Nick Johns Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 (edited) Seattle tour DUKW company Ride the Ducks is suspended from operating after a DUKW front wheel locks up on a six lane highway causing it to lose control and crash into an oncoming bus killing 5 passengers, possibly linked to a front axle problem identified two years before and operators were advised to carry out modifications http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/sep/28/amphibious-tour-vehicle-lacked-axle-fix-before-seattle-crash/ Edited October 24, 2015 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Child Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Is this a "real" DUKW or one of the look-a-like modern ones that are made for tourism? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted October 24, 2015 Author Share Posted October 24, 2015 (edited) Is this a "real" DUKW or one of the look-a-like modern ones that are made for tourism? Apparently its a "Stretched DUKW", a rebuilt longer wheelbase version, though modified it appears to still basically use the ww2 GMC front axle, the stretch appears to have probably put higher loadings on to the front axle, the problem had been identified 2 years ago and front axle strengthening modifications were advised but apparently the work was not carried out, looking at all the pics online I'm guessing its the swivel housing that fails Edited October 24, 2015 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 We went on one of those a couple of years ago in Seattle, there was nothing WW2 about any of the ones I saw all were 'replicas' but all the info inside implied they where genuine WW2 vehicles, I remember thinking that was a little bit naughty at the time. I would doubt any claims of authenticity regarding these vehicles, even in a newspaper...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoseman Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 We went on one of those a couple of years ago in Seattle, there was nothing WW2 about any of the ones I saw all were 'replicas' but all the info inside implied they where genuine WW2 vehicles, I remember thinking that was a little bit naughty at the time. I would doubt any claims of authenticity regarding these vehicles, even in a newspaper...... I've been on the ones in Singapore, still have bullet holes in them which the crew point out with pride!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Child Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Blimey, I'm surprised it was a real one. It had the look of one of the newer ones, which I imagine was the stretch. It makes you wonder what sort if engineering went into the modification - was it properly planned for safety etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 The article is very specific in saying it was a 1945 vehicle refurbished in 2005, which sounds too specific to be just newspaper speculation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draganm Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 sad and unusual to see and accident with one of these on land, doesn't seem like a vehicle that belongs on a freeway going 60pmh anyway? last 2 times there was accident with one of these in Arkansas it sank in seconds and 11 people drowned, another stalled on a river and was hit by a barge, 2 people drowned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I have had the opportunity to ride on these on several occasions and have declined. Wouldn't put my kids in them either. I just don't like the idea of riding on one which has been operated on a commercial basis. If it was a green one and owned by someone I knew then that might be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 A number of DUKW's , modified and unmodified operated safley in Jersey for years. They would count as the first Military Vehicle I ever rode in. They were used to ferry passengers from West Park Slip out to Elizebeth castle about a quater mile. At low tide the Islet is dry so the route was rough rocks, when the tide as in it was a water crossing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 The first ones that I saw operating commercially were off Marazion after HMS Warspite went aground in a storm near St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, when the ship was being towed to the Breakers after the war. She had broken away from her Tugs. As far as I can recall, there were two DUKWs and they were being used by the Breakers as Warspite could not be moved and had eventually to be broken up where she went aground. Later, there were two giving pleasure rides off Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth for two or three years - 2/6d a ride, I think. I always assumed that they were the same two that had been at Marazion after their work there had been completed but I am not sure that is certain. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Hey Tony, just found this picture. http://www.warspite.dk/photograph.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Hey Tony, just found this picture. DUKW in action! QUOTE] http://www.britishpathe.com/video/warspite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 She didn't go quietly did she? :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david1212 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 http://www.britishpathe.com/video/warspite Enough going on there to keep the 'elf and safe tea' of 2015 busy for weeks if not months ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Thier all to busy DUKW Hunting at the moment. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.