Accidental Off Roading

[Offroadnewbie]

Just wanted to take a moment and say as a reminder be always be safe when it’s icy out. I just got back from a 2 and a half week trip visiting family and when I got home jumped in my Gladiator to head out and meet friends.

It had snowed a few days before I got back and all of the roads seemed clear. On my way out there was a new stop light installed a couple months ago and this is the first winter it’s been up. I was definitely a moron and didn’t notice the traffic ahead wasn’t moving due to an accident at the intersection. The truck ahead of me hit their brakes and came to stop just short of a head on collision. I was far enough back that I thought I was fine but when I hit my brakes to stop I was on an ice patch and didn’t. In that split second I let off the brake and decided running off the semi steep embankment was a better option then rear ending the guy in front of me. I’m going to inspect it more closely tomorrow but there appears to be no issues but if I had been in my previous vehicle I’d definitely have a steep repair bill.

Be safe and don’t be an idiot like me. Sure I had just finished traveling and flying for over 12 hours but that’s no excuse. I got lucky in the end.

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[WILDHOBO]

Glad to hear you’re good. Sounds like quick thinking on your part. You coming to Ouray in July?

 

[NC_Overland]

Just wanted to take a moment and say as a reminder be always be safe when it’s icy out. I just got back from a 2 and a half week trip visiting family and when I got home jumped in my Gladiator to head out and meet friends.

It had snowed a few days before I got back and all of the roads seemed clear. On my way out there was a new stop light installed a couple months ago and this is the first winter it’s been up. I was definitely a moron and didn’t notice the traffic ahead wasn’t moving due to an accident at the intersection. The truck ahead of me hit their brakes and came to stop just short of a head on collision. I was far enough back that I thought I was fine but when I hit my brakes to stop I was on an ice patch and didn’t. In that split second I let off the brake and decided running off the semi steep embankment was a better option then rear ending the guy in front of me. I’m going to inspect it more closely tomorrow but there appears to be no issues but if I had been in my previous vehicle I’d definitely have a steep repair bill.

Be safe and don’t be an idiot like me. Sure I had just finished traveling and flying for over 12 hours but that’s no excuse. I got lucky in the end.

I had something similar happen when I had my Canyon, but it was at internet speed. Mine went a step further and hit a culvert and caught some major air. Mine was at night also so I couldn’t see if there was any damage. The next morning I looked for damage, but couldn’t see anything, but it was so covered in mud it was hard to tell. I drove it to work and it seemed ok, but I put it up on a lift to double check. Everything was fine. If my 2017 Canyon could handle it, I know my gladiator could. I’m sure your Jeep is fine.

 

[Offroadnewbie]

Glad to hear you’re good. Sounds like quick thinking on your part. You coming to Ouray in July?

That’s currently the plan. I’m starting to shop around for a bed rack and roof top tent at the moment as well as a better air compressor and a few smaller upgrades to get ready. The suspension will probably still be pretty stock still when the time comes

 

[Offroadnewbie]

I had something similar happen when I had my Canyon, but it was at internet speed. Mine went a step further and hit a culvert and caught some major air. Mine was at night also so I couldn’t see if there was any damage. The next morning I looked for damage, but couldn’t see anything, but it was so covered in mud it was hard to tell. I drove it to work and it seemed ok, but I put it up on a lift to double check. Everything was fine. If my 2017 Canyon could handle it, I know my gladiator could. I’m sure your Jeep is fine.

I’m fairly certain it’s fine but being so new I still get a little nervous. It definitely took worse hits on the trail I took it on. I’m pretty sure the biggest hit was on the bump stop.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’m fairly certain it’s fine but being so new I still get a little nervous. It definitely took worse hits on the trail I took it on. I’m pretty sure the biggest hit was on the bump stop.

I’ve hit my bump stops MANY times. It feels and sounds bad, but they’re there for a reason. It’ll be fine.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’m fairly certain it’s fine but being so new I still get a little nervous. It definitely took worse hits on the trail I took it on. I’m pretty sure the biggest hit was on the bump stop.

That’s currently the plan. I’m starting to shop around for a bed rack and roof top tent at the moment as well as a better air compressor and a few smaller upgrades to get ready. The suspension will probably still be pretty stock still when the time comes

Very cool. Careful line choices. We’ll all get through safely.

 

[NC_Overland]

I’m fairly certain it’s fine but being so new I still get a little nervous. It definitely took worse hits on the trail I took it on. I’m pretty sure the biggest hit was on the bump stop.

Mine was brand new also so I get the feeling. I guess the All Terrain package meant something haha.

 

[kad's_Glad]

Glad to hear you’re okay. Sounds like the truck will be okay also (w/luck). I too have had to dive for the shoulder to avoid a worst case scenario. Just a thought for anyone that may be in a similar situation in the future; it’s generally recommended to keep your foot on the brake while turning (for the ditch or wherever). I know it’s an odd thought to many but ABS should kick in and let the vehicle scrub off some speed while still allowing steering inputs. And any speed you can loose will help minimize potential damage heading into a ditch. That was the hardest thing for me to believe when I went through some professional driving classes. Especially after growing up in snowy New England where I was taught the opposite. After many, and I mean many, passes through various courses I came to trust ABS and am a convert now. As one of my instructors said: “resist the release and just turn”. Not Monday morning quarterbacking, just wanted to throw out a PSA on the benefits of ABS.

 

[DocMike]

Yup. Will be chill and fun.

Very cool. Careful line choices. We’ll all get through safely.

 

[NC_Overland]

Glad to hear you’re okay. Sounds like the truck will be okay also (w/luck). I too have had to dive for the shoulder to avoid a worst case scenario. Just a thought for anyone that may be in a similar situation in the future; it’s generally recommended to keep your foot on the brake while turning (for the ditch or wherever). I know it’s an odd thought to many but ABS should kick in and let the vehicle scrub off some speed while still allowing steering inputs. And any speed you can loose will help minimize potential damage heading into a ditch. That was the hardest thing for me to believe when I went through some professional driving classes. Especially after growing up in snowy New England where I was taught the opposite. After many, and I mean many, passes through various courses I came to trust ABS and am a convert now. As one of my instructors said: “resist the release and just turn”. Not Monday morning quarterbacking, just wanted to throw out a PSA on the benefits of ABS.

I agree on it going against instincts and I’ve also had professional driving classes. To a certain extinct, that’s why brake assist was invented.

Even worse, is when you are driving a vehicle you assumed had ABS and it doesn’t. When I first met my fiancée, she had a POS 2005 Kia Optima. It was the V6 and had 4 wheel disc brakes and I just assumed it had ABS. Totally my fault, I was driving her car for the day while I was fixing some things on it and I was driving to work and I was on the interstate doing 80 (with traffic). I looked down for a second and I came over a hill and traffic was stopped. I put the brakes to the floor and started sliding and I had no steering, it was just sliding straight (it also needed struts badly), so I had to let off the gas and then I turned and hit the grass on the left shoulder. The back end came around on me and I slid sideways through the grass and straightened sit back up and somehow didn’t hit the fence in the middleweight. The only damage was some flat spotted tires, but I was literally on the way to drop it off for tires. She didn’t have that POS much longer after that.

a lot of luck there, but it made me remember how used to I am to having disc brakes and stability control and all.

 

[kad's_Glad]

I agree on it going against instincts and I’ve also had professional driving classes. To a certain extinct, that’s why brake assist was invented.

Even worse, is when you are driving a vehicle you assumed had ABS and it doesn’t. When I first met my fiancée, she had a POS 2005 Kia Optima. It was the V6 and had 4 wheel disc brakes and I just assumed it had ABS. Totally my fault, I was driving her car for the day while I was fixing some things on it and I was driving to work and I was on the interstate doing 80 (with traffic). I looked down for a second and I came over a hill and traffic was stopped. I put the brakes to the floor and started sliding and I had no steering, it was just sliding straight (it also needed struts badly), so I had to let off the gas and then I turned and hit the grass on the left shoulder. The back end came around on me and I slid sideways through the grass and straightened sit back up and somehow didn’t hit the fence in the middleweight. The only damage was some flat spotted tires, but I was literally on the way to drop it off for tires. She didn’t have that POS much longer after that.

a lot of luck there, but it made me remember how used to I am to having disc brakes and stability control and all.

That sounded like a heck of a ride! Stability control is great, but I do miss just being able to throw a car into a long drift through a turn.

 

[NC_Overland]

That sounded like a heck of a ride! Stability control is great, but I do miss just being able to throw a car into a long drift through a turn.

Yeah. It was. It was kind of embarrassing after, but when merging back on the road I got a few thumbs ups lol.

Yeah, my gladiator didn't like it when I was trying to drift it around in the rain on the old stock tiny all season tires before I put real tires on it. Even when “off” it killed all of my attempted fun.

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