Stuck on a Hill with nowhere to go, help.....

[Ted Thurlby]

Well I picked up my 33 TRO and traveled back to Seattle with. Stayed overnight at the Indian casino north of Marysville, Wa. Worked ok except didn't have any plug in. Afraid to run the heater much, due to having only one battery. Worked well. Problem was when we got home, I have a hill to go up. Gravel at the bottom and asphalt at the bottom to the top. Well the road was wet and I didn't want to take the hill to fast due to the condition of the road. Just prior to getting on the asphalt their is a rough bump. Anyway I hit the asphalt in second grear and shifted down to first while going up. The tires were breaking loose as moving forwared. Anyway it stopped almost to the top. The grade is over 10% which we have had problems in the past... I want to make this story short. It was nerve racking experience. I forgot to start the motor when I took off the parking brake and it started sliding backwards toward my neighbors truck, He came to assist me, but could not get around me due to the one lane road. He was parked 25 feet behind me and was walking to his truck when I poped the brake. He took off running to get into his truck before I hit him. I ended up 40' backward down the hill with my truck almost in the ditch. Off to the right is a clift of about 60' drop if you didn't hit the trees first. Any what I did wrong was I didn't have my brake controler set high enough to lock up the brakes using the manual override. When I adjusted the controller and let it do the braking for the truck and I could steer now I remembered to start the truck first prior to releasing the brake. I was able to steer it back down the hill and try again. My friend waited at the top in case he was needed.. This time I gained more speed and came up in third, tires still did spin some, but I made it up. I think the Good Lord for getting home safely. I did learn a good lesson.
1. To set my brake controller at a higher setting prior to pulling the hill.
2. Prepare the road better, take the holes out and smoother transition from gravel to asphalt.
3. Get as much speed as possible.

Oh by the way the road was wet. If it was dry it would not have broke the tires loose.

Hope you fing this interesting. Mybe some of you have had some nerve racking experiences like this. Backing down a steep hill (one lane) is something I never want to do again. Ted on his first trip home....

[Ted Thurlby]

Well I picked up my 33 TRO and traveled back to Seattle with. Stayed overnight at the Indian casino north of Marysville, Wa. Worked ok except didn't have any plug in. Afraid to run the heater much, due to having only one battery. Worked well. Problem was when we got home, I have a hill to go up. Gravel at the bottom and asphalt at the bottom to the top. Well the road was wet and I didn't want to take the hill to fast due to the condition of the road. Just prior to getting on the asphalt their is a rough bump. Anyway I hit the asphalt in second grear and shifted down to first while going up. The tires were breaking loose as moving forwared. Anyway it stopped almost to the top. The grade is over 10% which we have had problems in the past... I want to make this story short. It was nerve racking experience. I forgot to start the motor when I took off the parking brake and it started sliding backwards toward my neighbors truck, He came to assist me, but could not get around me due to the one lane road. He was parked 25 feet behind me and was walking to his truck when I poped the brake. He took off running to get into his truck before I hit him. I ended up 40' backward down the hill with my truck almost in the ditch. Off to the right is a clift of about 60' drop if you didn't hit the trees first. Any what I did wrong was I didn't have my brake controler set high enough to lock up the brakes using the manual override. When I adjusted the controller and let it do the braking for the truck and I could steer now I remembered to start the truck first prior to releasing the brake. I was able to steer it back down the hill and try again. My friend waited at the top in case he was needed.. This time I gained more speed and came up in third, tires still did spin some, but I made it up. I think the Good Lord for getting home safely. I did learn a good lesson.
1. To set my brake controller at a higher setting prior to pulling the hill.
2. Prepare the road better, take the holes out and smoother transition from gravel to asphalt.
3. Get as much speed as possible.

Oh by the way the road was wet. If it was dry it would not have broke the tires loose.

Hope you fing this interesting. Mybe some of you have had some nerve racking experiences like this. Backing down a steep hill (one lane) is something I never want to do again. Ted on his first trip home....

[camperguy]

Ted

I believe you failed to mention the hill when you asked about four wheel drive vs. two wheel drive a short time ago. I've considered going back to two wheel drive a time or two, but when I read stories like this one, I'm glad I stayed with four wheel drive. A quick touch of the 4x4 button and you would have gone right up that hill!

As you said "The Good Lord" saved you and your new Excel this time!!

[Bruce and Jenna]

Yowie!! Most people have a story like that early in their career. Good thing you documented it in the unlikely case you ever forget. I won't tell you mine 'cause Rockin will never let me live it down.

Camperguy right. The whole time I read it, I was thinking
4 wheel 4 wheel 4 wheel 4 wheel.
It only takes one time like this that you need it to justify the decision.

[Ted Thurlby]

I'm sure you are right about the 4wd but too late now. I got a good bargin on the 2wd it was hard to pass up. Anyway what is under the bridge is past. Did learn from the experience. Usually the hill is not a problem, except the hill was wet and had leave residue on it. I had cleaned off the hill prior but still had some extremely small residue left. Once the road is in better shape shouldn't be a problem, I can get better speed and make it just fine. If all else fails I will store my rid at my sisters house about 125 miles away. Not the best solution but would work for those times when the weather is questionable.... Experience helps, and something you can buy or read from a book. I do think if it happen again my brakes on the trailer will be set to max and I will let the trailer brakes do the bracking and the truck the steering. Had it the other way around before. Doesn't work that way..... Sometimes you learn the hard way.
Posted this mainly to assist others who get themselves in bad conditions.. I can take the jokein.......