| Author | Message | ||
| Nick Russell (66.82.9.37)
Rating: N/A |
Just in case the subject ever comes up, or you need to win a barroom bet or something, YES, yes can get a 40 foot MCI 8 bus stuck on a steep hill in such a way that the front tires are on the ground, the back bumper is on the ground, and the drive wheels are off the ground!!!! When this happens you reach a new degree of stuck the likes of which you cannot imagine!!!! I wish I could blame the directions to the Bremerton, Washington Elks Lodge that are published in the Carmichael directory, but I have only myself to blame. Yesterday we came into Bremerton and planned on staying at the Elks RV park to rest up a few days after Life on Wheels. The directions in the book leave something to be desired, but as I read them, they said to turn right on a certain street. So I did, only to learn the street was one block long before it turned into a short STEEP hill! Terry told me to stop, unhook the truck from behind the bus and back out onto the main street, (which is a very busy road) and go around some way or other, but I insisted I could probably just drive up the hill. I WAS WRONG. I WAS VERY, VERY WRONG!!! I started up, there was a great grinding and crashing of metal against asphalt, and in seconds we were stuck rock solid. The front tires were up the hill, and the back bumper was wedged tight on the roadway. My tag axle tires barely made contact with the road, and the drive axle tires had maybe 5 inches of air between them and the road!!! Did I mention that our Toyota pickup was attached? I won’t bore you with all the sad, sad details, but suffice it to say the first tow truck the cops called was way too small, and the second truck had to lift the rear of the bus in the air to pull us free. In the process his tow chain nicked a lower radiator hose, and there went all our radiator coolant, and here came the fire department Haz-Mat guys. So while they cleaned up the mess, Terry and I spent about two hours getting the old hose off, buying a new one and putting it on, and replacing many gallons of coolant and water. The folks from the police department, fire department, towing service, and even the newspaper reporter were all friendly. The cops said they were not going to give me a ticket, since they felt the towing bill would be punishment enough. (They also mentioned my wife probably had dinner and roses in her very near future.) | ||
| two dogs (65.179.193.16) Rating: N/A |
Don't ya' hate it when that happens....I saw a motorhome do that on a crossover near Casa Grande | ||
| Johnny (65.129.21.13) Rating: N/A |
I saw a guy do that with a lo-pro box truck a few years ago, trying to cross a drainage culvert (he didn't quite make it). He was stunned I was able to pull him free with my old Jeep J-20 pickup.  NEVER underestimate the power of low-range, low gears, & 4WD. | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.240.190) Rating: N/A |
Hey Nick, maybe you oughta' post that here: http://users.rcn.com/tcs.interport// | ||
| busboy (209.128.98.74) Rating: N/A |
Should this happen again (shouldn't!) try this: drain the air tanks, jack up the rear axle, put a ramp of 2x12 boards of various lengths under it, then build up air again, which will lift the bumper. Take care you do not drop the bus on yourself (jacking the rear axle can be dangerous, especially since it is hard to get to the axle when the back bumper is on the ground) and make sure the boards do not cause problems as the bus rolls back (hitting the underside of the bus). I have not done a bus this way but did something like it for a forklift (no I wasn't driving). | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.142.17)
Rating: N/A |
Nick, at times I've mentioned in a few places how you provided the original inspiration for my conversion adventure. I'm sure you'll understand that I have to draw the line right here in terms of further emulation, bub. Now the question is, did Coach-Net laugh or pick up the tab for towing? | ||
| Nick Russell (66.82.9.54)
Rating: N/A |
Chuck, Sure, run out on a guy when the going gets a little tough!!!! Actually, the police called the tow truck, but I also called Coach-Net, and they said to pay the towing company, then send them the receipt for reimbursement. I'm just not sure I can stick them for my ignorance. |