Tundras Don't Swim

Story:

Unfortunately, my brand new 2008 Toyota Tundra TRD (paid $55,800) does not swim.

Before you all get too excited.. here's how it happened:

Backed my buddy into the water on the waverunner you see in the photo. Through the back window, he says "There's a license plate in the water - I think it came off your trailer". SO, since the truck is idling in Drive and I don't have my foot on either pedal (while I'm sitting in it), I hop out to look real quickly. (This is NOT when it rolled backwards.)

Down here we have lots of draw bridges & often I'll just let "D" hold the truck steady while I'm waiting - same thing I'm doing here (only I'm obviously not in it!) So I got out, looked in the water, didn't see anything, walked over to the dock, looked some more for the license plate, truck is fine, holding still.

Anyway, after about 60-90 seconds she just started to roll backwards. I have no explanation why it rolled, but I was able to run and get in the driver seat while the engine was still on (and the water wasn't even up to the doors), but since it's a 2wd and there was so much lift on the back end (buoyancy, even more b/c of the saltwater), the back tires didn't have any traction at all. I realized I wasn't going to be able to pull out on my own so I shut her down, held the brake and waited for the F350 Diesel (pictured) to pull me out.

Water came in through the back window (which mysteriously rolled itself up - as was the case with most other electrical things), all the side windows, and by the time this picture was taken it was obviously all the way up to the a/c controls. Lots of fun electrical things happened - horn wouldn't shut off (as if I needed more attention), headlights, wipers turned on, windshield washers eventually came on. Speedo went 0-120 and back over and over, etc.

Anyway, it happened about a week ago and I finally have a free moment to share the lesson (hard lesson, btw). I don't know if the torque convertor has a heat sensor, a time-release, or if the engine-idle speed lowered and the lower idle-speed couldn't hold the truck on the incline anymore. BUT, I do know that from now on it's "P" and "Parking Brake".

Conservatively, this was my 500th trip to the boat ramp. I never thought I'd be "that guy"... alas, here's my story.

She's totaled, btw.