Immediate Help Needed

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

Wow that's quite a machine. How much does it weigh? Can you get some images to show the area where you went through? This is another example of why I have no intentions of ever driving on the ice.

I'd at least have them pull the plugs and drain the block. I'll bet that machine can be made to run without issues. Change all your fluids and your good. Any hydraulics and fuel lines that are under pressure are probably untouched.

Glad too see no one was hurt.

The problem at this point is that it will sit in an impound yard until everything is paid up and squared away. The time to start the flushing and drying process was yesturday, it is possible that someone could still get it running but at a considerable investment, beyond the price at auction. Dan, you are taking the only road that will ensure you piece of mind. After it sits for a week or two or more, I would not touch this with a ten foot pole.

The process to rid an atv of a bath is easy but time consuming. Lots of things to drain and dry out and many, many fluid changes.

Dan, good luck shopping, I was going to say a RZR would be a nice replacement, but after looking at your setup, it would not have enough work in its blood for you. Glad you guys made it out and all is well, you now have quite a story to share.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by jmen24

The problem at this point is that it will sit in an impound yard until everything is paid up and squared away. The time to start the flushing and drying process was yesturday, it is possible that someone could still get it running but at a considerable investment, beyond the price at auction. Dan, you are taking the only road that will ensure you piece of mind. After it sits for a week or two or more, I would not touch this with a ten foot pole.

The process to rid an atv of a bath is easy but time consuming. Lots of things to drain and dry out and many, many fluid changes.

Dan, good luck shopping, I was going to say a RZR would be a nice replacement, but after looking at your setup, it would not have enough work in its blood for you. Glad you guys made it out and all is well, you now have quite a story to share.

Jmen;

You are 100% correct. The time for drying out was immediately after it was pulled. You are also correct that the recovery company hangs on to the vehicle until they are paid by the insurance company. I was actually thinking of paying the recovery people cash myself then submitting a bill to the insurance but not sure that would be the best thing to do at this point.

The other issue is if the Ranger was not kept in a heated garage while in storage. The water in the engine I am certain would have froze and caused all kinds of damage. I think I am doing the right thing by simply allowing my insurance company to handle the entire issue their way.

The RZR is a nice rig, but I need the bed storage area of that the Ranger offers as well as the plowing and pulling aspects I need.

Hopefully I'll have another soon and will be back out enjoying the winter sports again!

Thanks!

Dan

[fatlazyless]

Definately, not having insurance teaches that it is better to have insurance. But, if not insured, probably you never would have gone out to help in the first place, or something like that(?).

[ishoot308]

"That's the way that the uninsured 41% seems to get by, and it usually works out ok."

FLL;

It works out O.K. for these people until someone is injured or killed either in their boat or ATV or the other vehicle which they hit and damaged.

Insurance for boats and ATV's is extremely short money. My fully covered Ranger premium was about $100.00 per year. If you can afford a boat or ATV you certainly should be able to afford the insurance to go along with it.

Dan

[hazelnut]

WOW! Just got back from a trip out west and what a lot of reading to catch up on.
Dan first off I am so glad you and your passengers are all ok. I did read your posts on the ice conditions and I was wondering if the lake as a whole is safe? I want to get back up and out there but I was looking for reports from different parts of the lake. Is there a general thickness around the lake now. Has the lack of snow had a positive or negative impact on what was half decent thickness prior to the rain storm that cost us 2 +/- inches of ice?

Thanks for the info and thank god Dan you are safe and dry!!!!

[ishoot308]

Hi Hazelnut;

Thank you for your concern.

I can only comment on the ice in the areas where I have physically checked. That area is around Welch island, Lockes island, Smith Cove and Belknap point. There is plenty of safe ice in these areas for walking, snowmobiling, ATV'ing, etc, etc. Yes vehicles are driving all around these areas but I do not recommend that.

From the holes I have cut there is anywhere from 14" - 18" of solid black ice is in these areas. Obviously in and around dock areas with aerators and especially pressure reefs which seem much worse this year than in years past, care needs to be taken.

Probably the area with the thinnest ice would be the broads side of Rattlesnake island. I know it's frozen but have no idea how much ice is there. I have been told by fisherman how much is there, but really would rather not pass on second hand information where someones safety may come into play. Better off to hear it from someone who has physically checked it.

The lack of snow in my opinion has allowed the lake to freeze a little quicker. We have not had any extremely cold days as of late, yet the ice keeps increasing every week we go out and it's good solid ice.

Please be careful around the reefs!

Dan