Auto Locking Hubs on Ram Pickups.

[Charger Aficionado]

  I knew it was a GOOD IDEA to have the auto stuff, and I'm CHEAP.


Accident on ice crushes Mariposa driver


Last Updated: January 8, 2007, 07:10:02 AM PST

A freak accident in icy conditions claimed the life of a 66-year-old Mariposa motorist Friday night, according to California Highway Patrol officers.

The man, not identified, was crushed between his vehicle and the embankment when it slid toward him on Carter Road, about 1.6 miles north of Triangle Road, at 7:35 p.m.

CHP officers said the man was driving a 1993 Dodge Ram pickup northbound on Carter Road when he encountered hard-packed ice on an extreme grade. The truck lost traction and began to slide on the ice.

The man stopped the truck and got out to lock the hubs into four-wheel drive. The truck began to slide diagonally backward toward him and he was pinned in the "V" of the driver's door.

A passenger, an 89-year-old Mariposa woman who was not identified, was not injured in the accident.

-- Doane Yawger



http://www.mercedsunstar.com/local/story/13176722p-13819521c.html

[Todd Wilson]

The trucks hubs didnt kill him .He killed himself.  You should lock your hubs in before you need them. He also should have made sure his truck was gonna stay still before he got out. Lots of times on inclines of ice the brakes will hold the vehicle with braking applied to all 4 wheels but in Park  your rear wheels are all that is holding the vehicle and its not enough surface area to hold the vehicle.



Todd

[Charger_Fan]

The trucks hubs didnt kill him .He killed himself.  You should lock your hubs in before you need them. He also should have made sure his truck was gonna stay still before he got out. Lots of times on inclines of ice the brakes will hold the vehicle with braking applied to all 4 wheels but in Park  your rear wheels are all that is holding the vehicle and its not enough surface area to hold the vehicle.

That sucks that his passenger had to witness him get pinned, though.  

[Charger Aficionado]

Well my take on it is that sliding vehicles goes hand-in-hand with locking hubs.  Maybe there was not a single place to keep the vehicle STILL on the grade it was on?  Auto Locking hubs would have saved his life.

[red72chrgr]

I didn't think 4 wheel drive would do any good on ice 

[694spdRT]

I think all 1993 Dodge 4x4's had automatic locking hubs except the Cummins diesel trucks or any HD 3/4 or 1 ton trucks that came with a Dana 60 front.

[RD]

I had an 87 Dodge Ramcharger 4x4 with auto locking hubs.

[ck1]

I didn't think 4 wheel drive would do any good on ice 

on ice yes, stopping no..............

[Silver R/T]

that sucks.

[Charger Aficionado]

I had an 87 Dodge Ramcharger 4x4 with auto locking hubs.

You got a Gov't Set-up correct?   (The one w/ all the vacuum hoses on the front end, roll bar, large carb etc....

[RD]

I had an 87 Dodge Ramcharger 4x4 with auto locking hubs.

You got a Gov't Set-up correct?   (The one w/ all the vacuum hoses on the front end, roll bar, large carb etc....

nope, it was an 87 LE 318 2bbl, no roll bar.  It was vacuum actuated locking hubs.