Okay I going to vent a little on this page.

Now I know that accidents happen but this could one have been prevented.

For those who hate reading the picture links are at the bottom Thank's.

Here is the story.

The year before the wreck my real good friend was my support driver for the Trans Montana charity ride. We used the bronco (the picador was not done in time) he was a very good support driver had the motel rooms checked in. Our luggage in our rooms, there was four riders in my trailer so he moved a lot of luggage he kept the sled gassed up and the oil tanks full and the trailer was open and ready to load when we came in for the day I was real happy with him his only two complaints was the washer jug did not work (dirty windshield) and that the bronco felt like it was getting steered down the road by the trailer both of which I could understand that is why the picador was being built. But he knew how to work the electric brake system and he checked the roads with the other support drivers the night before we went in with the trucks and trailers so he knew what to expect when he took the trailer in to the unloading sites.

Now I would have used him the second time but his new job took him out of town so I used his dad I figured that his dad must have taught him some of this driving skill so he should work out as good. Boy I was wrong, the first day on the trip I had him drive to the starting point it is about an 8 hour drive. I figured that he could get use to the truck and trailer on some good roads. So that is what he did was drove he did not take time to figure out the electric brake system or how to work the lever on the 4 wheel drive granted he did play with it but was not sure which way the lever went. At the kick off dinner we all got signed in for the ride. After dinner the support drivers went out to the road to check out the severity of the ice and snow. My support driver figured that it was more important to stay at the bar (unknown to me till later) and talk with some gal that was there also on the ride rather than check out the road. That night we checked into the motel rooms he did not unload anybody's luggage but his own. Okay it was the first night it did not matter to me that he didn't but I did tell him that it would be nice if he unload and had the rooms ready for us when we arrive after a full day of riding a person is tired.

The morning of the accident

We got all loaded and checked out of the motel ate breakfast and we headed for the drop off point. There was about 6'' of snow on the road it was not plowed (my support driver says after the wreck he thought about putting the chains on but decided not to). We head up a rather steep hill and just before the top the truck breaks traction now he was all ready in 4wheel drive. But now he grab the lever and start jerking it back and forth we stop for about 2 seconds before the trailer starts to drag the truck backwards. He says he was pumping the brakes from what I could tell the skids are solid lines he NEVER touched the electric brake control (I checked later and found that the brakes on the trailer DO hold in reverse). And over the embankment we went the trailer on it's side and the truck's back over 4' in the air as the pictures below will show. We get out and nobody was hurt this is good. We are standing on the road and he was upset about wrecking the truck and trailer he said that his insurance would cover the wreck and the sleds since they did not fair to well. I was not mad at the time. I figure he would take care of his screw up and cover the cost of the wreck I had only known him since I was in grade school I figured he would be responsible for his actions. The rest of the week was pretty unnerving for the rest of us since we all noticed how he drove after that. (And to think he drove 18wheelers for a living) but he did not get into another wreck, Nor did he take care of the sleds. We had to gas and oil them after the ride. I had to remind him to at least check the oil in the picador. He did not haul the luggage or get us checked into the rooms when we arrived at the truck and trailer with our sleds it was all locked up and he was later found at the bar chatting with the same gal. We had a broken sled and had to get it to the next own to get it repaired he said he wanted to finish his drink before we left. This was pretty much how the rest of the trip went I was sadly disappointed in his help and driving skills.

Back home

About a week later I get a call from him and he say that he only had liability insurance and he could not afford to pay for the wreck or the $350 tow bill. So about $10000 worth of damage and a tow bill landed in my lap and I did not even get the pleasure of wrecking my truck and trailer and I get to pay for some one else's screw up. You can bet that I will not do him any more favors or let him drive for me again. Sorry for the long-winded story the wreck pictures are below

This is to early-What we first saw when we got out of the truck

Hitch test-Also a good time to rotate tires

Hmm the hill is steep- That is me with the truck

Stack them up-A new way to load sleds

What we slid down-Hmm look at those tracks