Hit black ice and flew off the road today

[TRanger03]

So I was on my way back from Pymatuning Valley earlier today, going a lot faster then I should I have been, and hit black ice. My ranger went sliding all over the road and into a giant field. I would say the snow was atleast 2 feet deep. I almost got it out, but managed to get myself buried in snow. My rear axle was at FULL FLEX. Luckily, a guy who owned the land had a tractor and a local tow truck happened to drive by shortly after. Without front tow hooks, we had to put a J-hook to my lower control arm and gently pulled it the rest of the way out. I drove the rest of the 80 highway miles home without problem. I'm thanking my lucky stars nothing bad truly happened. When I lost control and knew that I was headed for the field, I said a short prayer. I'm still in shock that I made it out of this without being injured, or destroying my ranger. But on the bright side, it was a Ford tractor that pulled me out!

 

[02RangerXLT]

You have a 4x4 and you didn't have tow hooks?

 

[Mac]

Thankfully you and truck are alright. I remember very clearing going to work one day on the interstate, road was completly clear but the wind had blow the fine snow and all the traffic had melted that into that dreaded black ice. Saw the two black strips and slowed down to 55 in my 4x4. Guy behind must have been in a hurry, pulled out in the passing lane and must have done a 720 deg going into the median. On the way home in that ten mile area, I counted eight differnent places when people went off. Got to pay attention!
Dave

 

[97RangerXLT]

You have a 4x4 and you didn't have tow hooks?

my 97 is 4x4 and does not have tow hooks. one of the things that is on my list to add...

AJ

 

[Daven]

Glad your ok. Any damage to the truck? One of my greatest fears of driving is rolling into the ditch on the highway... Yesterday someone pulled into my lane as i was turning and it totalled off her 2000 neon and my trucks down for the count. And that was me going slow enough to make a turn on melting snowy streets, and the other person pulling a rolling stop and deciding to make a REALLY sharp left turn as i turned right.

And ya, i dont have tow hooks either on my 4x4. I really want to get something i can hook to later on, but i guess thats postponed a bit now

 

[Toms01PSD]

my 97 is 4x4 and does not have tow hooks. one of the things that is on my list to add...

AJ

98+ 4x4's come with tow hooks from the factory. OP's truck info says 2003 4x4.

 

[LearjetMinako]

my 97 is 4x4 and does not have tow hooks. one of the things that is on my list to add...

AJ

One of those items that are on my wish list too. Even thou mine is a 4x2.

 

[TRanger03]

98+ 4x4's come with tow hooks from the factory. OP's truck info says 2003 4x4.

Took them off to do the body lift. Havn't had time to figure out a nice way to cut my valence or where to weld to my frame.

And the truck looks just the same as it did before. No visible body damage, and the truck rode normal the rest of the way home which was around 70 highway miles and 10-15 miles in the city.