Barrman
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- Giddings, Texas
Texas is getting rain this year. Some of us have gotten 20 inches just this month when we normally get around 4 or 5 inches for May. The ground is saturated and any thing that falls now is going to run off on the surface. We got more than 3 inches in about an hour here yesterday afternoon.
I made it home from a flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion in the M1009 just fine. Colton made it home from a band competition in RED just fine as well. We were warm and dry waiting out the storm. Then we find out his girlfriend who was at the same competition still wasn't back from Austin.
The state finals were held outside of Austin. Colton competed early and his group came back to the school. They left Austin just as tornado warnings, floods and sever storms hit. Those like his girlfriend who still had to compete were shoved into shelters, let out, back into shelters, competed, sheltered and finally started out for home.
When it came time for her to drive herself home from the school, she was leary. Flash flooding and road closures everywhere, several creeks to cross and very heavy rain fall. Colton offered to go get her at the school in the Whistler and drive her home in it. I figured going along would be a good idea. Off to the school we whistled once I called her mom and let her know what was going on.
Once there we decided that her and Colton would follow me in her vehicle. That way I could clear the road of any obstructions, test out any water crossings and generally be a guide.
I actually had a chance to use the defroster which worked great (Thanks Warthog, I picked it up from you 6 years ago and this is the first time it was actually needed.) It also made the cab very hot. My normal driving style is front glass open and windows up. I had to have all glass closed due to the rain so the side vents got popped open which never happens.
Leaving the school with them following, the engine missed a bit and wouldn't pull more than around 2,200 rpm. Even though I had just put in new filters a few months ago and had clean diesel in the tank, I just thought "filters" and kept driving. It idled fine when stopped at lights in town. Once out on the open road again, it pulled fine until I noticed the cab was full of exhaust smoke.
That was new. I just thought maybe the replacement J pipe from a few years ago was leaking and closed the passenger side vent. Continue the mission. Then it filled up again with smoke. I closed the drivers side vent and it went away. Something was wrong but I kept going. Get her home was my mission. 5 miles out of town we came to the first creek crossing. The bridge was just above water and the approaches on both sides were ok. However, a field next to the creek was draining across the road. I slowed down, saw buckled road under the water, but no sink holes and the water wasn't that high. I went on through and they followed without issue. Getting back up to speed from that slow down just wasn't happening. I had no power or rpm's. The temp gauge was actually bouncing a little right at 195° or at least what I think is the thermostat temp. Another new issue. "Head Gaskets" entered my thinking.
I pulled over to drain the 3 filters with the engine running on 3 clicks of the hand throttle. The idle dropped with each drain opening, but it never picked up after closing them and only clean fuel came out. I made it another mile before the engine just sputtered and died.
I got off the road and went to draining the filters again. A fast look around showed no other leaks or issues on the outside. About that time a guy in a D2500 showed up, said he was VFD and asked if we needed help. I said we were fine but asked about the road conditions to her house. He said they were ok and offered to escort her the rest of her drive. He did that and the girlfriend made it home safe and dry.
Now if only Colton and I could do the same. My fuel gauge said a bit less than 1/2 tank. My gauge stick said we had over 6 inches in the tank. I drained the filters, got it to fire up cranking with wide open throttle and we were rolling home. We got maybe 1/2 mile. Repeat and another 1/2 mile. We had 12 miles to go and there weren't very many more places I knew I could pull over at coming up. I wasn't sure about the batteries and starter surviving either.
I had to make the call. Jennifer took the call with more humor than I was expecting. She started toward us in my M1009 with tools and fuel. Colton and I got it fired up again and just running on the 3 clicks made it almost a mile to an intersection with lots of room for us to sit on pavement and out of the mud.
We did the filters again, but I had lost hope in that excersize. I was thinking fuel pick up line hole or something in the tank by now. The guy that escorted the girlfriend home came back by to say she was home safe. Another VFD guy from that area stopped and we talked awhile. Incredible lightning show to the East and amazing sunset to the West. It was a good spot to be stopped at.
We made up a plan while waiting. Add 5 gallons of fuel and start driving slow. I would drive as long as it would run at 25-30 mph. If it stopped again, he would continue home with Jennifer in the M1009. Returning in the M715 to drag me home. The Gasser had no brake pedal last week when I got in it and I haven't traced that down yet.
We added fuel, coaxed it to life and it ran all the way home. I never took it over 1,500 rpm and had to keep 2 clicks of the hand throttle for it to idle.
It was late, I was soaked and was just glad to be home. Now I have to figure out the problem. Besides pulling the pump to inspect the lines, looking at the J pipe and checking the coolant level. I am really kind of lost on what else to do. Which is why I am going to finish typing this and then go looking through the manuals.
I had every confidence in the Whistler to get me anywhere I wanted in just about any conditions when I started out. I know there are a lot of readers who could be in the same rising water situation I was in last night with the same basic vehicle. Check things over a second time before you go. You don't want to end up making the call like I did. Or being part of the wrong side of a rescue situation.
I made it home from a flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion in the M1009 just fine. Colton made it home from a band competition in RED just fine as well. We were warm and dry waiting out the storm. Then we find out his girlfriend who was at the same competition still wasn't back from Austin.
The state finals were held outside of Austin. Colton competed early and his group came back to the school. They left Austin just as tornado warnings, floods and sever storms hit. Those like his girlfriend who still had to compete were shoved into shelters, let out, back into shelters, competed, sheltered and finally started out for home.
When it came time for her to drive herself home from the school, she was leary. Flash flooding and road closures everywhere, several creeks to cross and very heavy rain fall. Colton offered to go get her at the school in the Whistler and drive her home in it. I figured going along would be a good idea. Off to the school we whistled once I called her mom and let her know what was going on.
Once there we decided that her and Colton would follow me in her vehicle. That way I could clear the road of any obstructions, test out any water crossings and generally be a guide.
I actually had a chance to use the defroster which worked great (Thanks Warthog, I picked it up from you 6 years ago and this is the first time it was actually needed.) It also made the cab very hot. My normal driving style is front glass open and windows up. I had to have all glass closed due to the rain so the side vents got popped open which never happens.
Leaving the school with them following, the engine missed a bit and wouldn't pull more than around 2,200 rpm. Even though I had just put in new filters a few months ago and had clean diesel in the tank, I just thought "filters" and kept driving. It idled fine when stopped at lights in town. Once out on the open road again, it pulled fine until I noticed the cab was full of exhaust smoke.
That was new. I just thought maybe the replacement J pipe from a few years ago was leaking and closed the passenger side vent. Continue the mission. Then it filled up again with smoke. I closed the drivers side vent and it went away. Something was wrong but I kept going. Get her home was my mission. 5 miles out of town we came to the first creek crossing. The bridge was just above water and the approaches on both sides were ok. However, a field next to the creek was draining across the road. I slowed down, saw buckled road under the water, but no sink holes and the water wasn't that high. I went on through and they followed without issue. Getting back up to speed from that slow down just wasn't happening. I had no power or rpm's. The temp gauge was actually bouncing a little right at 195° or at least what I think is the thermostat temp. Another new issue. "Head Gaskets" entered my thinking.
I pulled over to drain the 3 filters with the engine running on 3 clicks of the hand throttle. The idle dropped with each drain opening, but it never picked up after closing them and only clean fuel came out. I made it another mile before the engine just sputtered and died.
I got off the road and went to draining the filters again. A fast look around showed no other leaks or issues on the outside. About that time a guy in a D2500 showed up, said he was VFD and asked if we needed help. I said we were fine but asked about the road conditions to her house. He said they were ok and offered to escort her the rest of her drive. He did that and the girlfriend made it home safe and dry.
Now if only Colton and I could do the same. My fuel gauge said a bit less than 1/2 tank. My gauge stick said we had over 6 inches in the tank. I drained the filters, got it to fire up cranking with wide open throttle and we were rolling home. We got maybe 1/2 mile. Repeat and another 1/2 mile. We had 12 miles to go and there weren't very many more places I knew I could pull over at coming up. I wasn't sure about the batteries and starter surviving either.
I had to make the call. Jennifer took the call with more humor than I was expecting. She started toward us in my M1009 with tools and fuel. Colton and I got it fired up again and just running on the 3 clicks made it almost a mile to an intersection with lots of room for us to sit on pavement and out of the mud.
We did the filters again, but I had lost hope in that excersize. I was thinking fuel pick up line hole or something in the tank by now. The guy that escorted the girlfriend home came back by to say she was home safe. Another VFD guy from that area stopped and we talked awhile. Incredible lightning show to the East and amazing sunset to the West. It was a good spot to be stopped at.
We made up a plan while waiting. Add 5 gallons of fuel and start driving slow. I would drive as long as it would run at 25-30 mph. If it stopped again, he would continue home with Jennifer in the M1009. Returning in the M715 to drag me home. The Gasser had no brake pedal last week when I got in it and I haven't traced that down yet.
We added fuel, coaxed it to life and it ran all the way home. I never took it over 1,500 rpm and had to keep 2 clicks of the hand throttle for it to idle.
It was late, I was soaked and was just glad to be home. Now I have to figure out the problem. Besides pulling the pump to inspect the lines, looking at the J pipe and checking the coolant level. I am really kind of lost on what else to do. Which is why I am going to finish typing this and then go looking through the manuals.
I had every confidence in the Whistler to get me anywhere I wanted in just about any conditions when I started out. I know there are a lot of readers who could be in the same rising water situation I was in last night with the same basic vehicle. Check things over a second time before you go. You don't want to end up making the call like I did. Or being part of the wrong side of a rescue situation.
opcorn: