Wife walked away

[cummins2k]

No this isn't a divorce story. Friday was my day completely off from everything. No work, no college, and even my kids didn't have to go to school. My wife had to work though. I had recently sold her 09 Ford Focus because the number of issues the car had. She had mentioned multiple times that she didn't feel safe driving it anyway. So she began driving my old 94 Dodge Dakota Sport. I had kept the truck around just because. I liked the truck. It was under powered with a Magnum V6, didn't have any power options, didn't even have a/c. However it was a 4x4 with 31" tires and did great in the deeper snow and mud. Every time my wife would get on me for keeping it around I would always tell her it had been through many things that would have put most vehicles in the junk yard and yet it keeps going.Friday morning would be no exception. It was about 5 am and my phone rang. She had already left for work and it was her on the caller i.d. I answered and she was screaming, "I rolled the truck, I can't get out" she said. I heard someone yelling to her to put up the phone. The phone went dead. I know her route to work. It is a 30 mile trip. With no time to waste I threw the kids in the Ram and took off. About 15 miles out I saw the truck. The cable guard rail was thrashed and the truck was laying on its drivers side.She was in a police car across the highway. I pulled into the center median and walked across to the cop car. She was sitting the back. Shaken, but only one bruise to show for it. I was told a sheet metal contractor and a soldier stopped to pull her out of the truck. Never did get their names, wish I did so I could thank them. The contractor had told the police that she hit ice and veered through 3 lanes of traffic, missing every car, colliding sideways with the guard rail, before flipping several feet in the air while crashing down on the drivers side.The craziest part is she wasn't wearing a seat belt, the nearly 20 year old air bag failed to deploy, and yet she walked away.The story gets even weirder though.State law mandates all accidents be removed from the interstate. The police had already called a tow service. When the driver arrived I helped him with the extraction, explaining I could only afford the minimal. He managed to winch it back on it's wheels. He told me he highly doubted it would run after that kind of hit. You should have saw his face. I got in the truck, placed the key in the ignition and it started up as though nothing happened. There was a flat tire though. We got it back on pavement and I swapped the flat for the spare. I paid the tow driver and he drove away. It was apparent that something was broke in the suspension so I had my wife follow me slowly in the Ram. However it sits in my drive way on its own four wheels and starts with the first turn of the key.Mind you every panel on this truck was straight at 5:40 this morning, at 5:41 every panel was bent. But the old truck made it home. My wife even remarked to the tow truck driver when it started "now he will never get rid of this thing." Chances are I probably won't.

[dripley]

Glad to hear she is ok.

[cummins2k]

Glad to hear she is ok.

Honestly looking at the truck sitting on the side of the house the only thing I could think to say was, thank you. I can't even begin to think how I would live without my wife. She is the kind of woman I can't stay mad at for more than five minutes. Dodge has a devoted customer, not because they build a good truck, but because their truck saved my wife.

[hex0rz]

...the first order of business should now be a good swift kick in the ___. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT! Listen, she could have been EJECTED from the truck. Very few people who are ejected gain from the fact of being ejected. Your wife needs to rethink the small things about life. That simple little mistake of not making the click sound could have meant your kids going the rest of their lives without a mother. I don't mean to sound harsh, but this is life or death when you get into a vehicle. There is no routine!On the other hand, I hope she is okay, and you guys are spending quality time together.

[cummins2k]

...the first order of business should now be a good swift kick in the ___. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT! Listen, she could have been EJECTED from the truck. Very few people who are ejected gain from the fact of being ejected. Your wife needs to rethink the small things about life. That simple little mistake of not making the click sound could have meant your kids going the rest of their lives without a mother. I don't mean to sound harsh, but this is life or death when you get into a vehicle. There is no routine!On the other hand, I hope she is okay, and you guys are spending quality time together.

Honestly I blame myself. I have had trouble "clicking it" since I was a teenager. When I purchased my first car, my mother being a nurse always enforced seat belts. I did use it too. One night I went to a party and drank to much and took a ride home from a family member. I was in a 80's Mustang on a gravel road, not wearing a seat belt. The car flipped end over end. Some how I was ejected from the car. I don't remember it. The police told me I went through the windshield. I was scrapped up from the gravel but fine other than that. The female police officer said I was lucky I wasn't wearing my seat belt. Later seeing the car at the lot I realized why. The entire passenger side was crushed. If I hadn't have slipped out I most likely wouldn't be writing this. I have always felt claustrophobic while wearing one since. When she purchased her Focus in 09, the car would not shut up unless you clicked the belt. Somehow it was more annoying than not wearing it and I started clicking it again without even thinking about it. She didn't however. She knew my previous disgust for seat belts and me being the guy that kept her cars together probably took my every word as gospel.I am just thankful that the truck held together. The glass didn't even break. I know this is a one in a million accident but honestly the truck did good by me. I have my wife home with little more than a story to tell.Certainly the next time we are in the car I am going to click it and ask her to do the same. Chances are for casino's. Not for driving. I don't mind being the good example.

[dually]

Men, listen to the wife. here is the proof. What did she say? "I dont feel safe" Some people will say they have some sort of 6th sense. I really dont believe that myself. I lean on the holy spirit of God. Anyway. your a good husband and i am glad she is ok. Now put a roll cage in that little dodge

[flagmanruss]

I am very glad your wife is OK. However,In far more cases seat belts save lives. Saved my HS girl friend when her sister lost control on the NY Thuway & hit a light pole base before the days of breakaways... 1963 Chrysler 300. When I saw her naked, the seat belt bruises were most impressive & interrupted our sex life for a time... but she walked away. Same GF & I were wearing seatbelts when I stuffed my Dad's 59 Ford Fairlane under the rear of a Olds 4-4-2 in heavy traffic Christmas week in 1967. I spun out my 68 Plymouth Roadrunner (freakin bias tires it came with), without the seatbelt (vynal bench seat) I'd not have been behind the wheel to recover. I did a bunch of damage to some guys lawn, missed the massive oak trees and his house. More recently, daughter's HS friend (brother of her BBF)... a decent kid, where he should have been, doing what he should have been... driving to a summer job (apprentice to a construction contractor). Pulled the shift knob off his import truck on the interstate ramp, lost control & rolled it. He WAS ejected & is now in a wheelchair. I give him a lot of credit for returning to HS, graduating on time & then College. I always start the vehicle with it off. Then while the oil pressure builds, I buckle up. You've been blessed... make the most of it.Russell

[MarbleCrusher]

Wow glad that she is ok and its amazing how good a shape her and the truck came out. Seat belts do in fact save lives. Here is a pic of a truck i was driving a year and half ago and had I not been wearing my seatbelt i most likely wouldnt be here.

-Jordan-

[dripley]

With or without, i'd say you were pretty luck to be here. I dont know what you hit but from the looks of it, it did not give much.

[cummins2k]

Wow glad that she is ok and its amazing how good a shape her and the truck came out. Seat belts do in fact save lives. Here is a pic of a truck i was driving a year and half ago and had I not been wearing my seatbelt i most likely wouldnt be here.

-Jordan-

Ouch! Certainly looks like whatever you hit brought that to a dead stop. It is amazing the things some of us survive through. I guess our numbers were not up those days.

[jlwelding]

Short wheel base

[flagmanruss]

She said "I don't feel safe". She did not act on her intuition. Honestly, very often I have plunged ahead when I felt things going to crap. More recently, I have tried to dial back on days when I have these feelings. Try to avoid sharp power tools... put off critical decisions... avoid long trips...

[Mopar1973Man]

She said "I don't feel safe". She did not act on her intuition. Honestly, very often I have plunged ahead when I felt things going to crap. More recently, I have tried to dial back on days when I have these feelings. Try to avoid sharp power tools... put off critical decisions... avoid long trips...

Mom and I are both like this. When we both feel that way we tend to listen to each other. But I'm typically the bold person of the family that dives out in an any kind of weather and tackles anything. But I've also been a stickler to make sure all my vehicles had a outside temp gauge. Anytime that temp falls below 35-37*F my speed is instantly reduced most likely way below speed limit posted. The temp gauge in my truck has a programmable alarm that I can set to alert me of ice. Idaho state does NOT have a minimum speed limit. So you may drive as slow as you wish. But Idaho does give out fines for sliding off the pavement. If you driving along a road say at 30-35 MPH the posted speed limit is 65 MPH and you slide off the pavement. It your fault for driving too fast for road conditions. So if you got to drive 25 MPH due to the road conditions - do it. People have this concept of if it post 65 MPH you got to drive that fast in the winter time. Another reason I own a manual transmission because it gives me percise control of torque and driving force. If the tires slip I can clutch in and allow the drivetrain to match the road again. Also I can force a high gear and hold a low RPM for traveling slick patches (low TQ). Where a automatic trans tend to bounce back and forth and if it shift harsh enough it could start a slide action. This especial helpful in climbing steep single lane canyon roads. Maybe it because every winter I take the trucks down to a very large pull out and play in the ice and snow to get that feel for slip and sliding so when it does occur it never spooks me. Like I said I very rarely ever use 4WD in the winter time. Never use chains either... 4WD to me is a safety fall back. If I got to engage 4WD driving on winter roads then I should consider going home because I don't belong there and I'm now pushing the safety limits. Remember I live where there is NO cell service, tow truck is at least 2 hours away, and winter temp can be as low as -20*F.

[hawk-eye]

Mom and I are both like this. When we both feel that way we tend to listen to each other. But I'm typically the bold person of the family that dives out in an any kind of weather and tackles anything. But I've also been a stickler to make sure all my vehicles had a outside temp gauge. Anytime that temp falls below 35-37*F my speed is instantly reduced most likely way below speed limit posted. The temp gauge in my truck has a programmable alarm that I can set to alert me of ice. Idaho state does NOT have a minimum speed limit. So you may drive as slow as you wish. But Idaho does give out fines for sliding off the pavement. If you driving along a road say at 30-35 MPH the posted speed limit is 65 MPH and you slide off the pavement. It your fault for driving too fast for road conditions. So if you got to drive 25 MPH due to the road conditions - do it. People have this concept of if it post 65 MPH you got to drive that fast in the winter time. Another reason I own a manual transmission because it gives me percise control of torque and driving force. If the tires slip I can clutch in and allow the drivetrain to match the road again. Also I can force a high gear and hold a low RPM for traveling slick patches (low TQ). Where a automatic trans tend to bounce back and forth and if it shift harsh enough it could start a slide action. This especial helpful in climbing steep single lane canyon roads. Maybe it because every winter I take the trucks down to a very large pull out and play in the ice and snow to get that feel for slip and sliding so when it does occur it never spooks me. Like I said I very rarely ever use 4WD in the winter time. Never use chains either... 4WD to me is a safety fall back. If I got to engage 4WD driving on winter roads then I should consider going home because I don't belong there and I'm now pushing the safety limits. Remember I live where there is NO cell service, tow truck is at least 2 hours away, and winter temp can be as low as -20*F. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3691[/ATTACH]

yup, i do this all the time, even just drifting around corners and what not....my friends all think I'm just goofing off, but when i hit a slick spot I regain controll pretty quick.....when they hit ice they go in the ditch!!

[CUMMINSDIESELPWR]

whenever im out in bad winter weather and i want to get a feel for how much traction is available on the road, i hammer the gass and determine how much slip it causes and how easily. Sometimes its hard to slip, other times it very easy and i reduce speed dictated by the road.Having the exhaust brake plus deflating the tires to about 20psi and being in 4wd equates to AWESOME stopping potential! (proven it many times)I have yet to have an issue utilizing these fundamentals of deflated tires and exhaust brake. Plus having the manyy trans does make a world of difference.I too go out and play sometimes to get a good feel of how my truck reacts to situations. Most of the time i find just letting off the skinny pedal corrects most of the issues found while driving on crappy roads.

[cummins2k]

Honestly I grew up with sports cars. Junk ones at that. I have never had issues with winter driving with even those cars unless the snow was deep. With the trucks I usually lower my tire pressures all around and throw a little weight in the bed right over the axle. The only major change in driving style is giving more room and driving as weather permits. I really don't drive fast even on a sunny day anyway.However all the good advice in the world is not going to convince a woman that knows it all lol. Not trying to be sexist but I really cannot tell my wife something and have her follow it. She just wont. It always takes her experiencing exactly what I told her was going to happen and me standing there saying I told you so for her to get the point.Sure it would help if she listened the first time but I know by now it is not going to happen. :banghead: