Bus majorly stuck

[Scott & Heather]

Pulled into my in-laws yard so we can convert our new bus this summer and the MCI 9 Bus drive axle fell into an old septic tank. Just one side. State Farm covers my winch but the tow companies said it's too soft back here to bring in a heavy. So now I'm being told that State Farm doesn't cover the 4wd recovery truck that we need. I'm getting tired of paying for services I can never benefit from. The insurance company keeps winning. I'm slightly annoyed at the moment.


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[buswarrior]

Oh crap!

This whole situation has an odor to it...

on the bright side, there's a bus pit at your in-laws you didn't know you had?

Have a giggle? (except for those insurance thieves, that ticks me too)

You have another bus story few can brag about?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[DKO]

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch!!!

I hate that for you, Scott.

Davy

[Frank @ TX]

Hi Scott,
I wasn't ever stuck like that.
But I've seen others stuck AND unstuck.
What they did was dig a trench for the duals, line it with bricks , blocks, and wood planks.
It's not easy work but a lot easier that tearing out some parts trying to pull on it.
Once you fill the trench with support, jack up the bus until it is level again , fill in the trench
all the way out and then try to drive it out.  Looks like you're need a lot of bricks , blocks and wood.   As I said not an easy project but doable.  You are not the first to be stuck and use this method.  GOOD LUCK.  Have lots of cold beer on hand.  At this part of TX we have a lot of handy man types that work cheap to lessen your back pain.
Frank @ TX

[John316]

Scott,

First off. Normally I would agree with Frank. However, if there is actually a pit underneath, digging won't help you.

Believe it or not, we've been there done that. It took a heavy semi wrecker AND a large loader chained together to pull us out.

If you do not have an actual pit, then yes. A lot of careful digging should do it. The other option? Do you have a buddy that has a concrete plant? Concrete trucks are all axle drive and usually have plenty of traction. That being said, yes. You do have a situation.

Do your in-laws mind a new apartment.

Keep us updated!

John

[chessie4905]

Go to one of those wrecker retreaval companies with your pictures. Maybe they have some suggestions or an inflatable bladder that can lift the rear of that side of the coach so you can put support under it like heavy steel plate.

[muldoonman]

Don't where you are at but a tandem oilfield truck with a winch cable would either pull you out or pull the front of the bus off. They carry a lot of cable on winch and chains on those. A nice big Autocar comes to mind.

[eagle19952]

Maybe the local Volunteer Fire company has a need for a training day... hot dogs and iced tea come to mind... 

[muldoonman]

Maybe the local Volunteer Fire company has a need for a training day... hot dogs and iced tea come to mind... 

I think they put out fires!

[Dave5Cs]

John 316 is an expert in this situation, seriously ( want to see pictures)

Scott we have BTDT. I like Chessie's Air bag idea and then I would once it is up to level fill in the septic hole with gravel and 4 inches of concrete. Let dry a few days and drive out. Hey just saying.
Dave5Cs

[John316]

John 316 is an expert in this situation, seriously ( want to see pictures)

LOL. I KNEW you were going to chime in. Post the pics. We don't own the bus anymore, so good to go.

You have the best idea yet. Given the right setup, just plain jacks and cribbing.

[DoubleEagle]

If the pit has a concrete wall edge in the right place, that might be a good jack point, but it looks like you do not have enough room to work. A rubber bladder would lift, but it might also punch out body or floor panels. The axle is what needs to be lifted. Are there any trees in the vicinity that could be used as a winch post? A heavy duty hand winch or electric winch might do the trick. The driver side rear wheel still seems to be supported, a farm tractor or bulldozer might be able to pull it sideways while it is being winched forward. Are you back in Michigan with this predicament? Does the septic still stink? Inquiring minds want to know.

[chessie4905]

How about a heavy duty piece of pipe that would snugly fit over axle stub, then you could jack on it.

[HB of CJ]

Wow.  Did it ever occur to your to confirm that you had FIRM ground, (like pavement) before you drove where you drove?  You are going to have to rent a big winch truck with a long cable to pull your Bus Conversion to-be out of the ... the ... er ... er ... stuff!  Also probably your insurance will not pay a dime.  Expensive lesson indeed for you.

But do not feel too bad.  I once drove my 1974 Crown Supercoach 40 foot 10 wheeler out onto the firm packed SAND at Crescent City California.  The horseshoe beach just South of the marina.  I knew the retrieval bill would have been $5000 bucks, but I did it anyway.  At 10 mph she floated fine.  Tandem drive. I got away with it.  Yikes!!!

[bobofthenorth]

The first time I parked the frenchy-bus in the back of our yard in town I slid it down tight against my neighbour's 6 foot tall fence.  I used a couple of lengths of 4x6 tubing as tracks for heavy duty floor jacks and a tree as a deadman. When I got the bus up on the jacks I pulled it sideways with the jacks rolling on the tubing. Something similar might be an option for you if you can get a jack past centre on the axle with something to jack against underneath it.

I wouldn't even think of pulling from the front.  If your wrecker operator suggests that I'd thank him and send him home. If you can get a cable to the axle you could pull forward or backward but no way would I hook to the front end and start pulling.