount on it. I was there..... It is a GU. Probably around 2003
PMK
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Follow Up By: Member - mazcan - Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010 at 16:15

Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010 at 16:15
hi
it's a miracle they were'nt seriously injured just proves that smoking is dangerous not only to the smokers but those nearby
their memory will be scarred for life they will never be able to erase that event

well he wont have to rebuild the nissan motor ??

i have always carried my small gas bottles inside a 10 bucket lined with floor vinyl and a piece of rubber cut to fit in the bottom of the bucket and put the bucket where its near the rear of the ute body and tie it down
done thousand of ks and never had a problem but then i've never smoked

have even seen several smokers with lighted cigarette in the mouth while refuelling a petrol vehicle and lighting a gas bbqs complacency seems to be an issue with some smokers
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Reply By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 13:02

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 13:02
Just goes to show, smoking is no good for you...............
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:53

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:53
mostly because of what it does to your sense of smell

any non smoker with a blocked nose can pick the smell of gas well before it gets close to being enough to ignite

the aromatics added to gas are specifically chosen for that reason
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Reply By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:29

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 19:29
We camped at Muloorina about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and drove out to the Lake. There are signs saying no trailers on that road, so we left our trailers back at the camp, but I would have happily towed my Tvan if it was not sign posted not to. It is a corrugated road, but "atrocious"?? dunno about that, I thought it was OK as far as outback roads go.

But I digress...... my heart goes out to the family who lost their truck. Luckily they were not badly injured if I understand it correctly? If (that's "IF") they had transported the bottle inside the truck, that's a tragic mistake to have made. Any one of us could "possibly" have made the same error at some stage. Poor bloke must feel terrible over it. And he has to live with that as well.

I agree with Daz.... Poor buggers!

Brian


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Reply By: Member - Ian H (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:36

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 21:36
I also am very happy that there was only minor injuries. It could have been so much worse.
Not that long ago I posted on here about the risks of carrying LPG or propane gas cylinders inside any vehicle following the death of a your friend of ours in similar circumstances. I was howled down as a doom sayer. Some even said they had been doing it for 30 years with no problem so why stop now. This incident proves that it does happen and when you least expect it.
I carry our cylinders outside the car for this very reason.
Be warned.
Ian
AnswerID: 426680

Follow Up By: Andrew & Jen - Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 22:17

Sunday, Aug 08, 2010 at 22:17
But the question is "Where do you store them?" If on the roof rack, the system you use to secure them needs to take into account what happens in an accident. Car stops suddenly (head on or roll over) and 14kg steel gas bottle continues on at 100kph - potentially quite lethal! Strength of securing system involved probably needs to be well over SWL of 200kgs
Regards
A
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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Monday, Aug 09, 2010 at 07:43

Monday, Aug 09, 2010 at 07:43
FWIW, I'm with you Ian. To anyone that disagrees, well, you do it your way and I'll do it mine. LPG is a dangerous substance if not treated with respect. Like a great many other dangerous substances.

Where do you store them? IMO not on the roof rack. (Although I did carry one on the roof rack on a previous trip, I decided back then not to do it again.) Perhaps a custom rack on the rear bar maybe? Dunno.... mine are on the Tvan draw bar, on our 6 week trip that just ended, I checked the sealing caps daily and many times found them and the bottle valves loose. Corrugations do many things to your rig!Consider that the poor buggers who lost their GU could still have it if they had either stored the bottle elsewhere or vented the truck before cooking, or maybe stopped smoking prior to their trip.

Again, at least they are alive!

Cheers

Brian
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Reply By: Member - Salt grinder - Monday, Aug 09, 2010 at 02:07

Monday, Aug 09, 2010 at 02:07
Firstly,let me say that I'm sad that this happened . . . . what ever the reason, and most of us don't know the exact circumstances of what actually happened. We all have own own interpretations of the circumstances.

But the lesson is, and this is the positive we take from every misfortune in life, that we really have to be aware and think about where we are and what we are doing.

There is one basic rule for survival in the (really) remote outback, and that is, everything you do has a consequence, it has a "what if" factor. Think about it.

I guess experience ie. time in the outback . . . . what speed, what tire pressure, how much water, what type of tyres, how to carry extra fuel, etc etc etc, whatever, it's all about experience. Some learn the lesson the hard way, others, drive (or act) according to the conditions, ie. they're observant.

We came back from the Cape (Y) earlier this year, and I was amazed to pass 2 vehicles, in quite separate places, which had rolled (fallen over) from speed on corners that were quite coruagated. Yes, it must have been frightening, but it happened because of (a) speed and (b) inexperience. The fortunate part was that this happened on remote roads . . . . it would have been much worse out in the Gibson Desert etc.

So let us remain focused on what we are "out there" for. Make sure that when planning, or on the road out there, to apply the "what if " rule. We should aim to be independent and capable of survival. Make sure that we are not the ones to finish upon ExOz because "we didn't think it could happen to us'

Every negative has a positive . . . . learn the lesson.

I hope the poor buggers got the insurance money and get to give it another go, it's such a beautiful place "out there".


I'm off the soap box now, I just get peeed off with all the flimsey excuses.
Gee I'm a tough old bst ...... I know that.

Live the life, wind down the windows and breath the air. You wont do it any better than in this great land.
I sometimes question my sanity . . . . and then it answers back.
Carpe diem

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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Monday, Aug 09, 2010 at 07:46

Monday, Aug 09, 2010 at 07:46
A very thoughtful and well written post mate.

And spot on IMHO!

Cheers

Brian

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Reply By: Member - David P (WA) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 00:25

Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 00:25
I was concerned about this and some time ago made up a secondary cap for my gas cylinder. I used a fitting into which I put a screw into the hole in the centre. This blocks the hole and with the washer keeps the two halves together.



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