jaymar
Member
That's to say the latter doesn't make it entirely worthless...
Helicopter Extraction used to haul out broken down rigs…
- Thread starter AbleGuy
- Start date
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
If your truck breaks down in a remote area, recovering the vehicle is just one of the options available.
A few years ago we broke a rear axle in the middle of the Simpson Desert (20km west of Poeppel Corner). Driving out on the front axle was not an option.
There was a recovery vehicle available in Birdsville.
The owner charges by the hour, from the moment he receives the call until he is back in the pub having a beer. And that is 24/7. Many recoveries from the Simpson can take a couple of days.
The cost would have been A$10,000 plus.
Instead, we used a sat phone to call bloke in Melbourne, 1500km+ away (as the crow flies). He had a spare axle that suited and he posted it to Birdsville for us. It took 5 days to get there and then our friends drove into Birdsville to get it. That took another 3 days.
Fitting it took less than 15 minutes.
Total repair costs were a tank of fuel and dinner at the Birdsville pub for our friends. There was a problem with the axle that broke, so the replacement one only cost the postage.
And we got to spend an extra 8 days relaxing in the beautiful Simpson Desert.
Another alternative is to bring the mechanic (complete with parts and tools) to the vehicle instead of taking the vehicle to the mechanic. I have an arrangement with my mechanic. He will come to me ANYWHERE (for a price), if I ask him. I never have needed to, but the option is there.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
A few years ago we broke a rear axle in the middle of the Simpson Desert (20km west of Poeppel Corner). Driving out on the front axle was not an option.
There was a recovery vehicle available in Birdsville.
The owner charges by the hour, from the moment he receives the call until he is back in the pub having a beer. And that is 24/7. Many recoveries from the Simpson can take a couple of days.
The cost would have been A$10,000 plus.
Instead, we used a sat phone to call bloke in Melbourne, 1500km+ away (as the crow flies). He had a spare axle that suited and he posted it to Birdsville for us. It took 5 days to get there and then our friends drove into Birdsville to get it. That took another 3 days.
Fitting it took less than 15 minutes.
Total repair costs were a tank of fuel and dinner at the Birdsville pub for our friends. There was a problem with the axle that broke, so the replacement one only cost the postage.
And we got to spend an extra 8 days relaxing in the beautiful Simpson Desert.
Another alternative is to bring the mechanic (complete with parts and tools) to the vehicle instead of taking the vehicle to the mechanic. I have an arrangement with my mechanic. He will come to me ANYWHERE (for a price), if I ask him. I never have needed to, but the option is there.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Last edited:
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
If your truck breaks down in a remote area, recovering the vehicle is just one of the options available.
A few years ago we broke a rear axle in the middle of the Simpson Desert (20km west of Poeppel Corner). Driving out on the front axle was not an option.
View attachment 774821
There was a recovery vehicle available in Birdsville.
View attachment 774820
The owner charges by the hour, from the moment he receives the call until he is back in the pub having a beer. And that is 24/7. Many recoveries from the Simpson can take a couple of days.
The cost would have been A$10,000 plus.
Instead, we used a sat phone to call bloke in Melbourne, 1500km+ away (as the crow flies). He had a spare axle that suited and he posted it to Birdsville for us. It took 5 days to get there and then our friends drove into Birdsville to get it. That took another 3 days.
Fitting it took less than 15 minutes.
View attachment 774822
Total repair costs were a tank of fuel and dinner at the Birdsville pub for our friends. There was a problem with the axle that broke, so the replacement one only cost the postage.
And we got to spend an extra 8 days relaxing in the beautiful Simpson Desert.
View attachment 774823
Another alternative is to bring the mechanic (complete with parts and tools) to the vehicle instead of taking the vehicle to the mechanic. I have an arrangement with my mechanic. He will come to me ANYWHERE (for a price), if I ask him. I never have needed to, but the option is there.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
I would have been tempted to weld that together or drive out in 3wd ( with the rear locker on ). Great story, thanks for sharing!
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
Welding was certainly another option. LSD in the rear (Dana 70, 35 spline), no locker.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome.