A little reminder

Bryanseye

Bryanseye

Adventurist
Apologies for the cross-post; not my photo or thread. Folks here seem to have a lot of experience but I think occasional reminders like the below are good for green and seasoned alike. In the eagerness of adventure, or distraction of surroundings, it can only take a second for things to go wrong.

Without armchairing this too much, here are some bulletpoints that may have contributed to the wheels facing the wrong way.
  • New (to them) vehicle
  • Freshly installed suspension modifications
  • Heavy load up top
  • Rate of speed is not disclosed, but long, smooth tracts can invite speeds to high for a sudden turn after clearing a rise
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/trip-report-death-valley-and-a-wrecked-80.1033660/

Have fun out there and stay safe!

V6Sgz7k.jpg
 
:facepalm:fail:clowncar

I read some of the thread.... I'm glad that no one was killed or seriously injued....
What, I did read was great. Seein others come to their aid was awe inspiring.

A smart person learns from THEIR mistakes...
...a WISE person learns from the mistakes of OTHERS...
 
It's easy to judge from afar after the fact, but that photo could have been the result of something as simple as hot coffee spilled in the drivers lap or something as complicated as vehicle dynamics, road condition and velocity.

That said, those who have traveled with me in the back country know that I'm not afraid to smash the skinny pedal when it's go time. But you have to know your rig and your limits as a driver as well as maintain absolute situational awareness - road and trail conditions are always variable given weather and conditions.

Slowing down and enjoying the journey is never wrong :thumbsup
 
I got to hot footing it down a well groomed gravel road in my first DuraMax (no camper), we were headed to Guadalupe Canyon in Baja. I was cruising at 70 or so when I saw a washout ahead of me...oh Sh!@t...I got on the brakes as much as I dared, ready to let off just before I hit the washout (wheels will lock when you get air making the landing a little rougher). I hit the washout at about 50MPH and got prepared for the worst. I'm not 100% certain that I got airborne, at a minimum I completely unloaded the suspension. The landing on the other side was amazing, the truck absorbed it with no horrendous noises or yard sailing various parts...I was impressed...and I also slowed my happy ass down for the rest of that trip.
 
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I read a quote somewhere recently, it may have been here:

"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."

Great to see everyone came out OK, and the driver and passenger are a little further along in developing good judgment.

I don't like weight up high, but it doesn't make the truck undrivable, it just means you have to drive it differently. It's tough to figure out where the line is if you are new to driving off road, in a new truck, on a new suspension, with weight up top that you aren't accustomed to. She was going too fast for her experience level and the road, load, and conditions, but its only reckless if she knows that, and it doesn't sound like she had much experience to base it on. This lady's accident was inexperience, and inexperience can be fixed unless its terminal. I hope we see them back out there, where they can tell the story around the campfire and educate the next guy.

Great to see that they were quickly helped out. Having Luke from 4x4Labs show up was a great example of a good community. Having some asshat steal from them overnight was an equally terrible one.

I have been planning on one of Luke's bumpers for my FJ62. That mod just moved up the list some.
 
Wow! Read the whole story and just crazy. So glad the people and the pup were okay. Been down that trail with @Dave and @Trump. Things can definitely happen quick, especially at speed.
 
bob91yj said:
I got to hot footing it down a well groomed gravel road in my first DuraMax (no camper), we were headed to Guadalupe Canyon in Baja. I was cruising at 70 or so when I saw a washout ahead of me...oh Sh!@t...I got on the brakes as much as I dared, ready to let off just before I hit the washout (wheels will lock when you get air making the landing a little rougher). I hit the washout at about 50MPH and got prepared for the worst. I'm not 100% certain that I got airborne, at a minimum I completely unloaded the suspension. The landing on the other side was amazing, the truck absorbed it with no horrendous noises or yard sailing various parts...I was impressed...and I also slowed my happy ass down for the rest of that trip.
Click to expand...
Same experience on some desert roads around 29 Palms in a pickup, but it took losing my front bumper going off the road into a campsite on Big Bear for it to start to click. 100 feet before or after the campsite was off the mountain. My wife now tells me I drive at twice my age. I'm okay with that.
 
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