Almost had the big one yesterday - pallet fell of a truck into our path!

[Peacekeeper6]

This happened to me a few years ago. Lucky for me, I was driving my full-size Silverado instead of riding my Spyder or bike:

I'm haulen ass up Pyramid Highway with my pickup doing about 70, and a small couch from a truck ahead of me decides this is about the right time and place to fall off. I see it, but there were vehicles on my right side, so I couldn't avoid the impending collision.

Stomped on the brakes, but wasn't slowing down fast enough....

BAM !!!!

After I hit it (at about 45-55 mph or so), I look at my rearview mirror to see if it was still on the road. It was still on the road alright, but the grinding noise from underneath indicated that it WAS STUCK under my rig. I pull off to the side on the shoulder. In the middle of the hot sun, I struggle to yank, pull, kick, etc. this thing off my truck. No success.

I then hop back in the truck and put it in Reverse. Nope. Put it in Drive. Still there. Back into Reverse. Ah....no.

Then, I smell something burning. Apparently, the cloth couch was touching parts of the hot exhaust pipes, and if I didn't act fast enough, it would probably burst into flames any second. I shut off the engine, and like a man possessed, started kicking and pulling REALLY HARD, and even got my handy-dandy Leatherman knife to cut the damn thing to pieces, so that it would slide out easier. I was yelling some choice four-letter words, but apparently that didn't help either.

After I knew that it wasn't gonna catch on fire, I thought about calling AAA, but calling AAA for such a minor event is kinda wimpy (and plus, I didn't wanna waste my call on something like this). Gotta be a better way....

Hmmm. Why don't I just use the jack and lift up the truck?

HELLO?! McFLY?!?!

I did just that, and I easily yanked the couch out of the way. I think I was in a state of panic and wasn't clearly thinking because my two dogs were with me, and sure as hell didn't want them to end up as "crispy critters".

 

[Mikey]

It pays to be on your toes no matter what you're driving. But some of it is preventable. For example, if you ride behind this guy, you shouldn't be surprised when it ruins your day.

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Ron, at least he's asking for help! :roflblack: If my crap starts falling off honk!:yes:

 

[ARtraveler]

Ron, at least he's asking for help! :roflblack: If my crap starts falling off honk!:yes:

A dilemma. Do I laugh at him or pray for him. :gaah:

 

[AZrailwhale]

Pallets, tires (with and without the wheel) bumpers, boards, lawn chairs, coolers and sundry other hazards. I've even seen an axle laying across the lane. Now that will pucker your peepers no matter what you're driving.

I will say just this. If you do happen to encounter some serious road debris, it's much better on a Spyder than on 2 wheels.

I used to work for AT&T in California, one evening as I was driving back to the garage, my van shuddered, and I saw the entire tread of my driver’s side rear tire fly all the way across three traffic lanes and rebound into the number two lane. I pulled over and checked, the tire was a recap as were the three other tires. After finding out that it would be at least three hours to have a spare delivered, I slowly drove back to the garage on surface streets. I called my boss and told him I wouldn’t drive the truck until the recaps were removed and new tires were fitted. If there had been a biker in any of the lanes it would have killed him.

 

[Mikey]

A dilemma. Do I laugh at him or pray for him. :gaah:

Both!!

 

[Mikey]

I used to work for AT&T in California, one evening as I was driving back to the garage, my van shuddered, and I saw the entire tread of my driver’s side rear tire fly all the way across three traffic lanes and rebound into the number two lane. I pulled over and checked, the tire was a recap as were the three other tires. After finding out that it would be at least three hours to have a spare delivered, I slowly drove back to the garage on surface streets. I called my boss and told him I wouldn’t drive the truck until the recaps were removed and new tires were fitted. If there had been a biker in any of the lanes it would have killed him.

My wife ran over one of those with her car, hell of a ride and $2000 dollars latter, things were good! Yes, take could be a bad day!!