Thread: Lost my baby to the sea today

Sorry to hear of the loss of your vehicle.

Is there anything that the rest of should learn from your misfortune?

Fonfe, don't let it slow you down. I can sympathise because I have done it as well. And since then have had many fun and memorable times back at the beach with a new ride.
The townie was telling me fisherman of 30 years experience still loose cars on Fraser, it can happen to anyone, and happens daily.
I took from the experience; be a lot more respectful of car, conditions, me and the family. A 4x4 can go from a great car to a dead car in seconds and that's either on the beach or in the bush.
I walk every thing now even though I would prefer not. The pain and hassle of recovery and replacement is far greater than cold muddy feet, or no breath from the hill.

chin up

Am I right in thinking that there are places where 4WDers are asked to drive between the low and high tide lines to avoid the risk of disturbing nesting birds?

If that is the case, then there is always the risk of being caught by the tide if something goes wrong.

Originally Posted by vnx205

Am I right in thinking that there are places where 4WDers are asked to drive between the low and high tide lines to avoid the risk of disturbing nesting birds?

If that is the case, then there is always the risk of being caught by the tide if something goes wrong.

As well as that reason, there are plenty of places in Australia where either:
1. The only navigable beach is below the high tide mark (e.g. cliffs or steep dunes behind beach)
2. The only sand hard packed enough to drive on is below the high tide mark

Thanks for all the comments guys, cheered me up!
Manager gave me a half day off yesterday to go and have a looksie.....went down on my bike which I left in the bush (didnt want to risk loosing my only other transport!)
And the sea has caved the roof in, split the roof at the back, smashed my windscreen out, seized the ignition and I've lost a headlight and the grill.
Engine and fuel tank is full of water but I expected that as the tide went well over the roof.
BUT because I left the hand winch line attached she was still there and in a better pulling position so out she cam with the help of the winch and then a land cruiser pulled me down the beach and off into someone's beach hut area.
Going to get it on the weekend hopefully with a trailer and take her back to mine and see what I can do.
Don't think it's worth trying to fix her and she will be better of for spares but I will see once I get her back to mine.
For now I've just got to let my bleeding hands heal and let my back recover as it hurts like hell!
Well post more pics tonight but here's a pic of her as I found her yesterday


the reason for everything failing was my winch extension strap snapped....found another down the beach but that snapped too....the winch would reach on its own but meant I couldn't use the snatch block so I ended up shearing all 3 shear pins I had for the winch. Once the last one sheared the engine that was running died as the exhaust was already under water....was heartbreaking but she WILL live again! (Just will be on another chassis/body)

sorry that you lost your RRC to the sea.

You can buy a classic rangie for under $2000 [my 1991 V8 Auto owes me just under $1600, and is ready for rego inspection after a small panel beating Job-- previous owner appears to have stood on that panel behind bonnet, under windscreen, where wipers come out from, to get to the roofrack], so it would pay to hose this one off-- to stop salt rust and corrosion and keep it for spares, as it is likely that it will cost more to fix this one than to buy another RRC.

Lots on Gumtree, etc., but you may need to travel to get one

Friend of mine fills his Chassis with sump oil, and silastic up the holes. Certainly places like this would rust if not well hosed out. Think it would make it very unsafe if near bushfires, etc., so I will not do this to mine

Originally Posted by fonfe

............ but she WILL live again! (Just will be on another chassis/body)

So it's going to be like Trigger's broom then!

Jokes apart, as said before, drop all oils now, and push it into a dam as quick as you can! It does make a difference!!! Even if you only plan to use it as spares. Sorry to see that tho!