Another near-miss

[Mike Leary]

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!

[xrvr]

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

[Mike Leary]

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.

[xrvr]

A Moho in a panic stop.You Are lucky. Good driving. Jim

[PeterH-350LE]

As her name becomes more apparent...Bless you and Bess, glad you are ok..

[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.

[Mike Leary]

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.

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.

[Skatiero]

Yiiiiikes! So glad you have quick reflexes and good brakes!!!!!

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Skatiero

Yiiiiikes! So glad you have quick reflexes and good brakes!!!!!

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.

[ventport]

A near miss means you hit something.

[Gene]

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

[robert claus]

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.

[barts]

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

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by ventport

A near miss means you hit something.

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.

[Mike Leary]

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.

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?

[Skater]

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.

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!

[slowmover]

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.

.

[crazeevw]

Mike, haven't both of these 'near-misses' (including getting outer mirror whacked off) occurred on I-5?
Derek

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Mike, haven't both of these 'near-misses' (including getting outer mirror whacked off) occurred on I-5?
Derek

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.

[Gypsy Jo]

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