AH64ID wrote:
Ouch!!
Did the u-bolts break? Or did the springs break?
As for 4wd, where you in it? I am guessing so, and that just makes it all the more apparent how slick it was. In 2wd it's not hard to slide a DRW, especially on 19.5's but in 4wd at least one front tire also has to be sliding and that's a bit harder under the weight of a diesel...unless its VERY slick.
It looks like the only thing that broke was the locating pin or pins that hold the axle and springs in the proper place. I can see what looks like a sheared pin or bolt on one of the springs. The long leaf that goes between the two perches is still attached to both of them, and the perches don't appear to be bent, but everything else (axle, springs, U-bolts, spacer blocks) is slid towards the rear bumper about 18". The U-bolts are of course twisted, and the spring packs on both sides look like they have shifted.
I was in 4-High at the time, which was the only way I could have made it on the hilly roads leading to my driveway. I actually think being in 4WD might have worked against me going down the driveway though, because I think it kept me from being able to recover from sliding by getting off the brakes and just letting it roll for a bit. I've been able to do that before with other vehicles, but when I tried it this time it didn't work. My feeling is that with both axles effectively coupled to the idling engine, it prevented all the tires from rolling as fast as I was sliding. I might as well have been standing on the brakes.
Of course, letting it roll down an icy hill is a two-edged sword. I might have been able to regain some control by adding some throttle, but eventually you have to stop, and I was picking up speed the further down-hill I went. I don't think there's enough room at the bottom to stop something as heavy as the truck is.
Maybe I should think about putting in a runaway truck lane, some kind of thick hedge, or some arresting cables? :B Nah, the smart thing to do would have been to park it at the top and walk the rest of the way. I had my Yak-Tracks with me, I would have made it without even falling down.
:):)
