okay.... so i'm getting ready for a 4,000 miler with a cargo trailer. half the miles will be loaded at least 9k trailer weight.

earlier today, i posted something in a different context about an experience i had on my last tow. the experience was basically that my co-pilot (buddy, not wife) and i agreed that we should take the animal head-on, and don't try to swerve or save the animal.

is this the right strategy? if it's a deer.... keep a straight line? i just can't seem to reconcile that the best move is to try and guess what the animal will do and take the big load the other way all of the sudden?

here's the funny story:

so, i hauled a trailer on a road trip with a buddy. we seen a deer right on the side of the road, ready to bolt. so we made an agreement. if an animal gets in our way, hunker down, keep our line and plow it.... but DO NOT waiver... DO NOT panic... DO NOT try and swerve.

sure enough, that night, i'm kinda snoozin, and i hear him say in an elevated tone... 'oh $hit'.... my eyes open and i seen a GIANT racoon headed directly under the truck. my buddy grabs the steering wheel, grits his teeth and hollers "COOOOON!!". he is headed right down the middle and i think the big fella is going to make it. at the last minute when all i could see was his forehead, the coon tries to bolt to the driver side. we heard one giant thud as the 315 tire plows him. then another. then the trailer tire. and another.

boy did we laugh over that one. it was just what we needed on a road trip.

actually at the next filling station, i looked around for carnage. there was nothing, but i looked down the middle under the truck and started estimating what would have happened if the coon froze. i think it would have been ugly. he was bigger than the rear of the trailer clearance. i think there would have been coon milfoil all over the rear of the trailer. gross.

A dog size animal does minimal damage to your equipment; a deer can tear the $hit out of your equimpent. It's a judgement call.

Idahofox

A dog size animal does minimal damage to your equipment; a deer can tear the $hit out of your equimpent. It's a judgement call.

Idahofox

i would say that right before the racoon got hit it was about the size of a dog.

if i'm in a deer type situation... <<a deer can tear the $hit out of your equimpent>>.... this is what i think i want to separate myself from. i want to train my mind to not try and evaluate how valuable my truck is when it comes to swerving with a load. i'd rather collect from my truck insurance than have my wife collect from my life insurance.

i understand what you are saying about making judgement, but maybe i just don't feel confident enough to think that fast.

it actually gave me more comfort as a passenger in my truck with policy of no-swerve. with my buddy driving, i have no idea about his capabilities in an animal situation. as a passenger, i liked knowing that we would keep a straight line. maybe in the coon situation, it helped??? who knows. maybe i'll ask him if he ever thought about swerving.

has anyone tried those crazy deer whistles that you can hook up to the front of your rig?

In a loaded rig I would just keep moving straight. It is not worth you life to try and save your truck or a deer.

If it is an elk or a moose then do what you can to miss it. They are so tall they can come through your windsheld.

I usually try to run the damn coons over. Bastards make a mess of our corn. If loaded and at speed, I wouldn't avoid the deer if there was a chance of rolling because of the trailer. Get on the brakes as much as you can and hope the damn thing gets off the road. Smaller than a deer, just run it over.. Most you will have is blood on the truck. It washes off. Wash it soon though, blood is acidic and will eat your paint.

has anyone tried those crazy deer whistles that you can hook up to the front of your rig?

Don't waste your money. Those whistles cause deer to stop where they are at and look around for the sound. It's not bad unless they are in the road already.
I have had several collisions with deer over the years and have tried all kinds of different tactics. The best I have found is drive slower, pay more attention, and if that fails, have good insurance.

Just my .02

If I am really moving and it is deer size or bigger (a horse once!), I brake and try to aim for their ass. I don't swerve, but hope they aren't there when I get there. If I do hit them, it is a glancing blow and hopefully won't pitch them up into the windshield. If smaller, brake and hit 'em if I have to. I am not going to kill myself by running off the road or rolling over trying to save an animal or my truck.

if i'm in a deer type situation... <<a deer can tear the $hit out of your equimpent>>.... this is what i think i want to separate myself from. i want to train my mind to not try and evaluate how valuable my truck is when it comes to swerving with a load. i'd rather collect from my truck insurance than have my wife collect from my life insurance.

i understand what you are saying about making judgement, but maybe i just don't feel confident enough to think that fast.

it actually gave me more comfort as a passenger in my truck with policy of no-swerve. with my buddy driving, i have no idea about his capabilities in an animal situation. as a passenger, i liked knowing that we would keep a straight line. maybe in the coon situation, it helped??? who knows. maybe i'll ask him if he ever thought about swerving.

I agree... I'd rather take the deer head-on, and worry about getting the truck fixed/replaced than take a chance of loosing control and rolling etc, possibly loosing my life in the process.

I once came upon the aftermath of a contest between a horse and a Chevelle on I-80 in the wilds of Nevada. Looked like a draw. The car was crushed up to the windshield. I don't know about the driver. Rather than formulate a rigid rule, maybe you ought to just decide that you won't do anything that would cause greater harm than doing nothing.

TC

I have the deer whistles and swear by them! Raised in the mountains & plains of WY, MT, ID and I have to tell they WILL cause deer, elk, cows, & moose to Stop, Look, & Listen. Knowing that, if they are in the roadway, I move to one side or the other of the critter (if safe to do so) and cruise right by them. I have butted heads (and other parts) before the whistles, but nothing since (about 10 years). the whistles seems to make the critter's reactions more dependable. Without the whistles I have had plenty of opportunities (I used to spend about 75-85000 miles a year in the oilfields of WY & MT dodging antelope & deer) to swerve and/or plow into them, it was a crap shoot what they would do. Hell, I have gotten the front bumper past theit butts only to have them wheel 180 degrees and run smack into the side of the truck.

My suggestion, get the biggest, baddest, grill guard you can find or make, and add the whistles. Oh yea, and grit your teeth till you get past them!

get a HD bumper, deer whistles make them curious. we took them (whistles) on a scouting trip once, no real effect except for curiosity. my road armor will ensure after I hit an animal, my front end will still be intact and driveable.

Take a deer head on even though I like Kartattack's move of aiming for their rear. My college roommate hit two horses head on with an F150 at 50mph. The lead horse, 1200 lbs, died but the 800 lb horse standing next to it lived. By head on I mean he caught them both in the chest head on. The cops figured my roommate got his foot over the brake pedal but never applied. No skid marks but his foot hit the pedal and bent it. Totaled the truck. Pushed the engine back.

I'm with _Nar_ slow down if ya can but hit it straight on. We have tons of white in Iowa and most people get hurt by hitting the ditch not the deer. I think the deere whistles work good, had some in my basement for years and never had a deer in it yet..):h

id hit the animal, small animals, dogs cats etc no slow down no swerve just keep straight, if they move they move if they dont they dont. Bigger animals i still do the same thing. 15000 lbs or not trees dont move, seen a few stop some tractor trailers that hit them head on. A lot of damage to the truck sucks i will admit but maybe you wont total it and kill yourself.

I'll give you the 5 UPS safe driving tips:

1) Aim High in Steering. Be looking 10-15 seconds ahead of you.

2) Get the Big Picture. Scan from tree-line to tree-line, ahead and check your mirrors every 5-7 seconds.

3) Keep Your Eyes Moving. Goes with "Get the Big Pic"....also helps keep fatigue away because you dont "fix" on one thing.

4) Leave Yourself an Out. Always keep a "second option" open...always be checking around the vehicle, especially to the front.

5) Make Sure They See You. Use your horn, lights and signals to get others attention.


For animals, slow down, don't swerve. You could jacknife that trailer very easily.

Tom :pig:

The cops figured my roommate got his foot over the brake pedal but never applied. No skid marks but his foot hit the pedal and bent it. Totaled the truck. Pushed the engine back.

Skid marks with ABS ? Sound like your buddy put plenty of "applied pressure" and bent it.

To bad about his truck.

Idahofox

I agree with with the animal. Another thing to consider besides endangering you and your family is insurance. A friend's wife swerved to miss a deer and ended up hitting a utility pole. Don't know how it work's in other states, but in Tx, hitting the deer would have fallen under comprehensive. Instead , hitting the utility pole meant it fell under collision which can cause higher insurance rates.

I agree with with the animal. Another thing to consider besides endangering you and your family is insurance. A friend's wife swerved to miss a deer and ended up hitting a utility pole. Don't know how it work's in other states, but in Tx, hitting the deer would have fallen under comprehensive. Instead , hitting the utility pole meant it fell under collision which can cause higher insurance rates.

ouch.... talk about salt in the wound.

I'll give you the 5 UPS safe driving tips:

1) Aim High in Steering. Be looking 10-15 seconds ahead of you.

2) Get the Big Picture. Scan from tree-line to tree-line, ahead and check your mirrors every 5-7 seconds.

3) Keep Your Eyes Moving. Goes with "Get the Big Pic"....also helps keep fatigue away because you dont "fix" on one thing.

4) Leave Yourself an Out. Always keep a "second option" open...always be checking around the vehicle, especially to the front.

5) Make Sure They See You. Use your horn, lights and signals to get others attention.


Aaah, The Smith System... Works well unless you are in big city traffic. Probably written by the same office-tied booksmart white collar guys that write up the commercial vehicle tests for DMV. Never set foot in a big truck, but they can damn sure tell you the best way to drive 'em! :lol:

.

My suggestion, get the biggest, baddest, grill guard you can find or make.
Oh yea, and grit your teeth till you get past them!






:exactly:

Skid marks with ABS ? Sound like your buddy put plenty of "applied pressure" and bent it.

To bad about his truck.

Idahofox

This was back in 85-86 pre ABS.

Up here, its not a question of hitting a deer or not, the question is when you will...It's inevitable..
When it comes to grille gaurds, get a well built unit as has been stated in the thread..The cheap (cosmetic look only) actually do more damage to the truck when you smoke a large animal (deer, bear, elk) than having nothing at all up front.
The most damage I did from hitting an animal wasn't from a deer..It was a st benard :(

You forgot to mention pigs. They do a lot of damage.

Aaah, The Smith System... Works well unless you are in big city traffic. Probably written by the same office-tied booksmart white collar guys that write up the commercial vehicle tests for DMV. Never set foot in a big truck, but they can damn sure tell you the best way to drive 'em! :lol:

I dunno.....it works for us, even in cities. I've got 19 years safe driving using those 5 simple rules. It's the idiots in the other cars you have to worry about. Whats that phrase, "Sit back and watch the nickelodeon"?

Tom :pig:

JJ's on the side of "bye bye Bambi"! :) OK to nail the brakes, but swirving may present an entirely different set of problems before you.:o:

I'm to the point, OK age, that I try my best to avoid driving at night with the 5ver in tow. I'll just be a nervous wreck and not sleep good anyway, so I opt to get off the road before dark and drink some beer, err I mean take my medicine. ):h

A grille/push guard is a must IMHO if you are going to tow heavy, especially at night! Really sets that front end off to. :ro)

Good discussion! Be safe guys! JJ :)

:) Ooo... a deer.. how cute.

Come talk to me when you have to deal with every animal that you see on the road bein at least a half ton.

I've had to avoid moose, bear, bison, wild horses, and various unidentified fuzzy objects in my short time up here. Most are scared of a horn. I think an air horn is one of the best ways to move. I just flash the lights, hit the horn, and slow the heck down until I'm past them.. most of the time they get the heck out of the way.

Except for the moose that decided to weave across both lanes of the road, running at 45 mph going the way I wanted to go so I couldn't pass... Until a Peterbilt scared him off the road.

I dunno.....it works for us, even in cities. I've got 19 years safe driving using those 5 simple rules. It's the idiots in the other cars you have to worry about. Whats that phrase, "Sit back and watch the nickelodeon"?

Tom :pig:

Well, I'm not sure what kind of traffic you have in Michigan, but California traffic is brutal. Especially in the Bay Area and L.A. Bumper-to-bumper traffic does not give you the option to "Leave yourself an out". Plus if you "Aim high in steering", then you'll probably wind up not noticing and running over the little Honda that just cut in front of you so closely that you can only see the top of it's roof. "Make sure they see you"??? A turn signal just means the cars will speed up to cut you off, and honking your horn at someone is a good way to either get flipped off or (in some extreme cases) shot. When I drove for Foster Farms, our safety guy was real big on preaching The Smith System. For the most part, all the drivers would either sleep or laugh through the training video that we had to watch about every 3 months. I'm glad it seems to work for you, but in my 10+ years of driving (last 3 of which have been hauling bulk hazardous liquids), I have yet to find a set of "rules" that would apply in all (or at least most) situations. Just my .02

:) I love california. Breed idiots, and make the rest of the nation suffer via the rules required to keep them from exercising Darwin's theory.

My dad asked me how big the deer are up here compaired to the ones in Michigan. I told him the only ones I've seen were in the zoo. :D

I hit the first animal with our truck, a big ol coon. Made a wrong turn in the fog driving from Benning to GR, and nailed it. ST was sleeping, woke up, asked what that was, and went back to sleep.

Not sure what I'd do, everything here is big. Even the wolves, which I will NOT get out to see if I hit. Judgment calls and two people awake at night on long drives. Did you know moose eyes reflect green in headlights?

I live in "too damn many deer" country and do a lot of high speed night driving on several deer allys around here (Hwy 97, Hwy 31). I hit 8 to 10 deer a year, usually above 65 mph. I almost never swerve, never slam on brakes (with or without trailer), but do try to slow and move to avoid if there is time and it is safe. As there usually are few to no cars on the road, I can use my totally illegal broad beam spotlights to drive with and that helps show up the stand ones or ones along the edge. But the saving grace allowing no front end damage is a custom winch bumper (Ruennel copy but heavier) of 1/2" plate steel heavily braced to the frame, with solid tube headlight and grill protectors. Most deer glance off it or go underneath, but one wiseguy last year impaled himself on the front of it and stuck there until I stopped and pulled him off. I have also hit a burro with it in Mexico with no problem to vehicle. The only problems I have are with the retarded or slow deer than run into the side of the vehicle. (two years ago one ran into the side of the bed at the wheelwell - talk about retarded). Haven't figured out a cure for that one yet other than tying mattresses on the side of the CC.

Like Partsguy said, it's not if, but when up here. Deer and smaller animals are not worth a ride through the ditch... safely slow down, and hit 'em... don't worry, they'll make more of 'em.
As for cattle, moose, elk... I'm much less enthused about hitting them... they'll leave a mark, but still a better option than a tree.

After 40 years of reading accident reports involving "animals", it is usually the driver that wants to save the animal that ends up dead, or wastes his vehicle.

my .02

Something my class 1 driving instructor told me a few years ago I thought applied quite nicely. He was referring to rig driving, but I think it applies here too.

When you're at highway speed, keep it in a straight line, sit on the brakes untill you're almost about to hit and then drop a gear and wail on it. This slows you down and then on impact your front end will surge up and most times you'll direct an animal under the truck. As stated earlier, the big moose and elk are of a different sort, but even there, you can use this method and just try to get a glancing blow on them to avoid a head on. If you can throw them into the ditch, then that's better for you, for your rig, and for anyone that might be behind or in front of you.

I realize this isn't always possible, but it's like everything else, nothing is garunteed to work.

.... then on impact your front end will surge up and most times you'll direct an animal under the truck......

that sounds like a great strategy. best i've heard yet. it would be a real test to see if you can think clearly through a bad situation though!

I think clearly in bad situations :)

Driving the alcan in winter at night is a harrowing experience.

I still like the bumper big enough to take the hit though. Every moose/bear/animal I have come across doesn't like loud noises that flash light at them. Just lights alone will freeze them but noises ie honking the horn helps get them moving and then you can aim where they were.... but if it's a herd just hang on and pray :)

gardnerteam-You have a bumper that badass and you've never posted pics of it? For shame! Show it off..

St Bernard played chicken with me, Killed him, killed my truck, I was ok
I DID not try to swerve, good option, as I did not reliaze that ther owners were standing by the side of the road, I may have swerved and saved the dog, but the outcome may have been tragic....

As for Moose, my experience is that they do not look at on coming traffic ( no eye reflections like deer ), also there fur is not very reflective therefore they are not very visable at night... They are also long legged, and come up over the hood on impact, many car drivers die this way...

Only defence of Moose I know of , drive slow in Moose areas...


Lastly, I just gotta tell you this one: Going thriugh SE PA , in the oppsite lane
there was the start of a HUGE traffic jam. seems there was a single lane traffic area on the North bound side of a 4 lane interstate. The problem was a lady who got out of her car to try to " swoosh" a racoon off of the highway, each time she got it to the shoulder and got back into her car the racoon came back onto the highway, out she got and back to " swooshing", THe The traffic was backed up at least 2 miles....
and she was still " swooshing" the Racoon when I went by. The report to the truckers stuck in traffic was not received to well...

When you see a deer and try to stop (while towing) you will leave skid marks on the road and in your pants! :eek:

Coming home from IRP in Indianapolis, I was within 30 miles from home and out of the ditch came a BIG white dog, must've been a Newfoundland?, it was huge. He slowly walked into my lane. Then a car from the other direction came along and the dog stayed in my lane. The other car flipped it's high beams on, blinding me. When I'd traveled far enough to see the dog again, I had time to stab the brakes hard (no tires locked up on the truck or trailer, I was pulling a 5k trailer with another 8k Dmax on it) I had carefully swerved onto the shoulder enough to miss the dog. It was close. As I went by I could see the dog looking at me with it's tongue hanging out. F*&^2#$ DOG. It never felt tipsy, or out of control at all. It torqued me off but it scared the hell out my half sleeping co-pilot.

Just got back last night at midnight from 10 days in the backcountry of NE Arizona. Can't tell you how many elk I saw on the highway last night but everyone of them did the "stop, look, & listen" and I am convinced it was the 'deer whistles' on the front of the truck. Almost all of the elk turned away from the highway as I got closer. None of them crossed the roadway after lifting their heads. Luck? Man, I am as lucky as Problemchild! Our family has a saying "if bad sh!t is gonna happen, it'll happen to me!". I feel much better with the whistles, But I follow the "Get the Big Picture" training explicitly!