Lucky to be alive on NC500

by Paulmold Sat Apr 13, 2024 12:22 pm

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by Roopert Sat Apr 13, 2024 12:38 pm

That should T-cut out...

Quite common for HGVs to get blown over or off the road, but pretty rare for something that small. If I had to guess, it seems likely that they parked in a layby that already put the van on a steep tilt, so it wasn't too much further for it to go over?

by breakaleg Sat Apr 13, 2024 1:11 pm

We were in Northern France once I can't remember where exactly except we were on a cliff above a town and there was an aquarium there painted blue and white.

We were in a clubman but we soon moved when two wheels were lifted completely off the ground.

Scarey

Pete

by Askit Sat Apr 13, 2024 1:20 pm

Love the comment from the hire van's owner

"The NC500 is tricky, from the roads to the weather conditions and generally most drivers there are tourists".

"It's not the same weather as in England, it's completely different".

Really scratch head

by MalMonty Sat Apr 13, 2024 2:41 pm

They are very lucky. I've seen a few incidents were inexperienced Motorhome drivers just don't have that sixth sense in certain circumstances.
The NC500 route is very challenging to most drivers. Surprised some rental and insurance companies don't ask for a premium or excess condition if your driving it.

by IanH Sat Apr 13, 2024 3:58 pm

I remain convinced that the vast majority of NC500 users are rentals..... scratch head

by PLOUGHLIN Sat Apr 13, 2024 4:04 pm

Hopefully they signed up for a CDV?

by IanH Sat Apr 13, 2024 6:49 pm

Wouldn't have happened to a PVC.....might have blown over but most of it would still be inside!!!

by The Bargee Sat Apr 13, 2024 7:23 pm

IanH wrote:Wouldn't have happened to a PVC.....might have blown over but most of it would still be inside!!!

Agree.

This would seem to be the van type:

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We once witnessed a substantial twin axle caravan roll on the motorway and the end result was like a flat pack. Nothing left standing, just the chassis, floor and debris across three lanes.

I’m not sure how similar the form of coachbuilt construction is in a motorhome but, as Ian infers, in a PVC the body of the van would very likely remain structurally intact, as witness the condition of the cab in this case. It is still there, but not much else is.

After what we saw that time we would not be happy with the accident security of a coachbuilt motor home, especially an A class.

I guess a monocoque would be rather better.

The windage of these big vans is also rather frightening and was no doubt the big issue in this particular case. I would hazard a guess that a van like this with that big Luton could more susceptible to wind than a large truck with a heavy chassis.

by Roopert Sat Apr 13, 2024 8:35 pm

Yes, high-sided, but still very rare for any vehicle like that to go over while stationary.

One of the things that surprised me about my last A/S panel van high-top - it had a huge (2" steel tube) roll-over bar hidden inside the roof, so A/S had obviously decided that the sides weren't going to cave in if it went on its side.

by IanH Sat Apr 13, 2024 9:47 pm

As some may recall, we had the fwd roof vent blow completely off, with a sudden strong x wind recently, know it was quite old but that's a fair blast for what is a component with a small side area, albeit a largish overall area at 50mph fwds no idea what mph sideways.
Surprisingly the van didn't seem to notice, just that the roof vent disappeared!!

Should this happen to you, they are incredibly cheap to buy and 4 screws only to fit just the moving part...

by Paulmold Sat Apr 13, 2024 10:08 pm

We were packing the van to go away while storm Kathleen was blowing. I had the sliding door open when a gust opened a rooflight, the type that has a large push button and a lifting bar that's locked in place by the button. So the wind somehow pushed in the button and released the bar, the rooflight shot open to fully open position but luckily didn't rip off.

by Peatlander 2 Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:51 am

I think newer vans are probably more at risk than older ones, they make everything so flimsy and lightweight. Lot of surface area, but no weight to keep it down.

Kind of like holding up a paper bag in a wind compared to holding a thick cardboard box.

We live close to the NC500 route. It's quite scary to see some of the driving standards in rental vans. There's one group, an Italian company I believe, we see a few times a year, they travel in convoy of 6 or 8 vans. No chance of getting past them on the road, and boy, do they create some bad feelings! I was behind them in the LR once, going up Berriedale. They are left hooker's, so the hab door is in the wrong side....the van in front of me actually had somebody hanging out of the door filming the view as they went up the 1:10. Scary.

I feel very sorry for the folk in the van in the article. What a terrifying experience. Glad they're ok!

Lucky to be alive on NC500

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