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Old 04-22-2018, 03:31 AM   #1
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Windshield full of tractor trailer

So we updated our blowout experience but here we go again.

We're beating it westbound on I40 in New Mexico about MM 89 - DW is just about asleep. Suddenly she is wide awake as I hit the brakes and start pulling onto the shoulder. She looked up and saw what I saw - an eastbound tractor trailer running off the road, into the median in a huge cloud of dust about 2/10s of mile from us. I had visions of rig crossing over the median and coming straight at us. Again, blessings abounded for us. The tractor came to a fast halt still upright with the trailer rolled onto it's side and about 1/10 of mile from us. This is in a 75 MPH stretch of highway. Boogity Boogity!!

Not sure what caused the problem - but at 70-75 MPH it is quick solution.

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Old 04-22-2018, 03:35 AM   #2
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Wow. Glad you got to see it and not feel it.
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Old 04-22-2018, 03:41 AM   #3
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I honestly believe the tractor trailer driver deserves a big thank you also. He rode that big dude all the way to a stop.
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Old 04-22-2018, 12:40 PM   #4
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Thank goodness that this did not become any worse than it did....

You should go purchase a Lottery Ticket!
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Old 04-22-2018, 01:01 PM   #5
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Glad you are all OK! And yes, a big kudo to the rig driver who kept it in the median. That could easily have gone bad for a lot of folks.
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Old 04-22-2018, 05:07 PM   #6
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Agreed, kudos to the big rig driver and to you for seeing it coming and starting evasive maneuvers!
Thankful this is a forum close call post and not headline news.
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Old 04-22-2018, 05:49 PM   #7
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Happy to hear you are OK .. 3 yrs ago on I40 NM..between Tucumcari and Santa Rosa, we came upon a horrific accident involving 3 tractor trailers..one of which TBoned an suv...sticks in your mind forever !
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Old 04-22-2018, 06:34 PM   #8
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Glad you were both safe. One never knows what’s down the road and it happens so fast. Stay safe.
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Old 04-22-2018, 10:31 PM   #9
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Fellow RVers - we are touched at all the good thoughts both for us and for the tractor driver. Gotta pay attention but fellow RVers are SUPER peeps.
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Old 04-22-2018, 11:05 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
Thank goodness that this did not become any worse than it did....

You should go purchase a Lottery Ticket!
Good Idea.
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Old 04-23-2018, 01:23 AM   #11
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Cason - actually I've been there done that with the lottery ticket. Won $35k on a $5 scratch off. Just lucky! And oh yes - Blessed.
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Old 04-23-2018, 04:45 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigben View Post
Fellow RVers - we are touched at all the good thoughts both for us and for the tractor driver. Gotta pay attention but fellow RVers are SUPER peeps.
bigben, glad you guys are OK, hope the trucker is, too. Makes us realize how observant and situationally aware we always need to be.
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Old 04-25-2018, 04:47 AM   #13
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Wayne and Jo - you hit it straight on. Gotta be present for duty whenever we are heading down the road. With a front tire blowout last December and then this one - it convinces me that you must think about what you'd do in this type of "in flight" emergencies before they happen. Hopefully we will never see any additional issues but thinking through your coaches capabilities and possible reactions are a must do.
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Old 04-25-2018, 05:48 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by bigben View Post
Wayne and Jo - you hit it straight on. Gotta be present for duty whenever we are heading down the road. With a front tire blowout last December and then this one - it convinces me that you must think about what you'd do in this type of "in flight" emergencies before they happen. Hopefully we will never see any additional issues but thinking through your coaches capabilities and possible reactions are a must do.
[emoji106]
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Old 04-27-2018, 07:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigben View Post
Wayne and Jo - you hit it straight on. Gotta be present for duty whenever we are heading down the road. With a front tire blowout last December and then this one - it convinces me that you must think about what you'd do in this type of "in flight" emergencies before they happen. Hopefully we will never see any additional issues but thinking through your coaches capabilities and possible reactions are a must do.
As I think about what upgrades I may want to do to our Challenger 37 TB, Stories like bigben's make it a easy decision on whether or not to add a Steering Stabilizer, the CHF, or after market Sway Bars. Probably more important benefit of these upgrades than ease of driving/handling, is the Added Control during a Blowout, and something that hadn't occurred to me until I was reading bigben's post, is the added ability to Maneuver, and take evasive action in an emergency situation !
This realization just cemented my decision to upgrade !
Thanks Ben !
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