Ever seen a 2500 LB sideways on the interstate?

[Extreme1]

How about a 1/2 ton 2wd with a 3500# 17' trailer on the back? #ad
4" of fresh slushy snow on the road. The trailer wheels track wider than the truck did. Three ruts in the road are clean to the pavement. Moved over when I met a Jeep. The trailer swung and took the truck with it at 50. Still don't know how I missed the jeep!
That's why I bought my 3500 4x4, I can still get the trailer to cover an extra lane (when no one is around) if driving too fast but I usually can't even feel it in the truck.

 

[Switca]

I was on a country highway somewhere between MA and CT years ago when I hit some black ice. No warning at all, the back end just came out and I did a one and a half into a snow bank, backwards and I was stuck. A local let me call AAA. While I was waiting, about a dozen more people looped thier vehicles in the same place. A local cop showed up, got out of the car and was all set to write me up driving too fast, failure to whatever and doing something stupid. He took 2 steps and went right down on his a$$. As another driver spun in front of him, he deceided to call for a sander instead of writing me up.

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Gregor Switca
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96 2500 4x4 auto SLT.
99. 5 VW Jetta TDI
Nothing but diesel in my driveway.

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Driving my sisters buick regal on my way to work when I was in high school. There was a inch of snow overnight, and the roads were damp. So since the car had cruse control and my truck didn't, I had it on. I found where there are 2 culverts under the interstate. On the first one, the car fishtailed, I got it under control after I overcorrected 4 times. I turned the cruse off and let it slow down. Then it just came around real fast and I spun around 4 times before I ended off in the median. The semi just behind me must have shet his pants. I sat there for a second, and drove off. There was a wreck in the other direction about a half mile up. Must have found another slick spot.

This is the 3rd winter with the ram, and I have yet to lose control on ice with it. But I have been sideways quite a bit on ice, just on purpose #ad
. I can go with a wheel speed of 80 and a ground speed of 30 through the mile of tractor paths to the back of my farm with snow and ice and not ever lose control. Just looks like it. #ad


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1996 2500, 4x4, 5 speed
-- email address removed -- Great Lakes TDR
PURDUE STUDENT 
GO BOILERS

 

[The patriot]

I saw a tandem dumptruck do the same thing. I was dead behind him,in my tractor trailer... loaded, but I could read the name on his door.
#ad

I had to pull over for a few minutes so I could get my heart out of my throat.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I had it happen to me on the way to SD for Christmas. I was coming onto I-90 at Mauston, WI. It was snowing, but not too bad. The 2 lane roads were snow packed, but the interstate was dry with some snow blowing across it. I merged onto the interstate from the on-ramp at about 50 mph. All of a sudden, with no warning at all, my back end went sideways into the passing lane. I swear I saw my tailgate! Luckily, it came right out of it. It must have been black ice. I never saw it. I did see the semi coming up along side of me when it happened, though! It scared the you know what out of me. I was thankful I didn't wreck it with less than 8000 miles on it.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

 

[JyRO]

That was one BIG WHEW, when it was over. Us Southern transplants CAN drive, even with the weather throwing new and improved tricks at us.

The Story:

I got on I-94 (east bound) in the Ann Arbor, MI. area. I take the speed up to 75 mph (in a 70 mph zone) and I'm the fastest thing on the road due to the cold conditions. The interstate is clear of snow and ice (so I thought). After just a couple of minutes I see the traffic starting to slow down and back up way ahead. So I start slowing also.

There's more traffic piled up in the R. H. lane than the L. H. lane and I'm also catching up to somebody in the R. H. lane. So I decide to go to the L. H. lane. I merge just fine and as I'm merging I see across the interstate going the other direction a red Ford 150 4X4 gasser plowwed nose first into the snow bank onto the side of the interstate. He seemed to slide into it (he slid to the outside, not toward the median) and he couldn't get out, even with 4WD.

I look back up as I'm going under a bride. Meanwhile I've been off the throttle for a while due to the traffic slowing ahead. As soon as I get under the bridge, the back end of the truck decides to head toward the median. WHOAH! #ad


I correct by turning left (all on instinct, no time to think about it while running 60+ mph). Then it grabs/regains traction and to keep from losing the back end the other way I have to saw the wheel back the other way. I had my 7 month old son (in the back) and, "The War Department," with me. I only had to cut the wheel 2 or 3 times, but I had to cut it so hard and quick I almost pulled a muscle. #ad
Just think about what the guy I changed lanes to pass and others behind me thought when they saw my truck, FROM THE SIDE! #ad
That big Ram with the 8' bed felt like a barn door swinging, it's so big and long.

I got some good comendations from, "The War Department. " She said she'd have lost it. Then I got to thinking about where I would've wound up, if I had lost it. I would've probably been in a very similar predicament as that Ford truck.

Went on up the road and saw a full size Ford van and a car that had done the same thing (and had hit each other in the process too). Their incident was just after a bridge too. So I checked out underneath the bridge where they had crashed and sure enough, pure ice. Sure glad I saved it though.

Look out for ice under bridges when its below freezing! We don't need to lose any more Cummins powered vehicles than we can help!

Has anybody else got any close calls to talk about?

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Y2K 2500 Cummins ETC/DEE, SLT+, 4X4, Quad, LB, Intense Blue Sport, 3. 54 LSD, rear aux. springs (camper special), sliding rear window, all options except cab clearance lights including agate leather, totally stock engine, silencer ring removed, "stealth," mod to run fogs with high beam. Since everybody else listed their toys, I will too.
1995 Kawasaki ZX6-R (For Sale)
1990 Toyota Celica
1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL (For sale)

 

[WCrovo]

Its called black ice, very unforgiveing

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2001 2500 tow, camper, SWB, ETH, Bright white.

 

[BCFAST]

Jyro, as a road racer let me first congratulate you on a difficult save! Secondly, should something like this happen again (at any speed) being OFF the throttle and the tail hung out is BAD. When it hooks up, it goes the other way almost twice as far... this is call "the snap". The text book way to control the vehicle is to add power when the rear is hanging out. It transfers weight to the rear, and will smoothly bring the vehicle straight... yes, you will still need counter-steer (turning into the slide).
My family is from Blissfield, btw!

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97 2500 CC 4x4 3. 54 5spd, Green, #12 plate slid all the way forward, 4inch open exhaust, 235/85 Michelins, RS 9000's, PrimeLoc, Red Tops, TDR cloisonae grill badge!

 

[joel]

"I look back up as I'm going under a bride. "

Well, there's your problem, dude. You're driving 75mph while under a bride??? No wonder your a$$ was swaying!

(sorry, couldn't resist)

[This message has been edited by joel (edited 01-02-2001). ]

 

[TowPro]

Leaving in the NE we see that all the time (and know to look for it). One day while doing a install in TN, I was driving through a frezing rain, when I came to a bridge. There was 6 cars smashed into the guard rail and each other, and a guy comes running at me "stop, stop, you can't cross this bridge"
Its amazing to see the reaction of people who don't know how to drive in ice/snow.

Glad you saved it, it cost a fortune to fix these things nowadays.


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• 98 ISB,QC,5spd,2wd,3:54lsd. Stock with Gauges! (and BD brake this weekend)
• 2000 Terry 305G 5th wheel

 

[Happy Camper]

My RULE OF THUMB for driving on slick roads is "Do not drive any faster than you want to drive off the road, thru rocks, trees and what ever".

Occasionally I forget the rule of thumb, but never go into a shaded area without the anticipation of frost or ice. The same for bridges of overpasses. Been sideway a number of times but not in the ram. I am fortunate that I do not have traffic (much) to contend with. I still look straight down the road trying to read the road conditions. I do have problems when the Highway truck sprays a liquid on the road which looks a lot like ice.

You are fortunate to come out of a slide at that speed and with a few vehicles on the road.

 

[CumminsAholic]

My Story...
I was heading to a snowmobile race last year pulling our 24' enclosed trailer with 4 sleds in the back going down the interstate about 75 mph. It had snowed, about 3" on the road mostly in the middle. A car was getting on up ahead so I moved over and when I did the trailer started to whip. Tried to correct it, but I wasn't in 4wd and couldn't get it in so I couldn't throttle through it. Plan 2... hit the trailer brakes to straighten it out, which will usually work. Didn't work. After the third whip I couldn't do any more but hang on for the ride. So here I am going 75 down the freeway SIDEWAYS. I looked out the passenger window and seen a car headed right towards me. I still don't know how she missed the trailer.

I was in the pasing lane headed north. In the end I was in the driving lane ditch pointed south. Talk about a ride. The lady stopped and asked if we were ok, lit up a cigarette and headed off, I think she was more nervous than me. Put the truck in 4wd and pulled the trailer out. It blew a tire on the trailer and took out the front door. On my truck... Ouch. I had to get a new box side and bumper, it basically took out the whole passenger side in the back. My dad and another guy were behind pulling another trialer and watched the whole thing, said it was really interesting. I would have been fine but I had to move over on a stupid bridge, the only icy spot on the road.
Ah well... I made it to the races and did good, I just didn't need any caffine to get me going that day.
Corey

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1998. 5 2500, 4x4, SB, Red Sport, Agate Interior, Quad Cab, O. H. Console, Auto, 4. 10 LSD, Trailer Tow and Camper Special Packages, Mopar Aluminum Nerf Bars, Spray In Bedliner, Pioneer/Jensen System, 255/85's, Bd Adjustable Preformance Box w/boost module, Boost Elbow, 4" Exhaust Split Into Two 3" w/5" cans, K+N Scotty Style, Exhaust Blanket, Bill K's Valve Body, Etc, Etc... .

 

[lawdog]

#ad
#ad
A couple of weeks ago I was on E/B I-94 just south of 12 mile in the city of Roseville / St Clair Shores border when I see a cab-over semi with a 48' trailer start sliding sideways, heading W/B on I-94, sliding nose first towards the center concrete median barrier. I'm thinking to myself, self, this guy is coming thru the wall at you. The truck did hit the wall almost head on, but it held him. The truck did a little dance and the drivers door flew open, and the driver was swinging from the steering wheel ( He later tried to tell me that he was wearing a seat belt... )It turns out he hit some poor guy who was broke down in the right lane in a Durango (tore that Durango UP). The cool thing was I caught it on my patrol cars in car video camera, so I got to watch it again later.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Ron,
I don't know if you're referring to me, but let me clarify. The on-ramp and interstate were dry with a little snow blowing across - none sticking. Traffic on the interstate was moving at 65 mph. If I hit black ice, as I suspect, it was a very small patch, because there were no more slippery spots other than that. I agree with your statements about defensive driving and prudent speeds. I wasn't being "reckless", I'm no new driver, and I am certainly no rookie at driving on snowy and icy roads. 2 seconds is the safe distance on good roads. I don't know the "correct" answer to your icy roads question, but I would say 5 seconds or more.

[This message has been edited by Fireman Dave (edited 01-04-2001). ]

 

[illflem]

Don't know about other states,but in WA if you slide off the road and need a tow truck to get out the State Patrol comes with it. They give you a $119 ticket for driving too fast for the conditions. Good news is that anyone who fights it wins since the cop wasn't there to see how fast you were going.

 

[JyRO]

Fireman Dave - I think Ol' Ron may have been talking to me.

Ol' Ron - Like I stated, the roads were clean and dry, with no snow coming down. And I DID look WAY UP the road. Like about a mile at the traffic that was slowing down and becoming piled up. That's why I began to slow down in the 1st place slowed down. I started slowing so far back from the traffic ahead that I wouldn't have even needed to use the brakes. Which I never touched during or after the slide because nobody was in front of me for a long way.

The ice that had formed under the bridge was not due to precipitation. It was due to the salt melting the snow and the fact that the water/melted snow under the bridge in the bridge shadow had RE-FROZE! Something I've never seen before.

And I'm not a new driver. I'm offended by insinuations that I should take a defensive drivers course, but I'm not going to retaliate by trying to offend you in return. If I didn't know how to drive, I would've ended up in a snow bank!

 

[Turbo Thom]

Whew:
Ya'll just don't know how much good you've have done my heart. All this time the snowbirds tell "we is da only-uns dat cant drive on ice". Well thank you for the relief. Better than ice cream and cake. Yes I've spun around on ice, but it was 6" thick and I went home. Well it was in a pord I had, in 92 I think.
Thanks for the stories. #ad

Cheers:
Preston


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96 3500, Black SLT, 5 speed, turbo diesel, , with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , Mag-hytec rear cover, dual-remote by-pass filters, and Roadmaster Active system

 

[Fireman Dave]

Preston, it just goes to show you that even if you're used to driving on icy roads, it's no guarantee you'll never have a mishap. #ad

And - as I'm sure JyRO would agree - just because you have a mishap, it doesn't necessarily mean you're a reckless idiot. #ad

 

[Max340]

Virtually all collisions are driver error? Jeez, and here the liberals thought it was the vehicle itself. Ron, a big "doh" on that one, of course its *not* (edit)the vehicle.

As for following distance in seconds, who gives a **** . Good rule to follow is allowing enough space to stop the vehicle if the guy in front of you were to be able to drive spikes into the pavement. By space I mean off the pavement as well, taking into the previous thought of desired speed across that terrain.

Personally, I have more trouble getting started moving than stopping in my 4x4 while in 2WD. I have also purposly put the truck completely sideways in a parking lot several times not only for fun, but to experience the vehicle going sideways. I agree with defensive driving, but I think it would be a great addition to the driver training to make students experience a slide under controlled circumstances in order to learn the countermeasures.

Funny how we train for everything, but hand out licenses like candy.

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Y2K 2500 QC Sport 4x4 LWB
72 Dart 340
89 LeBaron GTC 2. 2 TI

[This message has been edited by Max340 (edited 01-05-2001). ]

 

[QRTRHRS]

I like to run with the big dogs as well as the next guy. But, think about running 75 pulling a trailer, you are on the edge. (Again, not picking on anyone here as I am guilty of this myself. ) Tire blow out, bearing failure, nitwit drivers, any number of things could take you or some innocent person out big time.