Slowly breaking everything - 2014 F-150

[Blown F-150]

It's funny as that portion of the highway is "Highway Through Hell" on the Discovery Channel.

Made it the rest of the way yesterday. Total drive time just over 27 hours. Truck did awesome. A little thristy on gas as it was loaded right up to max GVW and we were not going slow. Now I can enjoy some whisky tonight.



Stopped to meet up with Dad and transfer over some Xmas goodies (new tires for his truck)


Very impressed with these new tires for winter conditions, they did very well. I ran the tire pressure at 34psi, so that may have hurt the MPG's a little too.

[Kitzy]

I'm a sucker for those mountain scenery pics. 

Glad you mad it safe unlike some of those semis. 

[sscully]

Am I reading that info center picture wrong ?

It looks like you averaged 100 kph on your trip...
 

[Blown F-150]

Am I reading that info center picture wrong ?

It looks like you averaged 100 kph on your trip...
 

Yes sir, I figure it's pretty good considering the idle time and road conditions. Even when doing very long stretches at 85 mph, it's amazing how fast the averages drop when you're on the 35 mph bits.

[sscully]

Yes sir, I figure it's pretty good considering the idle time and road conditions. Even when doing very long stretches at 85 mph, it's amazing how fast the averages drop when you're on the 35 mph bits.

I was just wondering how you averaged 100 kph with roads like this

[Blown F-150]

That was one of the slower bits. The bonus is that nobody will go on the snow covered passing lanes when they come up after these road-blocks...except me.

I would post up some dash cam footage, but I don't have an SD adaptor for the PC. May see if I can download via the app.

[Kitzy]

Yes sir, I figure it's pretty good considering the idle time and road conditions. Even when doing very long stretches at 85 mph, it's amazing how fast the averages drop when you're on the 35 mph bits.

I was just wondering how you averaged 100 kph with roads like this

I don't even bat an eye at speeds like that in bad weather.  When you're job is to go out and clean up storms during and after, you get used to it.  I imagine being up Ryans way it just becomes a way of life.  When I was down in Tennessee and they got an inch of snow, all of the stores closed.  Bass Pro was still open so we drove out and I felt like such an ass for flying down the highway blowing past people but thats normal up here.  I didn't feel like I was speeding.  As long as you provide enough time and room to stop, and understand the pitch and grade of the roads, you'll do ok.  Sometimes that means you might go a quarter mile at a time going perfectly straight down the road while the wheel is turned and the truck is slightly sideways.  I always tell people to go out and find an empty parking lot and learn how their vehicle reacts in bad weather rather than be afraid of it.  My girlfriends sister is 19 and not allowed to drive if they're even calling for bad weather and is now afraid of it.  It's a damn shame and I hope there is never am emergency or she is going to end up in a ditch or an embankment.

I'm rambling...

[Blown F-150]

Overall I agree Mike. I have been driving in bad conditions since I received my license. Driving on frozen lakes and rivers is the norm around here. My brother lived on an island and crossing a frozen lake was the main way to gain access in the winter. I will however say that constantly accessing the road conditions is key. Watching for changes in the reflection of the surface, brake testing (when you're away from others) and acceleration testing are methods I use often along the way.

Heck, I hopped out of the truck to take a leak and almost fell on my butt not far from the destination. The road was glare ice in the packed tracks. I was running along staggering the tracks and glad I was. 

[Kitzy]

Its funny you mention some of the stuff you look for while driving.  I dont give it much thought but reading your post I realize I'm just always aware of that stuff so I guess I am doing the same out of habit.

[Kitzy]

Had to go out salting today.  On the way home it started snowing like crazy.  Roads went to crap instantly.  I think they were counting on daylight coming before the snow and didn't have anything ready.  The roads are around my house are crazy winding country roads with steep  grades.  Definitely found myself doing constant checks of the conditions.  I even slid right past one of the roads u needed.  Haha

[Blown F-150]

Made it back home. Long drive, but the truck did awesome. I'll see if I can post up some of the dash cam footage as some of the roads were pretty sketchy.

The truck is really, really dirty. I hope to get the clean up started tomorrow.

[Blown F-150]

Truck is still really dirty inside and now has a nice long crack in the windshield. I'll make an appt to get it replaced when I get back next week.

I hope it warms up just a bit, so I can get the interior cleaned up and re-rinse the outside.

[Kitzy]

How did the crack come about? 

My truck is absolutely filthy.  I'm starting to grow mud snards inside my doors.

[Blown F-150]

Semi tossed a rock while on a high mountain road. It was just a chip, but couldn't get it filled in time and it turned into a heck of a crack. PITA to get swapped out, but I can't stand a cracked windshield.

Wife and kid are away this weekend, hopefully I can get to cleaning the Edge and truck. Trying to find a car wash with enclosed bays, but they are rare around here.   

[Blown F-150]

I was able to get the interior cleaned up today. Took it to the wand wash and rinsed it down pretty well.

Lot's going on around here and decided that I wanted to go for a bit of an explore drive tomorrow to clear my head. So I threw in all my emergency gear and removed the sway bar for better off-roadability.

Looking forward to heading out early tomorrow to see where the road takes me. I'll try and get some pics, should hit some scenic road.