Hmmmmmm NOW What ?
- Thread starter QFour
- Start date
scampa
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,580
- Likes
- 1,211
Call the fire brigade, or more likely (unless anyone is in immediate danger) a good recovery truck.
Then, first of all, ANCHOR it securely, either to several of those handy trees, or to the recovery vehicle (which hopefully will have it's handbrake on, and some hefty wheel-chocks!). If you tried to lift it before it was anchored firmly, there's a chance that you might alter it's balance just enough to send it into the water, which would be very embarrassing!
You could then try lifting it (but only if you'd decided that it would help). From the photo, it looks as though you'd struggle to get trolley jacks under it in a position that was far enough forward to lift the front end (although you MAY be able to jack a couple of inches, insert chocks & blocks, then reposition the jacks a few inches forwards, jack again, & repeat a few times until you raised the front end). A decent recovery truck, or fire brigade rescue vehicle would carry a selection of inflatable airbags, that should fit easily enough under the chassis, directly below that front o/s window. You could raise it with the airbags, chock & block it, then replace the airbags with trolley jacks or similar to allow it to roll as you winched it back onto the quayside.
If it was up to me, I wouldn't bother with ANY of that jacking or lifting. It would give very little, if any advantage, unless, for example, the engine's sump, or transmission housing was hanging so low that it prevented you from winching back in that position (because it would jam against the quayside), OR unless you judged that FURTHER serious damage may be done to the vehicle otherwise.
I would then get someone to keep the owners occupied, or turn the radio up to full volume, so that they wouldn't be alarmed by the loud scraping noises as I winched it quite easily back onto the quayside!
Of course, you could try getting a friendly truck driver to tow you straight back, but generally winching is much safer and much more controlled.
Alternatively, I would just phone the motorhome hire company, and tell them that I've changed my mind!!
Then, first of all, ANCHOR it securely, either to several of those handy trees, or to the recovery vehicle (which hopefully will have it's handbrake on, and some hefty wheel-chocks!). If you tried to lift it before it was anchored firmly, there's a chance that you might alter it's balance just enough to send it into the water, which would be very embarrassing!
You could then try lifting it (but only if you'd decided that it would help). From the photo, it looks as though you'd struggle to get trolley jacks under it in a position that was far enough forward to lift the front end (although you MAY be able to jack a couple of inches, insert chocks & blocks, then reposition the jacks a few inches forwards, jack again, & repeat a few times until you raised the front end). A decent recovery truck, or fire brigade rescue vehicle would carry a selection of inflatable airbags, that should fit easily enough under the chassis, directly below that front o/s window. You could raise it with the airbags, chock & block it, then replace the airbags with trolley jacks or similar to allow it to roll as you winched it back onto the quayside.
If it was up to me, I wouldn't bother with ANY of that jacking or lifting. It would give very little, if any advantage, unless, for example, the engine's sump, or transmission housing was hanging so low that it prevented you from winching back in that position (because it would jam against the quayside), OR unless you judged that FURTHER serious damage may be done to the vehicle otherwise.
I would then get someone to keep the owners occupied, or turn the radio up to full volume, so that they wouldn't be alarmed by the loud scraping noises as I winched it quite easily back onto the quayside!
Of course, you could try getting a friendly truck driver to tow you straight back, but generally winching is much safer and much more controlled.
Alternatively, I would just phone the motorhome hire company, and tell them that I've changed my mind!!
bru
Guest
I only told him if he wanted to empty his waste water he must park over a drain
barryd
Full Member
- Posts
- 19,147
- Likes
- 37,483
Bloody Germans will do anything to get the best riverside view!!
That happened to me once in a hire car. On a campsite in my late 20's. Car full of drunken mates in the early hours, came into the field a bit quick and the grass was wet. I guess I was showing off a bit and the thing just slid and ended up with the front wheels hanging over the edge of a 30 foot cliff with a lake below. It was what has become know as "The Italian Job moment". Slowly we got out (two in the front first). We just went back to the tents and got hammered. The next morning we woke to a dozen or so people gathered around the car and pointing. I waited until they cleared off before recruiting a guy with a landrover to pull it back. Car seemed fine though.
Sometimes when I think of all the daft things I did when I was young it sends a shiver down my spine.
That happened to me once in a hire car. On a campsite in my late 20's. Car full of drunken mates in the early hours, came into the field a bit quick and the grass was wet. I guess I was showing off a bit and the thing just slid and ended up with the front wheels hanging over the edge of a 30 foot cliff with a lake below. It was what has become know as "The Italian Job moment". Slowly we got out (two in the front first). We just went back to the tents and got hammered. The next morning we woke to a dozen or so people gathered around the car and pointing. I waited until they cleared off before recruiting a guy with a landrover to pull it back. Car seemed fine though.
Sometimes when I think of all the daft things I did when I was young it sends a shiver down my spine.
Smaug
Guest
I had a similar one when courting. The battery was dodgy so I deliberately parked at the back of the parking area with a reasonable slope ahead of me - it was a beach car park so sloped to let the waves run off in NW storms. When it came time to take my then GF home I simply rolled forward in second & slipped the clutch. It started & I revved to keep the engine alive & dipped the clutch. but I wasn't quite quick enough to then apply the brakes. Why we don't have 3 feet for when driving manual cars I'll never understand.
Anyway, the front wheels hit the concrete kerb carefully placed to stop idiots driving over the edge & bounced up & over the kerb dropping over the 12" drop the far side & landing with a fair old crunch on what were pretty rotten sills that allegedly formed a major structural part of the car in those far gone days. Even with rear wheel drive I was never going to drag it back over the kerb backwards, the wheels with their bald tyres (long before compulsory MoTs) simply span. I called a mate who thought it was hilarious, took the pee mercilessly but very efficiently hoiked me off.
If that kerb hadn't been there I may have had time to toe & heel the brake & accelerator before dropping down the embankment, but I may not which would have been a whole different outcome! :scared:
Anyway, the front wheels hit the concrete kerb carefully placed to stop idiots driving over the edge & bounced up & over the kerb dropping over the 12" drop the far side & landing with a fair old crunch on what were pretty rotten sills that allegedly formed a major structural part of the car in those far gone days. Even with rear wheel drive I was never going to drag it back over the kerb backwards, the wheels with their bald tyres (long before compulsory MoTs) simply span. I called a mate who thought it was hilarious, took the pee mercilessly but very efficiently hoiked me off.
If that kerb hadn't been there I may have had time to toe & heel the brake & accelerator before dropping down the embankment, but I may not which would have been a whole different outcome! :scared:
Deleted member 25439
Guest
Having a mate called William with a helicopter might help.
m1cxf
Guest
Could always try the old method of washing it with petrol and using a match to dry it off!!!!!!
