All shook up...

[hex0rz]

Well tonight was the first night of snow in our area. It's still snowing like crazy still as I compose this.

Got off work and left for home around midnight. Was carpooling with the mother in law. We are borrowing the brother in laws Forzda.

Tried taking it easy all the way home, but apparently the one corner I Tried to take just Was too fast.

I Was coming up on it and it came quicker than I thought it Was. So I Tried slowing down. It started to slide instead. So I let off the brakes and Tried to turn, nothing.

So I turned the wheels into the bank on my right side hoping that the driveway going uphill Was going to be my saving Grace.

on my left, Was the river. At the very last second the truck Got enough traction and I Managed to swipe the persons mailbox and up the driveway I went. But it didn't go without a hitch. As I swiped this mailbox, which had to have had a footing to the center of the earth, I managed to leave carnage down the side of the truck. The door glass broke and showered me in shards.

then I didn't exactly go up the driveway. I went up a little, and ended up in the ditch along it. Crashing into down tree vegetation. The wife Was on the passenger side and she Was concerned of the limbs coming through.

I really thought I toasted the truck. But I managed to back it out of the ditch and take an assessment of everything.

No leaks anywhere and truck Was steering and running fine. Everyone was okay and nothing serious.

I'm pretty sore now that the adrenaline has worn off and got some cuts from the glass.

I'll feel the truth more in the morning after waking up.

The principal of the matter is that I'm highly disappointed in myself for having this happen. I'm very prideful in myself that I take care of someone's vehicle I drive, and that I maintain control as well. I'm not happy that I caused this and feel even more like an ***. Now I get the pleasure of paying the deductible.

I'm worried about driving the dodge now! ?

 

I'm drinking a cold one to calm the nerves...

Edited November 17, 2015 by hex0rz

[dorkweed]

[dripley]

Ok. You screwed up, kicked your own arse, and have check to write. Now get back up, get in the dodge and drive like you know how. Most of us can lay claim to over driving somewhere along the way.You had to make quick decision and lost. It was better than making no decision. You could have ended up in the river.  Dont beat yourself up too bad. 

[Me78569]

Yea it happens, I remember the first thing I drove an auto in the snow, I didn't even know how to drive an auto until 5 years after I got my lic, anyways I came to a stop...well tried to come to a stop and the car just pushed right through the intersection.  Thankfully it was late and no one was out.  all that happened was a curb won and I got to pay for a new radiator.   

 

Wasn't going fast, but the thing wouldn't stop and I couldn't figure out why in the split second before it was too late haha.  

 

Are new auto's smart enough to pop it into N when sliding happens? 

[Mopar1973Man]

This is one of the reasons I never barrow any else's vehicles. There is too many unseen variables you won't know about. Like in your case tires? Where they inflated properly for the snow weather. Over-inflation will reduce traction. Tread type? Mud/Snow, studded or not?

I've had friends bring there vehicles to me and I've seen 1 ton trucks that are undriveable on snow packed roads. I've seen 4WD trucks stuck on a flat parking lots with all 4 tires slipping.

Something I do EVER winter is take my truck out to open parking lot, larger pull out, or field. Then I go play a little bit getting use to that feeling of slipping and sliding. The thing is to be comfortable with the feeling so you don't panic. Again lots of people pick on me about slow speeds and travel here is one place its REQUIRED. Because now if your comfortable with the feeling of slipping and sliding it gives you more time to resolve the sliding issues if your travelling slower. Strange but true sometimes you have to throttle a bit to gain traction again. This is tough to do with a corner coming or travelling down hill. Lot of times when you hit the brakes the tires get lubed from sliding and never gain traction again (more so on Automatic trans) where with a manual you can clutch in and the tires will match up and quit slipping.

 

 

[Me78569]

When I first learned to drive ( 10ish ) my mother took me out in a large gravel pit in the middle of winter in north minnesota and just let me go.  Told me to go over there, or over there.  Point being it is worth it's weight in gold to be able to think straight when you are sideways.   

 

I couldn't agree more mike, you need to know how your cars handle when they are sliding.  Some cars are nose heavy and others are tail heavy.  The nice thing about physics is the rules don't change, it is gonna slide in the same way each time.

 

If you hop in someone elses car you are throwing that to the wind.  

 

anyways OP, it happens.  Now if I could only find a place that johnny law wouldn't mind me doing some research! 

Edited November 17, 2015 by Me78569

[Mopar1973Man]

Hex...

It's snowing here as I type. Not quite enough to go play yet. Got about a inch on the ground.

McCall Grade near the little ski hill.

 

Edited November 17, 2015 by Mopar1973Man

[Me78569]

OP, if it makes you feel better

lolol, the tree's were about as solid as the mailbox post I am sure.....

 

Winter camping adventure, woke up to 6" on the ground and we were camping down this long narrow path.  

Edited November 17, 2015 by Me78569

[hex0rz]

Well fellas, the in laws are not very bothered by the while ordeal. It's just used as their garbage run truck. They want me to just fix the stuff on it for functionality. I've priced it out and It'll cost less than their deductible.

I feel better knowing how they feel about it now. I'm still pretty gunshy about driving the road again lol.

We haven't gotten any snow since then so it's going to be difficult getting reacquainted with driving in it until then. Before that little freak storm, it has been almost two years since driving in the snow! Not much to speak of but darn cold temps!