Lost Control...

[Mark_88]

That was a first...driving home from my sister-in-law's place today on a back road...howling wind and blowing snow making it very low visibility in some spots...the road, as it turned out, was a sheet of ice (didn't realize it though)...doing about 65 km/h and in four-wheel drive because I just got stuck in the driveway by not being able to see the snow drift at the end...

So...I'm cruising down the center of the road and I see this ski-doo coming to a junction in the road and not looking like he's slowing down...I tap...and mean TAP the brakes...and it goes into a side skid passenger side first...correct that...just about out of it and it either hit a dry spot or I over compensated and end up swinging the drivers' side around...couldn't bring it back...slide ass-backwards into the ditch...

Not a problem...call CAA...10-20 minute hold time...oh, boy...

I clear most of the foot of snow away from the vehicle and assess the road...miraculously, I was still on solid shoulder but about three feet off the actual side of the road...

So, I have my nephew with me...who is blind and never driven...has no idea how to work a gas pedal...I tell him to get into the drivers side and I will push...we get it rockin'...it starts to move....cool...then he guns the engine (I guess he got excited with the movement) and I realize that if the tires catch at that RPM he will shoot across the road and into the ditch...so I scream for him to stop...

Pissed at this, I tell him to get in the passenger side and I try to back it out again...Dang...slides further into the ditch...

Then two ski-doos stop and the drivers come over to offer to push...I suggest if he has a tow rope we can try to pull it out instead...Luckily, he has a nylon tow strap...so I hook it up...his wife gets on the back of the ski-doo for traction...and he yanks me clean onto the solid road...

Whew!

I didn't think they had that much towing power, but I was glad they did...

The first ski-dooer, after seeing we were ok...simply took off...didn't even offer to help...

 

[v-8power]

Thats cool they helped ya out.

 

[Kdawg532]

yea dude you got lucky man

 

[86ford]

take a 12 inch wide belt and sit 400+pounds on it then attach a motor cycle engine, there you have a snow mobile. That single "track" or whatever they call it gets more traction than you could ever imagine. I am happy to hear you got out! I spent an hr today on a trail trying to fabricate a clutch linkage for my buddies 79 f150. 1 battery terminal, 1 bolt, 1 9/16th socket and a few washers later we were on our way home.

86

 

[DRanger024]

I pulled a subaru with a 2 place sled trailer out of a ditch in the UP with my Yamaha a couple years ago. Thank god for that 700 tripple. Ended up smoking a brand new 80 dollar belt and afterward realized it was my cousin and her dad haha. Never got any money for the belt though, bummer.

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks guys...I learned a bit of a lesson I guess...not to be too confident with 4 WD...lol...I've said that most vehicles I saw in the ditch were 4x4s...now I know why...

I was pretty fortunate that the couple offered to help...have to try to help someone to return the favour...

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yep I learned that a while ago when it had rained over the snow and froze over, 4wd only helps with go not slow. lol I should install some parachutes like the dragsters.

Glad to hear your ok too, its pretty tramatizing when your out of control!

 

[86ford]

Thanks guys...I learned a bit of a lesson I guess...not to be too confident with 4 WD...lol...I've said that most vehicles I saw in the ditch were 4x4s...now I know why...

I was pretty fortunate that the couple offered to help...have to try to help someone to return the favour...

I do my best to help everyone I can. Everyone deserves a helping hand every once in a while.

Original_Ranger84

4wd can help with stopping when you have a manual trans because down shifting and easing off the clutch provides significant force and resistance to slow the vehicle.

86

 

[rickster]

When I worked out in the sticks at this test track a lot of guys kept a come-along and a length of rope in their vehicles. When I asked why, my boss said you needed that to pull yourself back onto the road every now and then. They transferred me to a another facility in town before winter hit and I was pretty happy about that.

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

good to hear that you got out. ive had a couple close call but i was in 2 wd an not 4 wd like i should of been lol. where abouts did u go in the ditch? i live in midhurst whre do u live?

well if ya every get stuck again just let me kno ill come help ya out.

 

[Earl43P]

Sounds like the classic grabby rear brakes bit you.

 

[Mark_88]

good to hear that you got out. ive had a couple close call but i was in 2 wd an not 4 wd like i should of been lol. where abouts did u go in the ditch? i live in midhurst whre do u live?

well if ya every get stuck again just let me kno ill come help ya out.

Thanks for the offer Mudding...

I was on Con 7 south of Elmvale...probably just up the road from you, but I was about 2 km west of Hwy 11...

Wasn't surprised that CAA was so busy, but I didn't really want to sit and wait for them anyways...called them before I assessed the situation and was probably overreacting because it actually scared the crap out of me...

Aside from the fact that my nephew usually cannot help with things like that and I was more concerned about his well being...once I got out and saw that I was still on solid ground I figured it wouldn't be too hard to get out.

Sounds like the classic grabby rear brakes bit you.

Not sure if it was the brakes or the wind...there was a really strong cross wind that was coming from the northwest and may have caused the backside to slide further than I expected...but I might have also hit the gas a bit while I was trying to correct it with steering.

Just happened so dang fast...

I've messed about with that truck a few times to get a feel for the way it responds, but usually at slower speeds and more ideal conditions (as in no wind)...