Surprise!!
 

A week or so ago I bought a pretty nice '71 GMC short/step 1500. The other night I took it for a ride after I replaced the headlight adjusters. US-1 is rural near my house, 2 lanes north & south with a grass median. I've always wondered why there seem to be lots of accidents for a nice stretch of road without much traffic. Sooooo, I'm south bound at 60mph at about midnight with the window down enjoying the little truck. 3 little half grown racoons zoom out of the median RIGHT in front of me and instead of just squishin' 'em I jink the wheel left a little and stab the brakes. SURPRISE ... the back end snapped around and I'm going 60mph backwards in a big cloud of tire smoke. Slid off into the median and stopped. The truck's ideling & I'm headed in the opposite direction, no traffic as far as I can see. Only reason I didn't bash into anything is 'cause there wasn't anything to bash into.

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I'm sorry but your signature just fits this too well! :lol::lol::lol: But sorry to hear it, hope you and your truck are okay, you may need new tires though.

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so, were you more surprised by the racoons or the back end of your truck snapping around like it did?

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Yeah, if the animal is smaller than you, just run over it or you could wind up being the dead one

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You sure it was raccoons? Because there is a commercial with two squirrels causing that sort of thing then high-fiving each other. LOL

Glad you are OK! I have run completely off the road before, missing a field mouse, while on my way to go squirrel hunting.

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Might've been the tires ....or the old geezer driver:lol: The truck had 7" truck rallys with some kind of off brand 235/75's on the front and Dayton 275/60's on the rear. The fronts were made in 2010 and the rears 2004.... pretty old. A guy in my neighborhood GAVE me a set of 255/60 T/A radials in nice shape that were mfg. in 2010. I had 'em mounted on a set of 8" ralleys.
The surprise wasn't the 'coons, there's about one dead one every mile along that stretch of road. The brakes feel good and looked good while I was swapping wheels & tires.

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I have never hammered my brakes in my truck. Granted I only drove it some in high school and maybe twice in 2004. If I ever did I don't have a clue what would happen!

Of course I could just let off the gas...it's like tossing out an anchor in itself with that 4:11. LOL

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My dad has told me this since way before I started driving, don't ever try to save the little animals, save yourself instead.

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I think these trucks do that! I had a 69 Blazer that did a complete spin one night when I slammed on the brakes.

About 2 months ago, a cat ran across a 4 lane highway right in front of me while in my Cheyenne/20. I was only going about 40mph, hit the brakes and the rear passenger side started to slide to the left until I left off the brakes.

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its not like you're driving a lowrider...if they cant figure out how to fit between the tires it must be time to thin the herd...

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First rule of the road is steer straight a head and hope u dont hit them. Because if y jerk the wheel in these old 40 year old trucks things seem to happen that u can't control like the rear end swapping with u.


Just like NASCAR drive straight through it and hope they moved out of the way.
Glad u and the truck are OK though! That rear end swapping isn't fun.;):chevy:

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I just got this one and haven't had the opportunity to drive it much. There are a couple of places I regularly "play" with my Blazer. An industrial area near the airport is deserted on Sunday afternoons. I make it go sideways & backwards and it's pretty predictable.. BIG FUN TOO!! I want to take the truck and learn about it before it "SURPRISES:eek:" me again. ....

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I bet that was a suprize, good thing you didn't roll it. Glad you safe.

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Drives me nuts when my wife is with me. Stinkin squirrel will be on the side of the road, and she'll start shrieking like I'm gonna hit a kid. I've always just aimed for them and I've only hit a couple.

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I was nearly killed one day by a guy trying to avoid a squirrel. After we came back under I controlled I asked him, "What the f*^& are you thinking"? He said he was saving one of God's creatures. I just stared at him and said, 'What do you think I am? So am I"!!!!

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We cruised about 30 mi. in my new(to me) truck this afternoon. No SURPRISES, no drama. Had my govenor(wife) with me, so I didn't get to play with the brakes. REALLY enjoyed the truck today, very solid and rattle free. Glad I didn't squash it the other night.

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I have no problem power-washing the varmit guts from the underside of my trucks.

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Is the truck drum brakes front and back? just curious.

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No, it's disc/drum 5 lug. Back shoes are about half gone, front pads look good. Power brake & steering. Brakes feel fine under normal driving cond.

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You're here telling us how you almost trashed your truck instead of how how good that coon stew was

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I live way out in the sticks... Closest gas station is 13 miles. Anyway I am a volunteer fire fighter and have extracted many people out rolled over cars due to swerving for animals. Bottom line... the car/truck is fixable/replaceable, you are not!
It is a natural reaction to jam on the brakes a swerve. Trying to save an animals life is commendable, but not worth your life.
Anything smaller than a cow I plow it over now. I try to safely stop but Ricky the raccoon is a gonner, even those nasty aerodynamic-fluid drive kitty-cats.(skunk) dead.

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JEEEEzz guys!!! it ain't like I peed my pants, shut my eyes, squealed like a little girl, crushed the brake pedal w/ BOTH feet, and turned the wheel 2 complete turns to the left. I jinked the wheel left a little and apparently got into the brakes harder than I should've. Only BIG SPIDERS and flying cockroaches make me squeal like a little girl and pee myself;) The surprise was how quickly the rear end snapped around.
I KNOW you guys would drive through MILES & MILES of baby racoons, kittens & puppies...

AIN'T MY new LIL 'GMC A CUTIE?... took it to a meeting in town last night and drove it home in a big rainstorm. Even drives good in the rain.

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I think the truck looks great! Looks like it will be fun!

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. . . .

At least they didn't wind up like THIS poor little guy !!!

. . . .

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That's a great look'n little stepper you have there.....try to keep it in one piece !