Rolled Ranger
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:04 pm
So, back in July during a routine run from Prescott to Kingman to get the last of our stuff, we rolled the Ranger. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and no property was damaged (except for the Ranger). We'd been cruising up the scenic route with friends, since they were also headed north, and traveling on good wide road when Dani lost control coming around a turn.
The Ranger was still quite drivable, and we continued to use it for a couple weeks until insurance sent a truck to come get it. Apparently, if you roll, they total it by default regardless of actual damage. While we could have bought it back for $2000 (or rather, $2000 less paid to us), I have too many projects as is and not enough time to part it out or rebuild it - so RIP Ranger, after 10 excellent years and 100,000 wonderful miles you will be missed.
Aftermath:
I haven't had a chance to write up the short article on preparedness this incident has prompted, but I will go over a few points that were brought up - some good, some bad. While this happened on a very easy road with good access, it was also remote. The closest medical help would have been nearly an hour by air, 2-3 hours by road. A walk to the nearest "services" (Seligman) would have taken about 4 hours... assuming no injuries and an adequate supply of water/food. Even then, Seligman is little more than a truck stop. The nearest city of any significant size was Kingman, over 80 miles away.
OLLIE wrote:Without pics it didn't happen!!!
The Ranger was still quite drivable, and we continued to use it for a couple weeks until insurance sent a truck to come get it. Apparently, if you roll, they total it by default regardless of actual damage. While we could have bought it back for $2000 (or rather, $2000 less paid to us), I have too many projects as is and not enough time to part it out or rebuild it - so RIP Ranger, after 10 excellent years and 100,000 wonderful miles you will be missed.
Aftermath:
I haven't had a chance to write up the short article on preparedness this incident has prompted, but I will go over a few points that were brought up - some good, some bad. While this happened on a very easy road with good access, it was also remote. The closest medical help would have been nearly an hour by air, 2-3 hours by road. A walk to the nearest "services" (Seligman) would have taken about 4 hours... assuming no injuries and an adequate supply of water/food. Even then, Seligman is little more than a truck stop. The nearest city of any significant size was Kingman, over 80 miles away.
- Have an HT, and a good directional antenna (like the Elk). While we were traveling with another vehicle, at the speed we were moving the other vehicle had already moved around the next turn and over a hill before the wreck happened. As this was a rollover, the mobile radio in the truck was completely useless (75 watts is only as powerful as your antenna). Fortunately, I did have my VX-8R, with which I was able to reach the other vehicle and call them back. I have no doubt with the Elk onboard I could have reached a repeater to call for help if need be (like when traveling solo).
External antenna and a car charger for that HT. With the mobile down, it was great being able to keep using the HT once we were back on the road. The charger would have been important if we'd been stuck for a long time.
First aid kit. We failed this one. I had no kit onboard at all in the Ranger. Luckily, neither of us were injured.
Ditch kit. Again, we failed this one. My ditch kit that I "always" carry was sitting safely at home in the Discovery. If we had been forced to walk out it would have been a long, thirsty, and hungry 4 hours.
Have the ability to reseat a bead. After we pulled the truck back onto the road and inspected it, the only thing keeping us from driving out was the bead that had been blown on impact. The wheel was still straight, so rather than bother with the spare, all we had to do was reseat it and fill it back up. It was convenient having that ability with one blown bead, it would have been mandatory if we had blown 2.
HiLift Jack. Without it, we would have been unable to straighten the doors enough to close them, and unable to safely complete the remaining 80+ miles to Kingman. This also saved us the cost of having to tow an otherwise fully functional vehicle that same distance.
