First evasive manuever....

[AdventureBuddies]

I was browsing around some old threads about evasive manuevers and came across a lengthly discussion about tire pressure so I though I post my recent experience.

Three lane road, 40 mph. I was in the middle lane and the knucklehead in front of me slammed on her brakes all of a sudden (I surmise she missed her shopping center turn). Without using any brakes, I cut hard left (into the left lane which I knew was clear cause I keep an eye on things) and then had to correct hard to avoid the center divider curb. Afterwards, I analysed both my reaction and how my truck handled - here are my thoughts.

I have a lot of weight (315 BFG ATs, OME 850J front & 421 rear, ARB front bumper with M12000 winch, Kaymar rear with 315 spare and jerry can, full roof basket up top) and have never had to swerve hard before so I didn't really know what to expect. I keep my tires at 40 PSI. The body roll was certainly noticeable, but nothing compared with what you'd expect for such a high center of gravity. Steering response was a little slow (I have a bit of slop in my steering), but generally accurate. All in all I'd say the reasonably accurate response and lack of major body roll are a testiment to the quality of the OME springs and the generaly build of the 80. I'd be curious to know what experiences others have had and what you think about tire pressure. After all, tire pressure is the one thing we can easily adjust on our trucks and it makes a big difference in traction, gas mileage, tire wear, etc.

I accept that there are certain risks inherant to driving a modified SUV, but there's no other vehicle I'd rather be in...

 

[sprocket3]

What else have you driven to compare your 80 to? Do you drive different cars frequently?

I like my lifted 80, but cornering is not it's strong point. You may just be used to the top heavy roll over machine that you drive and know it's limits well. When i drive the 80 i slow way down even compared to my stock 100 series. They don't handle well at all, it's just basic physics. Everything that we do to these rigs flys in the face of improving the handling performance.

But they are sure sweet looking with all those cool mods. Just pay more attention, you should never have to change lanes to avoid someone that just stopped fast. Well unless the mods made your brakes that bad!

 

[mainemike]

I don't think tire pressure is all that relevant in evasive maneuvers. Granted, 20 psi is going to work against you, but a few psi at standard hwy settings is very minor compared to the other variables such as CG, tire type, and weather/surface conditions. Since you had a 'successful' evasive experience, you probably did everything right given all the factors involved in a split-second reaction.

Being aware of your exit lines is one of the best strategies - I do that from my years on motorcycles. There are times when you may have to swerve around a vehicle or object instead of braking, and this can only be done safely if you're confident you have the open space for such a maneuver. Otherwise, you risk compounding the event greatly and putting many more vehicles/people at risk.

Being rear-ended by a built 80 is a serious impact for the person being 'ended'. Plus you may have been rear-ended as well. Of course, in your rig you probably would have been able to push the other cars away and drive home unscathed, leaving two totaled cars behind.

I'd say your awareness of your options was the key factor in a successful avoidance maneuver. The stiffer suspension helped control body roll which kept you headed in the right direction, and your understanding of the vehicles reactions/limitations kept it all in balance.

But any little variation in any of the sum of the actions/reactions/environment could have produced an entirely different outcome.

 

[knorrena]

I used to own a Dodge Dakota Quad cab. The cruiser is an F1 race car compared to that POS.

Karl

 

[Tapage]

I'm not the most experienced driver anycase .. few ones only on my record, as Supra, Celica, 40/60/70/80 Cruisers from stock to heavyly modified, but the most amazing car that I ever driven it's a Porsche ..

are not about the speed and power that it have .. it's about handling and braking capabilities .. very impresibe IMOP ..

 

[Fly Rod]

I am glad you made it out ok. Most people get into trouble when they oversteer on the correction. I had a similar experience in rig load for a three week Baja trip. I was in the #1 lane in So. Cal traffic @ 60 mph. I looked down and when I looked up everyone was stopped. I made it into the median 2" from the divider and 5" from the car in front of me! Pucker! I stopped @ 2/3 the way past the car in front. Thank god for ABS! Luck defenitely was on my side that day. That and training in a racing school.

I have often considered increasing my sway bar dimentions on my expedition rigs. I know that would affect articulation but the benefit in emergency manuvers could pay off.

Has anyone installed heavier swaybars?

 

[Grolar]

Did you read the "rolled my 80" threads lately? Whatever the skills of the driver, a 80 isn't going to be strong at evasive maneuvers. Unless you "evade" into the right sandy or rocky embankment! The laws of physics, you know...

 

[Firedog]

I had to pull an evasive maneuver this morning in the snow as I exited a tunnel ( two tunnels, each extra wide single lane one way) a Dodge Dakota traveling the other direction lost it and crossed the center line into my side of the tunnel. I swerved hard left as I exited the tunnel (and entered the snow) then had to bring it back into my lane at just under 30 mph without putting her in a slide. The truck performed flawlessly, even without a front sway bar! I travel this route several times every day and i know the road well.
I am going to have to agree with AdventureBuddies on this one, my 80 is one of the best handling 4X4's I have driven, a true joy to drive (it even beats out most 4X2 pickups I have owned!) Much better than any of the 40's,60's or 62's I have owned/driven. The only truck I have owned that I thought handled better was an '85 Toyota 4X4 that i bought new, I swore that I should enter that one in the local SCCA races

After every mod, I take the truck out and run it ...HARD, I try to find it's limits on the road (empty parking lot usually), just like you should do on the trail

I had the opportunity to take my Duramax out on a police skid pad about two years ago, honestly I believe it was some of the best training I have ever had behind the wheel. Seeing just what that truck would do in a "safe" environment was amazing....of course I went through a set of BFG A/T's in about an hour, but it was FUN!

 

[hattrick3518]

love the control in the 80, mine is bone stock but there are a couple 35 mph turns over by my house that i have gone 55 thru on occasion, normally keep it at 45-50 but i just love the control and agility, they are big trucks but handle like a smaller car, gotta love it, the only thing i hate our my damn mushy stock springs, so much sway i dont know what to do with my self! other than get some new OME's

 

[sprocket3]

MJKK Photos and Movies - Presented by Phanfare

This was my road and track toy for the last 4 years. It was just about perfect if you like light nimble road machines. Have not driven anything that would compare to how it took the corners.

Sold it to fund the 80 project

Sorry for the Hijack, but you brought up Porsches not me.

"I'm not the most experienced driver anycase .. few ones only on my record, as Supra, Celica, 40/60/70/80 Cruisers from stock to heavyly modified, but the most amazing car that I ever driven it's a Porsche ..

are not about the speed and power that it have .. it's about handling and braking capabilities .. very impresibe IMOP .."

 

[FJ809496TLC]

I do evasive maneuvering here in Houston on a daily basis. One early morning on the freeway, the driver in front of me slammed his brakes trying to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him that suddenly stopped. I had to do an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting him. Mine is riding on 35MTs, Js and Ls at 60mph! That woke me up!

 

[badmuthatrucka]

Wow, sounds like that was fun! Glad you came out okay, and I agree about the functionality of the 80. Last year, when we had about a foot of snow every week, I got to do a lot of evasive maneuvers. I didn't, and don't have either of my sway bars connected, but I will probably hook up the rear one again soon.

Sprocket3, I'm gonna have to disagree with this:
"Just pay more attention, you should never have to change lanes to avoid someone that just stopped fast. Well unless the mods made your brakes that bad!"
You just got done talking about sports cars with Tapage. A Porsche can stop in a lot shorter distance than an 80, even if the 80 has new brakes and rotors. Also, there are many other cars that can do the same. Unless you allow the proper distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, (which I wouldn't believe even if you told me ) there are several times in which one might need to change lanes to avoid a collision. Yes, even if the person in front of them "just stopped fast."

Besides, if AdventureBuddies drives anything like I do, he's almost on their back bumper anyway. No time to stop without changing lanes.

 

[sprocket3]

Hey you are free to disagree. I just don't like the idea or rolling my 80 since my head rubs the headliner and i have seen enough pictures of these things after they roll over at speed. I don't want to be typing on my computer with a stick in my mouth. I will just back off and give it some room. I've done plenty of fast, in fast cars. Larger tires make the brakes worse as well.

Have you seen the "roll over testing" on youtube. They don't have any 80s that i recall but the ones they do are enough to make a guy think about pushing it's limits at speed.

Watch the rear sway bar idea as you want to have a good balance. If the rear is stiffer than the front you will have an OVERSTEER PROBLEM. This is bad.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

I have driven desert buggies, (read as off-road sports cars), Monteros, Chevys and all. The 80, when lifted has to be the smoothest and most predictable of trucks.
Mine has 315 Nittos and a 3" lift. As a leftover from my desert buggy days, I HATE going downhill at speed. I can't accelerate into turns when going down.
In AZ we have one very infamous hill climb. It is dotted with burn marks from overheated cars. But the downside of it drives me crazy. When I have to get to the city for biz, I have to deal with this 8 mile downhill. It winds back and forth between 18-wheelers around tight turns at 70MPH.
The last time that I went that way I was towing a loaded 3/4 ton trailer. I blew past a guy in a Mustang like he was standing still! Did I mention that I hate going downhill? I love blowing the doors off of a Mustang on a winding road in a lifted LC! Towing a trailer!
This is by far the most stable lifted off-road vehicle that I have ever driven.

 

[CodyRx7]

My first evasive manuever was performed 2 days ago.

Only thing - it wasn't me that did it. It was the genius woman in the minivan behind me not paying attention who apparently tried to hitch her caravan to my pintle hook with her front bumper and grill.

There was just enough time to see her look up with the most shocked expression I have ever seen..and then she backed up and floored it down a side street to the right of us.

Damage to Cruiser = 0%

Damage to Caravan = plastic crap I took the time to kick off the road.

 

[methoddan]

Nicely done

As a new 80 driver that is used to my EVO, I am very cautious with turning/cornering. I mean, my EVO handles like its in rails, so t can pretty take anything I throw at it. I am sure as I gain more seat time, I will learn the limits of the 80.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

the 80 is smooth and predictable but top heavy and slow to stop and I drive it like a bus with the children buckled down. Compared to my IFS minitruck (minimal lift combined with a wider stance and is part time rear wheel drive with a lockright and non siped mud terrains). The rear end of the mini is always sliding around compared to the cruiser. Steering on the mini is tighter and there is much less body sway but it is still a much looser ride requiring a lot more attention on wet streets/loose surfaces. You just cant compare allwheel drive with open diffs to rearwheel drive with a full time locker. The mini is fun but the cruiser feels so much safer for the family. As a former FJ62 driver I can say When I drive the FZJ80 it feels like it is midway in size, handling and braking between the mini and fj62.