I drowned the Explorer
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 12:41
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Baz (NSW)
The Wollondilly river claimed the Explorer on Saturday while out exploring tracks in the area the only downer for our hols , it was the crossing on the return journey that claimed us in hindsight should have put a blind on (hindsight is a wonderful thing) but as we made the first crossing with no trouble didn't think it would be a problem.
The only thing at the time that was a worry was while sitting in the car while my mate Mick (thanks Mick aka Fatz your a champion ) was trying to put the shackle on with the snatch strap, was the car filling up with water becoming boyent and rolling in the river as we were near a row of large submerged rocks and my daughter was in the car with me as
well as the dogs, i couldn't open the door because of the current and didn't want to climb out the window and leave her behind either, Mick told me to stay in the car just in case, thank goodness nothing happened and we were pulled out in time .
The car sucked in a gutfull of water and it has bent a pushrod or valve and not to mention the interior is soaked, the water came up to the top of
seat height what a mess .
Sunday and monday was spent trailering the Ford
home and then going back to pick up the campers both me and Mick have campers Ruth (aka Penguins wife thanks Ruth and thanks
Penguin for your vehicle) came down from
Sydney and picked up Micks camper.
To my disbelief it is covered by insurance so instead of thousands $450 excess
Baz.
Reply By: Member - Bradley- Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:02
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:02
Must have been those shoddy trans case repairs !!
Geez champ, bit of a bummer, glad everyone is OK
It was on a marked road ? hence the insurance cover ? What company out of interest?
Handy tip - before crossing, attach the snatch strap to your recovery points and place it up high, ready just in case... Thats if you have another vehicle along.
i agree with the others, get it fixed and send her on its way
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:27
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:27
Yep marked road and crown land, Allianz, seem to be OK so far and we were going to attach the strap before hand but didn't do it hindsight hey still worked out OK thank god.
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Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:23
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:23
Hi Baz
Welcome to the club!!! Its not a nice feeling when your feet are underwater trying to operate the pedals is it. Very glad to hear your insurance will cover it.
I had a situation years ago where i was stuck (lake/
swamp, not fast flowing water) and had water coming in the doors. My
snorkel kept the diesel engine running (exhaust was underwater) but the amazing thing was my electric winch actually worked underwater!!!
And I learnt not to keep my winch controller behind the cargo barrier, I had to climb out the my door window, over the roof and opened the rear doors to get the winch controller. Once I got myself out, had to drainbleepe loads of stinking
swamp water out of the door sills, lower panels etc and also checked all oils (all OK). Even though the standard 80 series are vinyl floors, they still have cloth type underlay that took days to dry out.
But I was very lucky overall, no damage apart from pride and some hard learnt lessons! Hope your vehicle comes back OK, but i think you were a bit deeper than me!
Cheers
Captain
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:09
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:09
Not a club i really wanted to join but
well $hit happens, first thing we did when we got back to
camp was drain the oil, take out the plugs and try to turn it over to blow the water out but it wouldn't turn, a lot of water came out of the oil and it stinks too and the inside of the car smells really bad not the sweetest smelling river water.
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Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:49
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:49
Allianz is our insurer greenslip as
well it came as a shock to me, as i said to the guy on the phone i didn't think that dumb ar$e acts would be covered but they are, also we were on crown land and the river is crown land too public road so to speak, you can't own a river.
The first crossing was a cake walk and it was walked first too, i think what swamped us was the going in off the bank on the other side coming back as it was a little steeper on the approach so the front of the car was more submerged than when we came in on the other side it was a more smoother and flatter approach.
There is a possibility the Explorer might be written off as parts are so expensive for them, not sure as yet the insurance bloke comes out on thursday to look at the car.
Make a note, next vehicle must have a "snorkle" whatever it may be !!!
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Follow Up By: flappan - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:54
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:54
I have heard of a couple of motors being replaced as you describe , as a result of a major mishap , that involved things other then the motor.
Heard plenty more rejected though . . .
Written off . . . that would n't be SUCH a bad thing . . . fingers crossed . . . maybe sling him a few bucks to make it happen . . .
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Reply By: Member - Sparkie (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:11
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:11
G'day Baz
Sounds like a rotten way to finish your holiday but you seemed to have pulled through OK with insurance.
I know this is off track a bit but up
Bundaberg way late last year we had a double drowning when a person thought he could cross a swollen creek. His vehicle got taken down the creek and the driver managed to escape. The worst part was he had two girls in the car with him and they didn't make it. They were not his own kids either. both childeren drowned.
I know that is awful but be glad you got the vehicle out ok and YOU HAD SOMEONE ELSE THERE WITH YOU who could help you get you out if it went pearshaped.
Sorry for the depressing post but where you were allright someone else was not.
Good luck with the repairs and let us know who the insurance is through. Photos would be nice too but I imagine you would not had taking photos on your mind when you were stuck.
Sparkie(IE not Y) ;-)
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Follow Up By: Member - Sparkie (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:04
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:04
Just heard on the radio not 5 minutes ago the bloke is to be charged with unlawful killing of the two childeren.
Sparkie(IE not Y) ;-)
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:20
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:20
All these things crossed my mind i was ready to abandoned ship dragging nessie out with me but Mick got the strap on just in time so it worked out OK.
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Reply By: Member - Paul J (ACT) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:24
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:24
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, glad to hear everyone is alright. I know what your vehicle is capable of, ive seen it tackle some tough shlt since you fixed the transfer case, i think it was just bad luck on the day, like Mick (ACT) at Yalwal, and all his damage he came out of there with.
Maybe its a good thing if it's written off, and you can move onto something more capable of lugging that Taj Mahal around behind you, hehehe.
Glad you had some good help with you, (Captain Underpants) and Ruth coming down to help as well, good on em!
Talk soon, Paul..
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:38
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 15:38
Captain Underpants to the rescue, it is great what Mick has done for me a true friend and Ruth too very good of her to come down to help, and the camper i think it gets heavier every trip.
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