[larrybuck]

Ford had that trans issue back then.

Out here generally, we have only 3 snow/ice event days enough to affect driving
a YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

With that same van, I was on route in the middle of the night 70+ miles from completing
the route, when I probably had my weirdest driving event so far.

The sudden snowstorm had started a couple hrs. earlier, and by this point, 4-5 inches
were down and continuing. I had to make a stop to retrieve items from a lock box mounted on a wall of a store in a small shopping center,

To go near it would be folly, as it was downhill to it, and sloping up to leave.

The parking lot was good sized, maybe 5 acres. I picked a level place to park early on, and walked out the PU part.

I found out the chains in the van fit a small car, so I laid them out as a traction mat.

I had plenty of room, so I put it into drive, watched it go, retrieved the chains, running
after the van, throwing them in the back, closing the back right door, and running to get in the van.

I knew I might need that traction again. It went silky smooth, but we all know something else could have happened! I had to complete this 240 mile route on time,
and no other help was around.

Another time in a similar van but this time in NC., I was crossing a field where the road was flooded out of sight. The van was high enough, I thought I could avoid a 30 mile out of the way detour.

I got 3/4ths of the way across. The water had come up inside the bottom of the side doors, but stayed in the step sill (ledge).

I literally felt the van trying to turn submarine as I felt the left front off the pavement and starting to float like....really hard to describe the feeling,but I'll NEVER forget it!

I gingerly, oh so carefully barely turned the steering wheel to the right, held my breath,
and the boat became a van again, and I made it through.

Other ice adventures were on the freeway trying to make time, again in the Econoline.
With 240 miles to cover, chains, and putting along would take forever.

With not much weight in the van, I remember depending on wind circumstances, one could get up to about 40 mph on plain tires, and the van would do a cadence dance in the rear from side to side, Very important to know where the break away point was.

I was glad I lived/live here to have learned on freezing rain storms. Snow was a piece
of cake in comparison.

What are your wild adventures, that is, if you are not too chicken to share???