truck and trailer total loss due to black ice
So it's been almost 3 weeks since we totaled our truck and fifth wheel. We were an hour from home enroute to Florida from Hamilton, Ontario when we hit black ice, lost control, went down an embankmen...
Forum Discussion
Gee so many different opinions about 4WD. I think there is a misconception about the benefits of it and a great deal of that comes from "marketing strategy" from the auto makers. Here's my opinion, for what it's worth, and I might add that I have only owned one vehicle with it. Actually it was AWD and there is a difference!! AWD is full time, 4WD is selected.
Keep in mind that when on a wet or ice surface and you are up to speed.....all vehicles are dead equal.........they all have 4WB. That's four wheel brakes!!
True 4 wheel drive will only allow you to gain traction and gain movement on slick surfaces. After you are up to speed you are the same as any other vehicle. Now try to stop! AWD may offer some hokus pocus skid control by alternately apply power to alternate slipping wheels thus it has some benefit on ice but it's not a cure. True 4WD on pickups, with the switch on the dash, is not designed for dry pavement or worse yet highway speeds! That's why you have the switch!! Think about it.
My cousin bought his wife a new 4WD Chevy Blazer a few years ago when she completed nursing school. Her commute to work at the local hospital required about 15 miles of Interstate driving and he wanted her to be "safe" and be able to go to work. Yep, first morning of really bad snow/ice storm she had the thing upside down in the median. Flipped that puppy right over after slamming the guardrail. Lost control because she said "Honey I was doing the speed limit and had the 4WD on!"
Many guys want 4WD and think it's macho. I overheard a fellow at the local RV dealership trying to make a deal on a very large and heavy slide in truck camper. It had a floor length of 11 feet, it was heavy!! His truck was a 2500 series Chevy without dual wheels. When the salesman ask him if his truck was rated to carry this weight he said yes...."and it's four wheel drive." What the **** difference does that make????!!!! Actually 4WD trucks are rated to tow less than 2WD with comparable options because of the weight of the extra hardware...transfer case, differential, etc. So there is a big misunderstanding about 4WD and it's helped along by the auto industry and salesmen wanting the extra $4000 option.
There is no substitute for a slower speed. Everything becomes more complicated and dangerous the faster you go on dry pavement, wet pavement or slick pavement.
I try to pull my 5th wheel at a speed that does not cause me to be a problem to other motorist but at anything above 60 I try to find a way into the right lane and a slow trucker to follow. We are all pulling RV's on China made tires and they are not rated for practically any speed!! Many posts on this and other forums about "China bombs." Slower speeds give you more reaction time and less chance of damage on impact.
You cannot always follow the lead of commercial truckers. If they are running faster than you it's because they are significantly heaver with tires that are very good plus THEY ARE PAID BY THE MILE. They take risks to make a buck. Some are dangerous and can cause horrendous damage to other motorist.
Watch your windshield wipers and door mirrors. If they even get one ice crystal on them the road could have black ice. Slow down or find a rest area or parking lot to sit in for a while to figure out conditions.
Keep in mind that when on a wet or ice surface and you are up to speed.....all vehicles are dead equal.........they all have 4WB. That's four wheel brakes!!
True 4 wheel drive will only allow you to gain traction and gain movement on slick surfaces. After you are up to speed you are the same as any other vehicle. Now try to stop! AWD may offer some hokus pocus skid control by alternately apply power to alternate slipping wheels thus it has some benefit on ice but it's not a cure. True 4WD on pickups, with the switch on the dash, is not designed for dry pavement or worse yet highway speeds! That's why you have the switch!! Think about it.
My cousin bought his wife a new 4WD Chevy Blazer a few years ago when she completed nursing school. Her commute to work at the local hospital required about 15 miles of Interstate driving and he wanted her to be "safe" and be able to go to work. Yep, first morning of really bad snow/ice storm she had the thing upside down in the median. Flipped that puppy right over after slamming the guardrail. Lost control because she said "Honey I was doing the speed limit and had the 4WD on!"
Many guys want 4WD and think it's macho. I overheard a fellow at the local RV dealership trying to make a deal on a very large and heavy slide in truck camper. It had a floor length of 11 feet, it was heavy!! His truck was a 2500 series Chevy without dual wheels. When the salesman ask him if his truck was rated to carry this weight he said yes...."and it's four wheel drive." What the **** difference does that make????!!!! Actually 4WD trucks are rated to tow less than 2WD with comparable options because of the weight of the extra hardware...transfer case, differential, etc. So there is a big misunderstanding about 4WD and it's helped along by the auto industry and salesmen wanting the extra $4000 option.
There is no substitute for a slower speed. Everything becomes more complicated and dangerous the faster you go on dry pavement, wet pavement or slick pavement.
I try to pull my 5th wheel at a speed that does not cause me to be a problem to other motorist but at anything above 60 I try to find a way into the right lane and a slow trucker to follow. We are all pulling RV's on China made tires and they are not rated for practically any speed!! Many posts on this and other forums about "China bombs." Slower speeds give you more reaction time and less chance of damage on impact.
You cannot always follow the lead of commercial truckers. If they are running faster than you it's because they are significantly heaver with tires that are very good plus THEY ARE PAID BY THE MILE. They take risks to make a buck. Some are dangerous and can cause horrendous damage to other motorist.
Watch your windshield wipers and door mirrors. If they even get one ice crystal on them the road could have black ice. Slow down or find a rest area or parking lot to sit in for a while to figure out conditions.
