HOW DO THEY GET THOSE CARS OUT!?

[eyeballs]

I watched a truck go through Big Marine Lake a while ago and it was at least 300 hundred yards from the nearest shoreline. How would they get something like that out? I was thinking maybe a helicopter. If any one on this forum has been lucky enough to live through this but unlucky enough to have this happen, lets here about it(cost,fines,etc.).

[Ely Lake Expert]

I have seen it happen and all I can tell ya is that they waited until summer and pulled it out with pawntoon boats. One other time a truck fell though early ice and they waited until there was close to two feet. Then cut a big whole and went down with scubadivers to hook it up and pulled it up with a wrecker.

Ely lake expert

[rmh2o]

Depending how deep of water you can put down telephone poles and winch it up on them

[minneman]

seems I heard once that they use innertubes (big) and inflate them once they hook them to the vehicle, then hook up to get them off??

[hawgTime]

I think I remember hearing that they hired SUPERMAN to get them out----or was it a cherry-picker? One or the other, can't remember.

[Raven]

There is a dive club, I believe in Detroit Lakes that will recover cars, etc. It is reasonable considering the task. They have a rail system that tilts down into the water, after they have used airbags to lift the vehicle. Then they slip the rail system under the vehicle and pull it out that way. Really neat. They recovered three vehicles that had gone through the ice on Lake Bemidji, in Bemidji. There was an article in the local paper - "The Pioneer" about it. You might be able to get the name of the outfit from the newspaper.

[Gonzo]

I've heard the air bags are a common method used today. I also heard that there is an EPA fine because of the fluids in the vehicle that leak into the water, Any one else know?

[Havin' Fun]

Contact Tri Lakes Diving in Detroit lakes. They have been busy this year. They will fill you in.

[hydro]

Several years ago the Minneapolis paper had an article about a car that went down about in White Bear Lake about 1000' from shore in 12' of water. They ran a cable under the ice and dragged it back to shore under the ice (through the mud and weeds). there was a picture of the car when it came up and it looked like a haystack.

I saw another retrieval on Clearwater of a car that broke through at the point and rolled down the drop into about 25' of water. There were three guys out drinking on Christmas eve who thought they could cross the break. They broke through, one got out on top, one got out as the car was rolling down and the driver managed to get out when the car was on the bottom. Several days later they chain sawed a hole and a diver went down and hooked up the car. They put a pole through a hole in the ice and chained the wrecker to that, then winched the car up and over planks to get it onto the ice.

Once the car was out the sponge who had been driving retrieved the remainder of a 12 pack from the back seat and passed beers to the crowd to celebrate.

There goes Darwin's theory of natural selection!

[GullGuide]

I have witnessed a few retrievals over the years. The most common one I have seen, if close enough to shore, is the cable under the ice method. I have seen them erect tripods over the hole, anchor tow trucks to the ice and even saw a large crane at work once.
I do know it is like a $1000 fine PER DAY that the vehicle is underwater. Add that on to the cost of getting it out and then not to mention fixing the vehicle, it is a pretty darn expensive booboo.

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[BLACKJACK]

I heard that Ron Schara's brother dropped one thru on Lake Koronis by Paynesville this year and that they were having a hard time getting it out because the water was so deep. Wonder if they ever got it out???

[Guest]

I didn't think that auto insurance would cover any costs related to this. Does it with comp coverage???

There was a local around here last winter that had his fish house freeze in. He decided to take the new skid loader from where he worked out on the ice to get it. Guess what?

He managed to get himself out of the cold water, but not the hot water that followed. He ended up loosing his job, and had to come up with nearly $30K to retreive and repair the skid loader and the fines. He ended up loosing his house - just to get the fish house off of the lake.

[Dan97]

Howdy All....

Just as an F.Y.I...

My wife has been in the insurance biz for the last 10 or so years and, as a rule, NO. You are not covered in any way if your vehicle goes through the ice. The insurance companys know that ice is NEVER safe.

Dan

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[bturck]

From what I heard the truck on Koronis was retrieved quite some time ago. It definitley pays to have the comp coverage on your auto policy, sure helps with the cost of this operation.

[Guest]

I talked to my State Farm agent when I bought my 2002 Chevy pickup and he said they paid for the recovery of pickup and replacement of vehicle . He also told me who did the recovery for them in the Grand Rapids area . I would ask my agent each one is different . My brother-in -law dropped his in Hill Lake 20 some years ago and insurance didn't cover it .NO fine back than but that has all changed now .

[doubleUcubed]

They are a little lighter in the water!! LOL I've seen about a half dozen get taken out by different means. The insurance does vary with companies. I know the guy who went through the local lake last year was covered, his agent told him if he went through again there would be no coverage! No matter how you look at it it's no fun and expensive!

[Guest]

Dan, I agree with you with on insurance co. Like they say only thing can be sure of is death and taxes!!!! I guess if mine went to the bottom of the lake I would let the bank and insurance co fight it out ! Good Fishing !!!11

[Dan97]

Hey Brad...

I talked to my agent as well and was told I'm would not be covered. I guess it does depend on who insures you and your location. I always take insurance talk with a grain of salt. Sometime what is said is not what is covered. Not all the time, but sometimes.

I, for one, won't be taking that chance with a $40,000 vehicle. Besides, the darn thing weighs close to 4 ton.

Dan

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