Updated....how to get out of a minor sinkhole....

John316 · April 08, 2011, 08:26:57 AM

Boomer and Clifford, thanks for the suggestion. We would have done it, in a heartbeat, except for one thing. We are back in the states in Minot, ND. We will be up here in the Dakota's for two weeks, before heading south again.

Do you guys have any more suggestions for us? I agree, I would like a qualified shop, that knows frames, to look over it.

Chev, actually, we tried jacking it. The problem was, when you put something underneath, it just started to disappear. At one point, the wrecker lifted the back of the bus, and put blocks underneath. Those 6x6 just started to disappear into the ground. Anything that we put under the tires, disappeared. It was a mess.

Thanks,

John

Busted Knuckle · April 08, 2011, 02:07:28 PM

Motor Coach Industries
552 West Stutsman Street
Pembina, ND 58271-4308
(701) 825-6234

Tenor · April 08, 2011, 02:25:58 PM

That street looks like "Radiator Springs" after Lightning McQueen went through it in the movie "Cars"!

Glenn

thomasinnv · April 08, 2011, 05:26:32 PM

MCI's have frames? what?!?

John316 · April 08, 2011, 06:05:01 PM

Thanks for the idea, BK.

Tenor, the street was a MESS. I will see if I can get a pic of the whole thing.

Thomas, if it would have been any lessor frame, or a S&S, I would be selling a bus (with a nice engine and tranny) for scrap.

So for the recap on how to get out of a minor sinkhole in twelve easy steps

.

1. Pray that your frame is strong.
2. Pray that your frame is strong.
3. Attempt to lift/jack the axles up (probably won't work, if it is a true mush sinkhole).
4. Attempt any other ideas the bystanders have

.
5. Make sure RCMP are on their way for an accident report (LOL, I know, strangest the officer said he has filled out).
6. Call tow truck (big one).
7. Keep attempting to jack bus.
8. Neighbour grills dinner for work crew, while waiting for wrecker.
9. Wrecker arrives, and the operator tries everything he can think of.
10. Decide to go for it and simply drag it out (serious damage may occur).
11. Hitch up wrecker, and pull. Wrecker doesn't have enough power, hitch up loader to wrecker.
12. Both loader and wrecker succeed, but it takes everything both have to get it out.

John316 · April 08, 2011, 06:16:11 PM

And a couple more pics....

Chopper Scott · April 08, 2011, 06:34:36 PM

Amazing pics John! I probably would have used some similar words that you did only in a different order! But I sure would have had a big Amen at the end just as you did! I just wouldn't have imagined something like that happening. Glad to see you are no worse for the wear!

niles500 · April 09, 2011, 12:37:04 AM

How did you get out your door

Gary '79 5C · April 09, 2011, 12:51:20 AM

This is something I can see myself getting in to. Glad you are out without major damages. Quite unbelievable !!

I see someone had the foresight of losing the loader/forklift front tire & getting a road plate to spread the load (second pic). I will save all from the stories of losing the rescue vehicle in the same predicament as the initial vehicle.

From looking at the rut/hole after the bus was removed, did not appear to have residual water. Could this have been from thawing, as mentioned earlier ??

Very Good to see you and your beautiful coach are out.

Depewtee · April 09, 2011, 04:27:38 AM

Quote from: niles500 on April 09, 2011, 12:37:04 AM
How did you get out your door

I see a step ladder next to an open curbside rear window...

Brian S.

pipopak · April 09, 2011, 04:30:01 AM

After seeing all the mess I wonder: is it possible to have a set of lifting hooks installed at the front and rear bumpers, obviously connected to the frame?. They are not pretty, but surely would have helped.

opus · April 09, 2011, 07:21:34 AM

The wrecker couldnt winch it out?

John316 · April 09, 2011, 08:12:22 AM

Niles, we used a ladder, and got out of the back window.

Gary, the pic was of the rut on the "firm" side. The other side (I will see what pics I have) was filled with water. So it was a combination problem.

Pipopak and opus, that is what we resorted to. I will post pics of the wrecker. The problem was, we risked HUGE amounts of damage, just dragging it out. When we exhausted every other option, we had to resort to that method. And amazingly it worked.

We were very blessed that we didn't have much damage. Just some minor body damage.

opus · April 09, 2011, 09:39:18 AM

I did heavy recovery for a 10 years, which is why I asked. I would never attempt to pull that out by any mean other than winching. You'd sure better have an experienced operator when it comes to the situation that you found yourself in.

John316 · April 09, 2011, 10:05:26 AM

One other thing, we used the MCI factory tow hooks, on the front for the final winch.

The winching was the last resort, because of how firmly it was in. It could have caused a lot of damage. But we did have a very good operator, and that was his last ditch effort. He first tried to lift the axles out, but it was causing more damage.