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07-06-2012, 11:43 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Another near-miss
Coming northbound through Portland, OR on the I-5 yesterday, I missed the 205 bypass because of traffic volume. Coming into Portland on I-5 there are a series of sharp curves and blind corners. Came around one at 50 or so, and here's a pick-up stalled right in my lane! It must have just happened, because she had no four-ways on yet. I looked for a quick lane change and a Peterbuilt was right next to me. I dynamited the brakes and was able to get around after some heart-pounding moments. You cannot lock-up disk brakes, but Bess did her job, first time I've ever had to put my foot down hard! After we regained our composure, went around another sharp curve, and the whole contents of the fridge came spewing out because of the hard braking, broken glass & all.
I cheered my mechanic who re-built the entire brake system, and cursed Dometic for the dweeb latches!
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07-06-2012, 11:52 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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GLAD your okay. Trailer did not lock up? Under stress heavy stuff can push the door open. If that is all that happened count your blessings, take deep breath, and kiss yor wife. Jim
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07-06-2012, 11:57 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Bess is a mo/ho, so no lock-up, but we pulled into a rest stop after the fun and there was stuff all over the place. Moral? Stay out of the inside lane in big cities,no matter what.
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07-06-2012, 11:59 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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A Moho in a panic stop.You Are lucky. Good driving. Jim
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07-06-2012, 12:03 PM
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#5
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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As her name becomes more apparent...Bless you and Bess, glad you are ok..
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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07-06-2012, 12:14 PM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
1999 30' Excella 1000
Springfield
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 130
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66 and sharp as ever. A close team helps!
This is your last heart-pounding event for 2012!
I hope the rest of the day is peaceful for you all.
__________________
WBCCI 1183
Region 12
Sierra Nevada Unit 157
Air 6530
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07-06-2012, 01:02 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coastal me
66 and sharp as ever. A close team helps!
This is your last heart-pounding event for 2012!
I hope the rest of the day is peaceful for you all.
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Thanks, Anita. As I recall, all I could say was, "holy sh*t" when I realized I was going to cream-in. We are recovered, but the memory stays forever.
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07-06-2012, 02:14 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
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Yiiiiikes! So glad you have quick reflexes and good brakes!!!!!
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07-06-2012, 03:33 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skatiero
Yiiiiikes! So glad you have quick reflexes and good brakes!!!!!
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Another good reason to not put too many miles on when you know you're going to be dealing with big city traffic. If I had blinked, I'd still be there.
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07-06-2012, 04:24 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1977 Argosy 24
Currently Looking...
Milltown
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,087
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A near miss means you hit something.
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07-06-2012, 04:46 PM
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#11
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,711
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Good idea to stay out of the right lane. A lot of truckers do too as it is the most dangerous one because of exits, entrances and people partly pulled over.
Glad you are safe Mike.
Gene
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07-06-2012, 05:03 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2000 19' Bambi
mt. Prospect
, Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 829
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Wow, reading that story put me right there, and my stomach clinched. Good reflexes- your ability to quickly read the situation, assess your options, and then act, as opposed to just riding it into the obstacle shows that you are a good driver. May we all be granted such skill when needed.
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07-06-2012, 05:17 PM
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#13
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Maniacal Engineer
1971 25' Tradewind
Lopez Island
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,244
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Glad you came out ok (aside from the fridge problems)!
As a long time motorcycle rider, this is one of those familiar "out-driving the sight distance" problems It is a really hard discipline to follow, but it will really save your bacon: Travel only so fast that you can stop within the area you can see. If there are slow turns (I know that section of I5 well; I drive through it w/ the Airstream every year), so be it - but being able to stop within your sight line can be a live saver. This can be difficult to follow in heavy traffic in a vehicle that needs more room to stop, as cars dart into your "whoa zone", but it remains a really important part of driving safely in both cities and winding rural roads.
Disc brakes will happily lock up if large enough for the vehicle. Both our F250 and Airstream have locked up their discs.
- Bart
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07-06-2012, 05:43 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ventport
A near miss means you hit something.
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True!
Can't lock up non-ABS disc brakes? That doesn't sound right. I can lock up the discs on my mountain bike, but it's been a long time since I've been without ABS on a vehicle.
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07-06-2012, 06:36 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam
True!
Can't lock up non-ABS disc brakes? That doesn't sound right. I can lock up the discs on my mountain bike, but it's been a long time since I've been without ABS on a vehicle.
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It is right, we have no ABS, and a 16,000 pound mo/ho is a lot different from a mountain bike. My mechanic, who services Fire Dept. rigs, told me that the coach should come in for inspection because we could have fried the pads. He's only serviced the coach for twenty years, so why should I do anything less?
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07-06-2012, 07:21 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Leary
Thanks, Anita. As I recall, all I could say was, "holy sh*t" when I realized I was going to cream-in. We are recovered, but the memory stays forever.
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I only curse when I know we're going to make it. When I think we're going to hit, I do not say anything. Sad that I've been in enough situations that I know this about myself.
Glad you and Bess are okay!
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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07-06-2012, 08:39 PM
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#17
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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Cool brake story there, old timer!! Had a straight truck zeroed at me this afternoon for a near head-on. Got his steer axle across the line on an narrow two-laner before he corrected . . and just before I headed for the bob-wahr with 42k in the top-heavy trailer behind me. All in a days work in the oilfield. And I'll take these bozos any day over a road full of four wheelers (is the irony).
The brake material inspection should be of real interest. Don't forget hoses with that prolonged pressure spike (and splits in hard lines, especially if original). Heat on the bearings would also get my interest.
.
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07-06-2012, 08:57 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Saint Petersburg
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,702
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Mike, haven't both of these 'near-misses' (including getting outer mirror whacked off) occurred on I-5?
Derek
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07-07-2012, 10:24 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazeevw
Mike, haven't both of these 'near-misses' (including getting outer mirror whacked off) occurred on I-5?
Derek
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Yes, that stretch of the I-5 corridor from Portland through Tacoma and Seattle is a very freaky drive. A combination of poorly designed freeways and too much traffic may contribute. I avoid that area as much as I can.
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07-07-2012, 01:00 PM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
1977 28' Argosy 28
Bullhead City
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 393
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Glad to hear everybody is okay .Good driving on your part.It takes a lot to drive the moho's in busy traffic . Good thing you have alot of experience .
Jo
__________________
Gypsy Jo 1977 Argosy 28' Motor Home
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