Almost got stuck in a ditch

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Well we finally got snow in Virginia (Barely any) however it froze and the roads are all ice. So naturally being a guy i walked out of the house with a big stupid smirk on my face knowing that i would FINALLY get to use the 4WD in my Pickup (Just got my license in July 04). SO i had fun and slammed on the brakes and turned into the skid and everything.

In this one subdivision there is a slight hill and im shifting (manual transmission) trying to get off of the cell phone with my mom and trying to stop the car on this hill all at once. Well this doesn't have ABS so im pumping the brake but it aint stoping. Im just sitting there thinking "oh sh!t, oh sh!t" when the car makes for a ditch. Very slight ditch, so the front two tires went into the grass. My sister and her friend are freaking out in the back of the car saying that were stuck. My mom hears and tells me that i better get home right now. SO i hung up.

Well shifted into reverse and started trying to back up as normal. Well tires spinned. I was like oh boy 4wd time! Well i shifted to 4wd, and tried to move nothing happened all the engine did was rev. I was like "You are KIDDING me!!!" So i looked down grinned again and put it into Low Range (4wd Low) and tried to back out. All the engine did was rev. I was like "NO WAY!!" I get out of the car and look and it shows no sign of the tires trying to move. So i get back into the car roll the window down and watch as i hit the gas. THe tires didn't move, i looked down at the 4wd stick shift. Push it up just a little bit and it clicks into place.

"OMG!!" i was sitting in the neutral drive gear so if i had a wench it would have been winding it up. Stuck it into 4wd High backed right up. NO PROBLEM at all. You can imagine how idiotic i felt. So i made my way back home.

After that i am really curious. What exactly is Low Range for? When would i use it? The only thing i know about it is that it has like triple the torque of 4WD High. So when use this?

-Kevin
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
The y have a thing in the glove box call a user manual...check it out sometime before you hurt someone.


stay the fvck off the phone if you can't drive with it.
 

Kalvin00

Lifer
Jan 11, 2003
12,705
5
81
Low range is only when you need to go really slowly, if you're going up a steep hill or through deep snow..
 

mcvickj

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2001
4,602
0
76
Newly licensed and inexperienced snow driver with a chip on his shoulder driving a stick shift truck and talking on a cell phone. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
 
Aug 26, 2004
14,685
1
76
Originally posted by: mcvickj
Newly licensed and inexperienced snow driver with a chip on his shoulder driving a stick shift truck and talking on a cell phone. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
The gearing options found in 4WD vehicles help a vehicle tackle many of the unique situations encountered while driving off-road. Following are a variety of conditions in which you would want to use 4WD to avoid sliding or spinning:

Hi Range 4WD
4H allows you to drive full speed, if necessary. The high range ratios in 4WD mode are the same as the gear ratios in 2WD.

When to use 4H:

* for traction when the area isn't steep
* when stuck in sand
* extremely slippery conditions
* snow
* ice
* rocky, gravel roads
* gullies
* extremely muddy areas
* ridges

Low Range 4WD
4L is for creeping along at slow speeds. It reduces the strain on your vehicle, just remember to stay below 25mph in low range. While it does not provide more traction, it does provide 2-3 times more torque at about 1/2 or 1/3 of the speeds in high range. Low range gear ratios are approximately half that of high range.

When to use 4L:

* on wet, slippery surfaces
* passing through sandy areas
* on rough trails
* through shallow water
* rock-climbing
* climbing steep hills
* through mud
* descending steep hills

Additional Tips:

* Don't change gears in the middle of a water crossing, going up or down hills, or in sand dunes.
* Be prepared: Engage low-range 4WD before you need it.
* Don't operate 4WD on hard dry surfaces.
* When in doubt, use a lower gear!
 

aplefka

Lifer
Feb 29, 2004
12,014
2
0
This thread has been for informative for me. Thank you.

Oh and to the OP, come on, how stupid do you get? I'm all for having fun, but don't be a fvcktard while doing it.
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
7,213
6
81
I've had my liceence since June 04, and I can say that winter driving isn't hard. (I live in Minne). If you hot-shot it, yes, you end up in the ditch. I survivied with a good ol Grand Prix so far, and it hasnt' failed me yet.
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Originally posted by: mcvickj
Newly licensed and inexperienced snow driver with a chip on his shoulder driving a stick shift truck and talking on a cell phone. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I dont have a chip on my shoulder i am just a guy and wanted to use the 4WD. I had no problem i was going slow, however the car simply kept sliding.

I can drive while talking on the phone. That was not the cause of it. If i wasn't talking on the phone it would have ended up the same, as it was ice... the snow wasn't there so all i could do was wait until the tire clipped the snow on the side of the road so it would grip.

Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.

Also i wasn't going to hurt anyone. I dont pull donuts in the parking lot or anything and i was driving ~5mph on the snowy/icy roads.

Also i know how to drive was having to correct fishtails all day as my truck is rear wheel drive, so getting out of any parking lot safely is a challenge.

The truck is a 92 Toyota 4x4 with and extended cab.

-Kevin
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Originally posted by: virtueixi
Be careful next time. Also, learn how to use your cars 4WD system.

Im not sure why but it is very hard to shift. The gear shift commonly gets stuck right outside for some reason.

This was my Uncles truck who passed away in Holiday 2003 and my parents bought it and give it to me to drive. He had cancer and as a result didn't drive it much, and it sat for a while. Could it just need some lubrication or something. I think this is the first time in a couple years (1-2) that the hubs were locked.

-Kevin
 

kindest

Platinum Member
Dec 15, 2001
2,697
0
0
Originally posted by: dartworth
The y have a thing in the glove box call a user manual...check it out sometime before you hurt someone.


stay the fvck off the phone if you can't drive with it.


yes for the love of god. dont run me over jibbering on your phone
 

aplefka

Lifer
Feb 29, 2004
12,014
2
0
Originally posted by: dartworth
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...

He's right. When I was in Ohio there were people going hell of much faster than us (it was the storm that hit Christmas weekend) and their license plates were from states that don't even get snow/ice. I think I saw more fresh roadside vehicles that day than any day of the trip. I'm just like you, I don't have a whole lot of experience, but even I'll admit experience is necessary in such a situation.
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Originally posted by: dartworth
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...

I understand going into the neighborhood probably wasn't the best ideas (far from it), however experience or no experience, with 0 traction experience isn't going to do crap.

I want to make this clear.. i was not going in the neighborhood to do donuts, or to slide on purpose i just wanted to get a feel for the 4WD system some more (i had already used it 1 or 2 times earlier in the week) and also to simply drive in it. I was not doing anything dangerous while driving in these conditions.

-Kevin

 

virtueixi

Platinum Member
Jun 28, 2003
2,781
0
0
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: virtueixi
Be careful next time. Also, learn how to use your cars 4WD system.

Im not sure why but it is very hard to shift. The gear shift commonly gets stuck right outside for some reason.

This was my Uncles truck who passed away in Holiday 2003 and my parents bought it and give it to me to drive. He had cancer and as a result didn't drive it much, and it sat for a while. Could it just need some lubrication or something. I think this is the first time in a couple years (1-2) that the hubs were locked.

-Kevin

That could be a problem with the gear selector linkage.
 

seanws

Senior member
Sep 20, 2004
833
0
0
Originally posted by: dartworth
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...

not to mention, when the roads are icey SLOW DOWN, and get off the phone. who on earth gave you your license?
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: dartworth
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...

I understand going into the neighborhood probably wasn't the best ideas (far from it), however experience or no experience, with 0 traction experience isn't going to do crap.

I want to make this clear.. i was not going in the neighborhood to do donuts, or to slide on purpose i just wanted to get a feel for the 4WD system some more (i had already used it 1 or 2 times earlier in the week) and also to simply drive in it. I was not doing anything dangerous while driving in these conditions.

-Kevin




you just don't get it do you punk...if you had any experience you would know what to look for and not get in those positions.


I've been driving in the snow belt of Ohio for many years...never been in a ditch with 2 or 4 WD...

 

wischeez

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2004
1,721
0
76
Originally posted by: dartworth
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...


Having driven 4 x4 vehicles for a lot of years, I would have to agree that experience is the key to driving a 4 WD. Totally different animal than a 2 WD pickup or car.

Driven in snow, ice, mud, and sand.
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
I regularly have problems getting into many gears. Its like there is a lump right outside the gear. And i have to jam it in there to get it in. SOmetimes like trying to go in reverse it simply wont go in and ill wiggle then try to put it in gear, wont go in so i repeat until it does. Also for no apparent reason the gear will grind when trying to shift into reverse. I come to a complete stop and it just grinds when trying to do it.

I dunno.

-Kevin
 

mcvickj

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2001
4,602
0
76
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So naturally being a guy i walked out of the house with a big stupid smirk on my face knowing that i would FINALLY get to use the 4WD in my Pickup (Just got my license in July 04). SO i had fun and slammed on the brakes and turned into the skid and everything.


Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: dartworth
Yes i am inexperienced, but experience had nothing to do with this. No matter how much experience you have ice is ice.


experience has everything to do with it dude...

I understand going into the neighborhood probably wasn't the best ideas (far from it), however experience or no experience, with 0 traction experience isn't going to do crap.

I want to make this clear.. i was not going in the neighborhood to do donuts, or to slide on purpose i just wanted to get a feel for the 4WD system some more (i had already used it 1 or 2 times earlier in the week) and also to simply drive in it. I was not doing anything dangerous while driving in these conditions.

-Kevin



From the first quote you was screwing around to me. IF you wanted to get a better feel for things then head to the nearest empty parking lot. Not some subdivison.