I think I should probably go buy a lottery ticket.
This morning on my way to work it was raining.
I was on an exit ramp from one major road to another, driving my work truck.
The ramp is a long sweeping uphill left-hander, which turns into a bridge as it continues curving over the road I'd just gotten off of.
I was doing a steady 70ish mph, as I've done hundreds of times before on this ramp, in all different weather conditions.
Only this time was different...
Going into the corner, I felt the ass end of the truck start to walk away from me.
Let off the gas, counter-steer, it keeps going.
I'm sliding sideways through this corner, hoping speed shaves off fast enough for me to regain control before I find the concrete wall on the bridge.
It didn't.
By the time I hit the wall, I was down to probably 20 mph.
Here's the lucky part.
I'd rotated far enough that I hit the wall perfectly perpendicular, going backwards.
The only thing that made contact was the truck's pintle hook.
I bounced off the wall, floored it and kept driving.
The only damage was a sheered hitch pin and a receiver that split in half after the pintle hook was driven into it.
A little cutting and welding tomorrow and it'll be good as new.
;D ;D ;D
Nice [thumbsup]
no kidding you were lucky!!!!! thats your warning to slow down in the rain!! :)
The best part was after I was back up to speed and was looking for a place to pull over and look over the back of the truck...
The guy that was behind me when it happened passed me and gave me a big thumbs up.
[laugh]
Was Jobu driving? :-*
Quote from: ducpainter on January 27, 2012, 04:33:19 PM
Was Jobu driving? :-*
If he were driving we'd probably both be dead.
:P
Pics or it didn't happen. [laugh]
Quote from: Rameses on January 27, 2012, 04:25:54 PM
The best part was after I was back up to speed and was looking for a place to pull over and look over the back of the truck...
Are you sure it wasn't to check your pants?? ;)
Nice save. [thumbsup]
wow wow wow
mitt
Good work [thumbsup]
[thumbsup]
Quote from: lethe on January 27, 2012, 04:41:24 PM
Pics or it didn't happen. [laugh]
[thumbsup]
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CKOcfljlejY/TyOTc7BOVoI/AAAAAAAABAc/HM3-GID_SvU/s512/2012-01-27_09-14-45_154.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-40XUl1SJMDI/TyOTiqD6fPI/AAAAAAAABAk/yEafIRNper8/s512/2012-01-27_09-15-00_310.jpg)
Quote from: Rameses on January 27, 2012, 04:25:54 PM
The best part was after I was back up to speed and was looking for a place to pull over and look over the back of the truck...
The guy that was behind me when it happened passed me and gave me a big thumbs up.
[laugh]
I hope you gave him the thumbs up back with a shrug and a smile like you meant to do it or do it all the time
Quote from: RAT900 on January 27, 2012, 10:39:55 PM
I hope you gave him the thumbs up back with a shrug and a smile like you meant to do it or do it all the time
I kinda smirked and gave him a nod.
8)
:o
Jeebers! I would have had to check the damage to my knickers first, then the damage to the car.
Nice save!
time for someone to go out and buy the T shirt that has "I do all my own Stunts" printed on it! [thumbsup]
can i just say "you lucky mothermake the beast with two backser" congrats on winning the battle with a concrete wall. I dont think there many people in the world who can say they won that war.
Quote from: SpankyDuc on January 28, 2012, 02:20:15 PM
time for someone to go out and buy the T shirt that has "I do all my own Stunts" printed on it! [thumbsup]
[laugh]
That's actually a good idea, I think I might try to find one of those.
I also made time to fix it today...
First up was getting the pintle hook out of the receiver. It was really jammed in there.
I ended up backing the truck up to a piece of equipment with a pipe between them and using a 3 ton chain come-along to pull it out.
Here's the damage. (And that's what was left of the hitch pin sitting on top.)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Vx6xhoZ6TYM/TySxZV--7CI/AAAAAAAABA0/I6CsquPEUow/s800/2012-01-28_13-48-43_55.jpg)
Takes a pretty solid impact to do this sort of thing.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d7Hem5jKx98/TySxusex6PI/AAAAAAAABA8/zixjX6EHZuw/s800/2012-01-28_13-49-07_141.jpg)
A little metal work and a light shot from a rattle can to mask the new steel and this's what we have. As soon as the new paint gets a little dust on it, I don't think you'll be able to tell anything happened. ;D
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_xDcdd7tqdI/TySyEgJGvTI/AAAAAAAABBE/c-knfS5gGLA/s800/2012-01-28_16-06-12_413.jpg)
looks like your handy with a grinder and welder. that makes the repair work a little easier
Nah, it's all JB Weld and Bondo.
[thumbsup]
dont know if i would tow with j-b weld. i hate the smell of that stuff... [Dolph]
[thumbsup] [thumbsup]
Quote from: Rameses on January 27, 2012, 04:36:35 PM
If he were driving we'd probably both be dead.
:P
good point.
Really nice job on the repair. Looks good as new. [thumbsup]
By the way, congrats on the mad driving skills and the save. Glad you weren't hurt. Oh... and yes, JB Weld rocks! [popcorn] [beer]
Wondering what sort of Damage was done to the Wall. That sort of a hit must of left some sort of a Mark?
who cares about the wall as long as our peeps are safe and well
Quote from: SpankyDuc on January 29, 2012, 12:32:10 PM
Wondering what sort of Damage was done to the Wall. That sort of a hit must of left some sort of a Mark?
I've driven by the wall twice since it happened and I can't see any noticeable damage.
I'm sure there's at least a scrape on it somewhere, but no chunks missing from it or anything like that.
Try harder next time ;D
Quote from: Monsterlover on January 29, 2012, 07:08:37 PM
Try harder next time ;D
I'll have to see if I can get a tungsten hitch pin. That was the weak link.
;D