Peter Westling
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- December 4, 2003
- Messages
- 252
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Rosersberg, Sweden
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '93 XLT
Me, my friend and my two year old son lost traction on a countryroad toady.
We had a trip to see the new inhouse MX place, sun was shining and temp were above freezing level, but when we were heading home it was extremly slippery (did not noticed that though) , I was taken by suprise and suddenly I lost the control of the explorer. Speed was about 40-45 mph Small skid to left and then the bigger one to the right that turned the vehicle nearly 180 degrees. I headed the ditch with my rear first and turned slowly around doing a 90 degree angle with rear wheels in the ditch and front still on road.
After some meters ploughing the ditch we stopped.
Luckily there were no rocks or telephonepoles near the road and no meeting traffic at the time. My son got a bump in his forehead when the leftside of the head collided with the right door pillar. A minute of crying later things were ok. Still he has a slightly blue swelling.
I am really happy that I had the 32" swampers on, they took some beating going wrong angle in the ditch so that I did not rolled over. I friend of mine was in the car behind me and he was absolutely sure that we were about to roll. I am glad that I have gone through most parts and replaced the old rusty ones such as ujoints, bearings and balljoints.
Getting from the ditch was no problem, did not even had to use the 4x4. Engine was never turned off.. My hands were shaking some hours afterwards though, realizing that the situation could definately cause more harm to me and passengers than it did.
As a bonus there was no harm to the vehicle, just mud, grass on strange places. The road got pretty dirty too when ripping dirt up from the ditch.
I am very glad that I drive this car, my last one was a 800kg Opel Astra, the situation would look pretty different with that one.
Take care out there, watch out for the icey roads!
We had a trip to see the new inhouse MX place, sun was shining and temp were above freezing level, but when we were heading home it was extremly slippery (did not noticed that though) , I was taken by suprise and suddenly I lost the control of the explorer. Speed was about 40-45 mph Small skid to left and then the bigger one to the right that turned the vehicle nearly 180 degrees. I headed the ditch with my rear first and turned slowly around doing a 90 degree angle with rear wheels in the ditch and front still on road.
After some meters ploughing the ditch we stopped.
Luckily there were no rocks or telephonepoles near the road and no meeting traffic at the time. My son got a bump in his forehead when the leftside of the head collided with the right door pillar. A minute of crying later things were ok. Still he has a slightly blue swelling.
I am really happy that I had the 32" swampers on, they took some beating going wrong angle in the ditch so that I did not rolled over. I friend of mine was in the car behind me and he was absolutely sure that we were about to roll. I am glad that I have gone through most parts and replaced the old rusty ones such as ujoints, bearings and balljoints.
Getting from the ditch was no problem, did not even had to use the 4x4. Engine was never turned off.. My hands were shaking some hours afterwards though, realizing that the situation could definately cause more harm to me and passengers than it did.
As a bonus there was no harm to the vehicle, just mud, grass on strange places. The road got pretty dirty too when ripping dirt up from the ditch.
I am very glad that I drive this car, my last one was a 800kg Opel Astra, the situation would look pretty different with that one.
Take care out there, watch out for the icey roads!
It is always tricky this time of year when road surfaces can be dry in some places and very slick/frozen in others.. I had this experience many hears ago with an '87 5.0L Mustang (which I bought new off the lot 3 days before) and know it feels... I lost control on an icy road while traveling 30mph, spun 270degs, and rested 2 feet from a large tree. I had no damage and was able to continue driving, but I did so at under 20mph and was nervous/shaking the whole time.
