Help? Wenching party?

[Kiwi]

OK. The Sorento went over an embankment off of Bloody Basin Rd. I wasn't in it.

Maybe a couple hundred feet down in a ravine. Kinda getting the run around from the insurance co. I'm not sure if I want to have a recovery co pull it out, take it to thier yard, and then the ins co will find some way to deny the claim, leaving me with a massive bill. But, they won't send an adjuster out there either, and they won't do anything until they can see it.

I'm not even sure if it is recoverable by even a few rigs with winches. Doubt it that it could even be driven out once out of the ravine.

I think I'm kinda screwed :mad:

Here are a couple of pics.

http://www.shadowlakes.com/kia/KIA_1_sm.jpg

http://www.shadowlakes.com/kia/KIA_3_sm.jpg

http://www.shadowlakes.com/kia/KIA_7_sm.jpg

[paparonbo]

HOLY COW!!! How did that happen? I don't have a winch, but if I don't have to work when you go to get it I would be happy to help.

Did the airbags deploy? It doesn't look like it from here. If they didn't and you can get it to run, do NOT try to drive it home like that. Its possible for the airbags to deploy later on after an accident like this, so you could be driving on the way home and have them go off on you randomly.

[VIVIsectI]

I'll be getting my winch motor some time in the next week or so, maybe next weekend I could help. Best of luck with this one. I put a Mercedes M class in Canyon Lake once and they had to bring a crane to get it out cause the tow truck snapped it's winch cables. Hope you are more fortunate than that.

[SavageSun4x4]

Well I got to ask, if it went over the edge and you weren't in it, was anyone? What made it go over?

[mingoglia]

Holy crap is right! I don't have a winch but I do have a dually pickup and if we combined enough straps to make up a couple hundred feet. :) I'm always up for anything....assuming I can get the OK from the ball and chain to play.

[xFallen]

OK. The Sorento went over an embankment off of Bloody Basin Rd. I wasn't in it.

Maybe a couple hundred feet down in a ravine. Kinda getting the run around from the insurance co. I'm not sure if I want to have a recovery co pull it out, take it to thier yard, and then the ins co will find some way to deny the claim, leaving me with a massive bill. But, they won't send an adjuster out there either, and they won't do anything until they can see it.

I'm not even sure if it is recoverable by even a few rigs with winches. Doubt it that it could even be driven out once out of the ravine.

I think I'm kinda screwed :mad:

Here are a couple of pics.



If it is really a couple of hundred feet down, that'll be a tricky one. It would be no slouch in any case. I am sure it can be done, you just need enough vehicles and someone with recovery skills.

Is the ravine navigable? Perhaps you could drive a vehicle up the ravine to the landing spot and then drag the victim out. Depending upon whatis in the way, that may actually be less destructive to the area too.


Barry

[Kiwi]

No way to get to the bottom of the ravine, by any type of vehicle.

OK, this is kinda embarassing. I was alone at night, going out towards 7 springs. Just tooling around. It was dark, no moon that night (Sunday) Coming down this big hill with switchbacks. I feel the flat tire. Get out, rear driver's side flat. Put a couple rocks under the front tires. Seemed at the time as good of a place to change the tire. Got the spare and high lift off of the roof rack. Jack up under the rear crossmember. Seems stable enough. Start taking off lug nuts. Thing shifts, rolls foward, slides off of jack, starts rolling. I try grabbing the rear bumper (250lbs vs 4000lbs) As soon as the front tire went over the edge, it was going. Just kept going, it seemed. Kinda surreal, actualy. Walked out for a while, finaly got a ride. Like I said, I really feel pretty stupid about the whole thing. Went out Monday to look for it, and recovered the spare and jack. Worst part was, I was about 20 -30 feet down from the corner where there was a flat area that I never saw that night. I might go out there again to get some actual measurements from the road. It didn't roll, and the three other tires are still good.

If anyone wants to go out there this week for a looksee and second opinion, let me know.

Thanks

[danno]

Is this the Bloody Basin Rd. that is off of I-17 that leads to Crown King Rd.? Or is it the Bloody Basin Rd. in Carefree?

[AZJeeps TJ&XJ]

I am free til sat. So if you want to go out and take a good look, let me know. Only plans I have is thinking about starting a motor swap on the old blazer over at my parents house. And need to put in a new cat on one of the XJ's, but that requires money and I am just a poor working man that owns 3 Jeeps :rolleyes:

Let me know whenever

John
623-451-7434

[Sedona Jeep School]

Since insurance is involved, I would involve a licensed tow operator. Call Fort Valley Towing in Flagstaff. 928-526-2879. Ask for Ken or Jeff. They are Jeepers who have some heavy tow trucks that they are willing to take off-pavement. If it is out of their service range, they may know someone closer who is equipped for this.

It is very recoverable. I have seen far worse recoveries, like a Jeep that was 800 feet down a cliff, in the Colorado River for two years.

I may be able to get away on Friday (tomorrow) to help/scope/offer an opinion ("If opinions were airplanes, this place would be LAX" :D ) May I suggest that you do NOT post specifics in the forum about the location for security purposes--PMs or phone calls.

[Kiwi]

OK, thanks for that. Like I said, the ins co is kinda giving me the run around. My agent won't be back in town till next week. But the adjuster just told me to 'get it to my house', so that's what I'm going to try to do, if I can.

[SavageSun4x4]

Karl, I am with Nena on this one. I would leave it alone until the ins co says no. If you do get it to your house then the likelyhood of getting paid goes down. They might want to see it where is, as is. Since this is an accident plus towing charge they might get uptight if the rig is not where it took place. If they saw no, then fine push, pull or drag.

Be careful on this they might be lookig for a way to claim damage was incurred when you and buddies tried to get it out etc.

If you need a hand I am around here till Sat but leaving for Italy on Monday.

[Rbear44]

Karl, I have a car hauler trailer that we could use to get it to your house after you get it out of the ravine. Just let me know.
Roy
623-877-8392

[Kiwi]

Don, and anyone else - you want to go out Friday to take a look?

From the claims adjuster: they won't send anybody out there and hike down a ravine. I need to get it home so they can send someone out to look at it. And if they were to total it, they couldn't leave it out there. He told me to pay for recovery and send them the bill.

I'm hesitent to use a 'pro service' as I could rack up a huge bill for the recovery, then the storage fees, then they decide not to pay the claim. But if the 'do it yourself' method is impossible, or too risky, I may have no other choice.

My agent won't be back in town until next week. So again, if the self recovery looks no good, I'm not going to do anything until I can talk to her about the situation.

[jason]

damn man, glad your ok! sux about your kiwi tho. im off on sun. let me know if you need a hand.

also, might wanna talk to the guys on how they recovered that bronco that rolled in fj awhile back. think his name was eric. might offer up some good advice.

good luck

[k7mto]

For the Bronco recovery we had a nice large area to park 3 winching vehicles along with a few other rigs behind each winch rig as an anchor. We had to add a few straps to the ends of the cables until we pulled the Bronco far enough up that we could eliminate the straps. From there is was just a long pull up the hill, adjusting the winch rigs as necessary.

For anyone new who hasn't seen the writeup on it...
http://www.rockcrawler.com/trailreports/martinez_bronco_recovery/index.asp

And Jim's video (right click and save to your PC so as not to kill Jim's bandwidth)...
http://www.hacklesjeep.com/Bronco.wmv

If there is adequate room for at least 2 winch rigs and it's a relatively clear shot up the hill (not too many trees in the way) and the distance isn't so far that adding straps to cables gets too ridiculously dangerous (moreso than it is anyway), I think you could get it done OK.

As any recovery, keep safety in mind at ALL times and let one person (someone with skiils/experience) oversee the operation and delegate responsibilities (but be open to others suggestions). With too many people trying to run the show it can become chaotic and unsafe very quickly.

I'd like to assist but I have to work tomorrow and I'm way down on the SE side of town.

[Kiwi]

I measured the distance. It's about 195 feet from the edge of the edge of the road. Given a 100' winch line, where the rigs are parked, and you'd only want to go out 90' feet max, I'd estimate at least another 120-130 feet needed.

[yellow bad boy]

hell check the fluids.. if all are good try to get it to a tow friendly place?

[yellow bad boy]

what are ya gonna do ? scratch it? just make sure ya got oil and water and dont burn up the motor, cause they wont pay for a burnt up motor if all you were doin was changing a tire right? hell i lost my wallet riding wheelies on my quad with 600 bucks in it... i know how ya feel but i feel dumber cause my quad has storage on the front of it for a wallet and phone and stuff im still kickin my butt on that one... still lokin for the damn thing too, NO i wont say where i was either hehehe.

[AZJeeps TJ&XJ]

I measured the distance. It's about 195 feet from the edge of the edge of the road. Given a 100' winch line, where the rigs are parked, and you'd only want to go out 90' feet max, I'd estimate at least another 120-130 feet needed.


Is there any decient sized trees or rocks around that you could use a come-a-long or some other source of hand power to get it closer to the road, or enough to try and get it out on it's own?

[Phenomenal]

If you need any help this weekend give me a hollar Ill make time to help out any way I can. Have winch and a heavy truck that will go just about anywhere.

[SavageSun4x4]

Karl,
When you plan on heading up? I am tight on time, as wife and I are flying to Italy at 5:30 am Mon.

[FrenchChili]

Take lots of pics of the car, items, road, hill etc for the insurance just in case for proof and something else happens, like thieves! At least you weren't in it, unlike me and my dad 10yrs ago.

[jeeperX]

That sux... sorry for your mis-fortune.

[RickBeer]

Karl Me & my son can poss. help out ON Sunday we both have winch's snatch blocks
& sevral straps & D rings we can even be anchor's if need
Lets us know when & were we can meet

[Craig]

I have some extra winch cable (100'?) that you are welcome to use. You will need some clamps to secure a loop in the cable. But those should be available at any hardware store. If you guys need it call me right away. I leave for Sedona tomorrow (Sat) around 1:00. I will make the cable available even if I am gone, so call the number even if it is after 1:00.

I would love to help but will be unavailable until tuesday.

[Kiwi]

Thanks all for the offers to help. I was checking out the pics of the Bronco recovery, and I gotta say, where the KIA is, appears to be twice as steep as the hill the Bronco was pulled up. Hmmm. I am going to get with my agent next week, see if I can get better answers than the claims guy. If I can be sure that the ins will pay for the reovery, that would probably be better and safer for anyone (of course, anyone can come out to watch!). I'm just afraid it may be really, really difficult as a DIY project, and I'd hate for anyone to break anything.

[FrenchChili]

What will you do with it after it is recovered? is it mostly sheet metal damage? I doubt the insurance will give you crap for it, might as well replace with plastic body parts and do rollcage etc...turn into a phat rig:rolleyes:
Ya know, just in case they want to total it.

[Kiwi]

Well, I'm having a company pull up the KIA. The ins co assures me they will reimburse me.

So, if anybody wants to watch the show, we'll be leaving form the new River exit on I-17 at 9am tomorow. We should be at the site at about 11 or so. It's past Hutch Springs, then about halfway down the big hill. I'll be sure to take some pics. They obviously don't need any help (better not at 150 an hour!), but I suppose it could be a learning lesson on recovery

[k7mto]

Try and get some video if you can. And maybe some shots from a distance to give a good sense at just how far down the hill it is from the road (maybe with the recovery rig for scale). I hope all goes well and smooth and glad your insurance company is handling the costs.

[tjjeepboy]

dang man sorry, if you go to definatly recover it ill run up from tucson to give a hand a winch and a pat on the back. Send me a pm and let me know whats up