tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post1494473136093636238..comments2024-03-28T08:26:58.108-04:00Comments on Our Odyssey: Bring me my lusty winchLouisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06306854459459257368noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-10057481960277884572008-11-12T07:56:00.000-05:002008-11-12T07:56:00.000-05:00Sean,Interesting story. I have just one question/s...Sean,<BR/>Interesting story. I have just one question/suggestion. Would it have been possible to manually manipulate the rear leveling valve for the air bags and raise the rear end? <BR/>I once did that on a Neoplan that got stuck at Fort Chaffee (Ft. Smith, AR) while we were there on hurricane Katrina/Rita relief opperations. The driver attemped to turn around using a small driveway (which he missed) and got the left side drives off in a ditch. Causing it to bottom out in the rear. <BR/>They called a wrecker service out, but the wrecker driver called back and told them "that it was getting late, gonna be dark soon, and might rain too! So he'd come out in the AM!" <BR/>At that point I told them I could get it out, if they would let me. <BR/>Well the base didn't want it sitting there blocikng the road. <BR/>The owner didn't want it sitting there all night twisted like a pretzel, and sinking farther if it did rain. <BR/>So I put on my trust jump suit/overalls and slid in between the drive and tag axle (remember I'm a pretty large guy!). Then I used the screw driver and vise grips I'd taken under with me to disconnect the linkage on the rear suspension leveling valve. Once disconnected I was able to take and duct tape a broom handle to it.Once I had my broom handle attached and placed in a position I could control it from beside the coach, I had 2 guys help pull my feet/legs out while I worked the front half of me out (must have been a sight to see! LOL!)<BR/>Once free from my torture chamber, I was able to have the driver start it and build air pressure. Once pressure was all the way up I took the linkage and pushed it up, so it would inflate the bags more. I did this until the rear skid pad was clear of the road. Then I had the driver try to back out. Well no luck, he had sunk the drive tires to the point the reah housings "pumpkin" was bottomed out on the drive. <BR/>So I fired up my trusty SETRA and pulled behind it. Then I droppeed the frot bumper of mine and put in the "tow bar" that comes with it. Then I hooked a chain from the tow bar to the rear towing point on the Neoplan. <BR/>I had a fellow driver hold the linkage stick where we could raise the rear of the bus while I backed up and pulled him out! FWIW "BK"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-11809457148912591262008-11-05T13:07:00.000-05:002008-11-05T13:07:00.000-05:00Getting stuck is always fun. At least you only nee...Getting stuck is always fun. At least you only needed one wrecker. I got an F250 stuck in a field once. A flatbed had to pull the other wrecker out.EJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04475254320271790003noreply@blogger.com