Dane
11-20-2014, 07:17 PM
I've been down in Florida hunting. After a very successful morning hog hunting several of us were kicked back relaxing. B who owns the swamp buggy asked if we wanted to go for a ride. We all pile on. This is what it looked like before we started out. The tires are 60" (1.5m) high. A big, loud beastly thing. Everyone else just went as they were. Shorts ans flip flops. I quickly threw on my snake boots and grabbed my sun hat.
http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad67/pilotdane2/2014/Florida%20November%20Hunt/SwampBuggy1_zps5b2b26ab.jpg
We rode around havin a nice old time. Then B drove us deep into the swamp and a really nasty area where we could go no further. Lots of engine revving and spinning tires. Back and forth in a 5 point k turn to at least get pointed toward firmer ground. At this point we realize we're in trouble. The vehicle is bogging down and sinking. The engine is at redline rpm in the lowest gear and overheating The clutch in the transmission is overheating and slipping. It soon becomes apparent that if we make it out there will be major damage to the machine. We were also in danger of snapping a drive shaft or universal joint.
The clutch pack in the transmission could no longer handle the torque and started to slip badly billowing acrid smoke. The engine temp was off the gauge with steam venting from the radiator. We stoped and let the engine and transmission cool then flog it some more to get us 50 feet closer to dry land. After several attempts and it becomes more apparent that the machine would not make it out alive.
One more slog and the smoke and steam pouring out from below is particularly bad. D a big, very soft spoken guy leans over the edge to eyeball things below. In an almost scripted, calm voice he says "gentlemen... we're on fire". Since I was the only one wearing boots I was first over the side. My knee high waterproof snake boots were not tall enough and water poured over the top. The guys above tossed me a small Solo cup and I quickly flung swamp water to put out the fire. Water on an oil fire made if flare and seem to grow larger.
The guys above are frantically looking for something bigger to bucket water. They found a gallon jug, cut the top part off and D jumped into the swamp to help fight the fire. I got a half second warning to close my eyes as D flung the contents of the jug on the transmission and me. Antifreeze bath for Dane.
After several minutes the main fire is out. The transmission fluid is still so hot as it leaks out it instantly flames as it hits the air so I continue to fling oily, antifreeze nasty swamp water on the searing hot metal to cool things down. Lots of stinky steam but after five minutes things seem to be cooling and I slow down flinging water.
Up to now everyone's been looking over the side where D and I are. Since things seemed under control M starts looking around and glances over the other side. "Shit"... "fire on this side". He was only wearing flip flops and kicked them off and jumped in bare foot and started flinging water to put out the fire on the other side.
Eventually all the fires are out and we keep throwing water to get the transmission and engine cooled down so there is no more risk of flare-ups. We all climb back up on the buggy. I took off my boots and poured out the water and we took stock of the situation. Nobody is in camp but there is a air boat but it has an electrical problem. D volunteers to walk out, get the air boat and pick us up.
D wades out and after a while we hear the Corvette LT1 engine of the air boat and see it approach the edge of the swamp. 100 feet from the swamp we see the air boat stop and a second later the roar of the engine stops dead. Sonofa B ! D is a genius mechanically and can bush rig any possible fix so we give him 10 minutes before calling on the phone. OK, another half hour and he still can't get the engine running. A prissy, fuel injected, computer controlled engine with lots of wires and connectors is not a good choice for a air boat but I digress.
Finally, those of us on the buggy look at each other and know what the others are thinking. Nobody thought to bring any beer or a gun! So, one by one we climb down and do the wade/walk of shame out of the swamp. We joke and cajole each other as we walk out to distract from; alligators, snakes, mosquitoes, leaches, sharp grass, hot sun, and no beer.
----
No, I don't think a stock Gator could make it through the swamp but with the right tires and gearing it would have a good chance. I really think small and light would be the better approach. Mud has a magical ability to swallow heavy and powerful.
http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad67/pilotdane2/2014/Florida%20November%20Hunt/SwampBuggy1_zps5b2b26ab.jpg
We rode around havin a nice old time. Then B drove us deep into the swamp and a really nasty area where we could go no further. Lots of engine revving and spinning tires. Back and forth in a 5 point k turn to at least get pointed toward firmer ground. At this point we realize we're in trouble. The vehicle is bogging down and sinking. The engine is at redline rpm in the lowest gear and overheating The clutch in the transmission is overheating and slipping. It soon becomes apparent that if we make it out there will be major damage to the machine. We were also in danger of snapping a drive shaft or universal joint.
The clutch pack in the transmission could no longer handle the torque and started to slip badly billowing acrid smoke. The engine temp was off the gauge with steam venting from the radiator. We stoped and let the engine and transmission cool then flog it some more to get us 50 feet closer to dry land. After several attempts and it becomes more apparent that the machine would not make it out alive.
One more slog and the smoke and steam pouring out from below is particularly bad. D a big, very soft spoken guy leans over the edge to eyeball things below. In an almost scripted, calm voice he says "gentlemen... we're on fire". Since I was the only one wearing boots I was first over the side. My knee high waterproof snake boots were not tall enough and water poured over the top. The guys above tossed me a small Solo cup and I quickly flung swamp water to put out the fire. Water on an oil fire made if flare and seem to grow larger.
The guys above are frantically looking for something bigger to bucket water. They found a gallon jug, cut the top part off and D jumped into the swamp to help fight the fire. I got a half second warning to close my eyes as D flung the contents of the jug on the transmission and me. Antifreeze bath for Dane.
After several minutes the main fire is out. The transmission fluid is still so hot as it leaks out it instantly flames as it hits the air so I continue to fling oily, antifreeze nasty swamp water on the searing hot metal to cool things down. Lots of stinky steam but after five minutes things seem to be cooling and I slow down flinging water.
Up to now everyone's been looking over the side where D and I are. Since things seemed under control M starts looking around and glances over the other side. "Shit"... "fire on this side". He was only wearing flip flops and kicked them off and jumped in bare foot and started flinging water to put out the fire on the other side.
Eventually all the fires are out and we keep throwing water to get the transmission and engine cooled down so there is no more risk of flare-ups. We all climb back up on the buggy. I took off my boots and poured out the water and we took stock of the situation. Nobody is in camp but there is a air boat but it has an electrical problem. D volunteers to walk out, get the air boat and pick us up.
D wades out and after a while we hear the Corvette LT1 engine of the air boat and see it approach the edge of the swamp. 100 feet from the swamp we see the air boat stop and a second later the roar of the engine stops dead. Sonofa B ! D is a genius mechanically and can bush rig any possible fix so we give him 10 minutes before calling on the phone. OK, another half hour and he still can't get the engine running. A prissy, fuel injected, computer controlled engine with lots of wires and connectors is not a good choice for a air boat but I digress.
Finally, those of us on the buggy look at each other and know what the others are thinking. Nobody thought to bring any beer or a gun! So, one by one we climb down and do the wade/walk of shame out of the swamp. We joke and cajole each other as we walk out to distract from; alligators, snakes, mosquitoes, leaches, sharp grass, hot sun, and no beer.
----
No, I don't think a stock Gator could make it through the swamp but with the right tires and gearing it would have a good chance. I really think small and light would be the better approach. Mud has a magical ability to swallow heavy and powerful.