She's back tomorrow!

[MeBe4running]

So... a long story short, I was driving home from work about a month ago. I decided to take the back route home (70% dirt roads). Well, we had a fair bit of rain in a short period of time causing flash floods in certain areas. Some of the roads where washed away, literally. The dirt trucks where out in full force repairing and placing fresh rock/gravel back on the roads over the next few days past.

So I come along traveling at a slow speed 20-30mph around this corner. There’s a deer crossing from the left side, I swerved and within 5 seconds I'm in an embankment against a tree. The tree won and deer was fine! I of course blame the fresh gravel for the slide off the road.

Facts: Not in 4WD, Mind was in fairy world, Lame reactions!

Here's some before pic's:

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Sounds like full time 4x4 would have been nice in this case.

 

[MeBe4running]

Sounds like full time 4x4 would have been nice in this case.

You're not wrong, you're right.

 

[joneseyyy]

Glad you were ok! Going to feel like a whole new truck after being without for so long!

 

[jhawk]

Don't you have a front bumper! Nail that sucker.

 

[dekeman]

Ouch!. How much to fix? Want to see the 'after' pics.

 

[westwind77]

Sounds like full time 4x4 would have been nice in this case.

Well, technically if he was coasting around the corner or on his brakes FT4WD would have done nothing for him. It is like a jet ski, you can turn the handle bars but without throttle applied you are still going to go straight!

VSC would have been the most effective way to keep him 'on track' in this situation. I'm curious if VSC kicked in and helped at all or if it was all too fast?

 

[Egstyle]

For what it's worth, I have noticed much better cornering, particularly on gravel/dirt roads, with wider wheels and tires. It might not hurt to go with something with a little more aggressive tread pattern if you are using back roads often. Plus it looks better. What are a few mpg's compared to not running into a tree or boulder or sliding off a mountainside? Granted you sacrifice a little paved road performance.

Anyways, sorry for your loss.

 

[rickwol]

I once had 2nd gen T4R with those big/wide 31" Bridgestone Duellers and had gone around a bend on a dirt road in 2wd sliding to the right. We slid across the stones and hit a large rock on the other side of the road and the vehicle came off the ground and I thought for sure we were going to tip over but it fell back. I think I suffered a mild heart attack with that one as those vehicles were quite top heavy on those wheels. No damage though.

 

[Quentin]

Sounds like full time 4x4 would have been nice in this case.

Considering he was most definitely on the brakes, FT4WD wouldn't have done jack. I guess he could have tried to 4 wheel drift around the deer, but that is pretty uncommon.

 

[homeyclaus]

Considering he was most definitely on the brakes, FT4WD wouldn't have done jack. I guess he could have tried to 4 wheel drift around the deer, but that is pretty uncommon.

I agree with you.

Glad OP is okay, and glad she's coming back. Hope the truck gets fixed right.

4WD does little without the application of power. VSC does little in free drifting situations.

My wife ended up drifting 4runner on the first weekend ripping around the corners of forest roads, on gravel, in 4WD. Sliding sideways, VSC did nothing, because system depends on the gyrometers sensing a particular combination of lateral movement, resistance from the suspension (which requires traction), and wheel input. Lacking some of those inputs you'll have to have a great deal of body tilt.

What saved our butts that day was that she grew up driving front-wheel-drive vehicles, and she without thinking she put the gas pedal down to recover. In 2WD that probably would not have worked.

On the flip side, VSC does intervene on the Rock Creek Parkway all the time because of traffic speeds on corners at just the right angle.

 

[MeBe4running]

Well, technically if he was coasting around the corner or on his brakes FT4WD would have done nothing for him. It is like a jet ski, you can turn the handle bars but without throttle applied you are still going to go straight!

VSC would have been the most effective way to keep him 'on track' in this situation. I'm curious if VSC kicked in and helped at all or if it was all too fast?

It was all to fast, but I think it did last minute.

 

[MeBe4running]

For what it's worth, I have noticed much better cornering, particularly on gravel/dirt roads, with wider wheels and tires. It might not hurt to go with something with a little more aggressive tread pattern if you are using back roads often. Plus it looks better. What are a few mpg's compared to not running into a tree or boulder or sliding off a mountainside? Granted you sacrifice a little paved road performance.

Anyways, sorry for your loss.

Very true... I have been awaiting my pro comp wheels. I was told I got the last set of 4 in the whole of the U.S of A! There the pro comp 7028's and they wont be available again until mid Jan of 2012 (according to pro comp).

I ordered the Dura Trac's to go on them... should be installed in a week. I am a great believer in waiting for what you want, though in this case it proberly caused me the wreck :shrug:

 

[MeBe4running]

10 out of 10 to progressive!

So it was a $1,000 detectable for $5,000 in damage. We will have to see if my premium will go up, I fear so.

Customer service was above and beyond and as for the repairs... well she look's like new! They had the truck repaired by the time frame promised and provided a rental car at $15:00 a day. Happy customer!

Here is a before and after picture...

 

[jhawk]

Did they replace your taillight? I would really like a trashed one to play with.
I can paypal

Glad it's back and it's still pretty err manly ha.

 

[MeBe4running]

Did they replace your taillight? I would really like a trashed one to play with.
I can paypal

Glad it's back and it's still pretty err manly ha.

ha ha, nope same taillight. the tail light wasn't damaged, it just popped out on impact. sorry there.

 

[JohnsD90]

Rather hit a deer than a stationary object. Much safer too. Especially on gravel roads this time a year i am always on the lookout for those bas****s, and i scary them before i get to them so they move before i approach.

Glad your ok though that could have been much worse.

 

[MeBe4running]

Rather hit a deer than a stationary object. Much safer too. Especially on gravel roads this time a year i am always on the lookout for those bas****s, and i scary them before i get to them so they move before i approach.

Glad your ok though that could have been much worse.

So would I. It was one of those "quick reactions". Narrow dirt roads leave little room for error, certainly in this case.

If it wasn't for the tree I would have rolled the truck over. The embankment was STEEEP. I was lucky to have installed my winch a few weeks prior as that was I only way I was getting out. No cell service, No houses, No chance ( for awhile).

The end of the day as much as I LOVE my truck it is still only material.

 

[joneseyyy]

So would I. It was one of those "quick reactions". Narrow dirt roads leave little room for error, certainly in this case.

If it wasn't for the tree I would have rolled the truck over. The embankment was STEEEP. I was lucky to have installed my winch a few weeks prior as that was I only way I was getting out. No cell service, No houses, No chance ( for awhile).

The end of the day as much as I LOVE my truck it is still only material.

Good news is, now that you've body damaged it once and gone through that pain, you can enjoy the trails more guilt-free, since sh*t does happen! I feel your pain as well, I rear-ended someone in mine less than a month after getting it, and this summer it got broken into, which caused door damage requiring a re-spray.

 

[MeBe4running]

Good news is, now that you've body damaged it once and gone through that pain, you can enjoy the trails more guilt-free, since sh*t does happen! I feel your pain as well, I rear-ended someone in mine less than a month after getting it, and this summer it got broken into, which caused door damage requiring a re-spray.

Sugar, same here. I still haven't fixed the door. The crow bar ( believed weapon of choice) bent my door frame!

She's been in two wrecks now. First, I was side swiped by a 4 ton semi. Second, was the deer incident. She has trail marks ALL OVER HER! Got to love Colorado for its narrow overgrown foliage! So with this being said you're right I presume with little guilt. After all I have built her to overland this wonderful country we live in (bar politics).

When's the bumper coming...? I am dying to know how jealous I will be!