flash Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 had a bit of an accident earlier today. was driving my aunt into town earlier, down a road that i had already driven an hour before on the way to look for pricked ducks and pheasents. was driving a very sensible speed for the ice that is around. came round the corner at the top of a hill to see a brand new audi half way down the hill stuck up against the hedge due to the ice. at this point i applied brakes, but just slid, tried again and slid again. carried on sliding down towards the audi, with an oldish lady at the wheel with eyes wide open. being 20 i really did not fancy the insurance claim and decided the hedge was a better option. turned in towards the hedge and luckily it actually turned. hit the hedge really quite hard with the bumping taking some of the impact, but sadly my right hand wheel hit a very large lump of granit in the devon bank. we bounced off the rock and the back end spund round leaving us facing the wrong direction. got out to check the damage expecting a mashed front end, but the tubular bumper i invested it was rock solid. but i then noticed my right hand wheel at a 45 degree angle but my left wheel straight. now have a track rod like a banana, but managed to get the truck up the hill with the steering in its current state after alot of grit was applied. dont think ill be driving in the ice any time soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeinVA Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Lucky young man.. Could have been worse.. talked to the Sheriff this morning and asked if we had any deaths from the Nor'easter? Hes said no! But did state they have a reported number of vehicles in the ditches.. I asked how many? He said about 1700 reports? Bloody hell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddan Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 being 20 i really did not fancy the insurance claim and decided the hedge was a better option. Good call I think. Sorry to hear you still ended up with damage but your excess alone is prob higher than the parts you need. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 im gna heat the bar up and bend it back into shape, cant afford a new rod at the mo. just hope there isnt any more damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeinVA Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Not too hot young man as you may compromise the metal.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 (edited) Well you're ok, that's the important thing. I had a similar experience when I started driving, I was driving very slowly too. The trouble is when you get onto ice it doesn't really matter how good you are, if you have no grip there is very little you can do. I think the hedge was a good choice. Have you looked on ebay for the parts you need? It shouldn't cost a lot to fix. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-...=item3351282e4d I assume the ends etc are ok? If you just need the tube then that looks like a chap fix? Edited December 20, 2009 by njc110381 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 the funny thing is the woman in the audi had the same thing happen last year around the same time. 4x4 came round the corner(think it was a mitsi or something), but the chap did not try and put it into the hedge. he hit her side on and wrote her car off. almost glad the rock was there to stop me, as the wheel may have rode up the hedge causing me to tip over. alot more expensive bout to look on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulf Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Bad luck, Not a lot you can do in situations like that although perhaps a block gear change down would have slowed you enough not to have needed to heavy break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 i was in 2nd gear as it was, its just living on dartmoor its constantly up and down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 You should have tried cadence breaking Tom, thats where you thump the brake pedal rapidly & drop down the gears, it does work SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 will remember that next time. waiting for my uncle to return with a new trac rod so i can then walk up to the middle of the moor and try and fit the bloody thing, swear im gna get hypothermia or something lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 (edited) yup drop it down gears as quick as you can while applying as much brake pedal as you can up to the point it starts slipping, also steer into the edge as you usually pick up un compacted snow thats not turned to ice that gives you greater braking ability. Its the fundamental thing with driving 4x4's in snow and ice you can go forward fine but stopping is another matter approach any hill with snow / ice on it as slowly as you can 2nd gear and let it tick over down them. Edited December 21, 2009 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 (edited) You should have tried cadence breaking Tom, thats where you thump the brake pedal rapidly & drop down the gears, it does work SS Now I am assuming you have a car with ABS in which case "Cadence Braking" would have done absolutly nothing as it would have been doing this for you a damn sight quiker than your right foot could do Ice is one of those surfaces ABS / Cadence Braking doesn't work with as it can't break through like water My advice is lowest gear possible and release the brakes if you are sliding Will be running some skid Pan courses in the new year if the ICE remains if your interested Edited December 21, 2009 by PhilSIDC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 I think its a landrover Phil and ABS isn't top of their optional extras on defenders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 I think its a landrover Phil and ABS isn't top of their optional extras on defenders LOL I am sure some people dont read the posts Land rover.. ABS Must check mine but I am sure there was none there last time I looked doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 haha it definately doesnt have ABS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conygree Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 (edited) Pure Ice is impossible if you loose traction thats it - contact (unless you have chains or spikes on your tyres). A couple of yrs ago I saw a car in a ditch on a slippy bend so the next day fore warned I approached the same bend with more caution and there were x3 in the ditch this time, even doing say 20mph I had a job to stop without locking up over maybe 100 yds. That was on a main road not gritted for days, I had my son with me, I remember saying if there is some frost/snow on the side of the road chances are it's not grittted even if it's a main road. One B-road near the estate is known as the 'car-park' as there have been so many crashes over the years. Anybody see footage of the 'battle of the bulge' where a Sherman tank side skids through a house. I avoid ice driving due to the way many don't have a clue even when dry of how to drive. But 1,700 in the ditches as reported by LEE, that's incredable. Edited December 21, 2009 by pigeon popper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 I'm glad you've got yourself a new part coming. I wasn't too sure about bending the old one back. Metal never goes back quite as it used to be and on something this important you don't want to risk it failing on you next time you're going down a steep greenlane! Don't lose your confidence over it, this sort of thing happens to us all at some point! You seem like a responsible lad and it sounds like you handled the situation very well (remember the last guy actually hit her!). Just jump back in it and slide it home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 i now have the shiny new part sat in front of me, but as soon as my uncle returned with it, it bloody started snowing ahhhhh. this happened last year when it snowed and i needed to fit a new handbrake and propshafts!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 just been lying under the defender in the snow and cold in a field on the moor for 2 hours, but after alot of struggling i now have a new rod fitted, god im happy it didnt heavily snow lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Did it turn out that was the only part that was damaged? Defenders are pretty tough and easy to fix, it's one of their few strong points :look: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Carnage on the way home tonight. Took nearly 2 hours from Chelmsford to Romford (30 min max normally). I turned round at the top of a hill as I saw the trouble that was going on below me, cars skidding around everywhere. Ended up reversing up the road as it was the only way to get traction. Bloddy frustrating. No gritters to be seen once I got past Chelmsford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 as far as i could see it was the only damage, took a while to replace but its all fine now :look: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shot & Missed Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Worst part around here is all the Surrey mums in Range Rovers with kids Sebastian and Harriet on board, charging about regardless as if they were indestructible. My favourite overheard statement inthe local shop....' I bought it so that I wouldn't have to slow down on ice' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danccooke Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Driving home on sunday from work, I have to go down a small single track road which i knew was icy from the drive into work. luckily I was doing about 10mph and the van towards me about 10 mph we both slid and slid and slid, both looking at each other with that ffffffffffffff look on our faces. Stopped literally about 6" from each other, both a visable look of relief. i also like you chose ditch rather than car but sadly the sheet ice was having none of it, I was going where the camber took me i truly had no choice. It is a brand new car ABS the works. If it is proper sheet ice you are mostly a passenger. Glad you got yours sorted though. Might be worth getting your tracking checked now. Rather than shred the shoulder of the tyre off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.