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Re: [GMCnet] Trailer Wipe-Out [message #323236 is a reply to message #323230] |
Sat, 02 September 2017 23:16 |
powerjon
Messages: 2446 Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Ken,
I had a similar experience about 5 years ago. I was traveling with Dale Frahm and Ed Dohm and we were heading over to Dales house after the September GMCGL Balloon Rally, short trip of about 35 miles. We were on the Xway on an overpass with Dale about 100 yards ahead went this Suburban towing a 34 foot travel trailer at a high rate of speed came up next to me and just after passing me got the left side trailer wheel off the left side of the road and started to weave wildly in front of me, I got on the brakes and the trailer and tow vehicle started to roll together and the trailer exploded into a thousand pieces and slid Left to right between Dale and myself.
John
> On Sep 2, 2017, at 11:29 PM, Ken Henderson wrote:
>
> I can't believe how fast some of the travel trailers are towed; like this
> one:
>
> http://rvtravel.com/video-travel-trailer-wipes-out-after-passing-truck/
>
> Ken H.
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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Re: [GMCnet] Trailer Wipe-Out [message #323241 is a reply to message #323236] |
Sun, 03 September 2017 06:47 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565 Registered: July 2012 Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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Going way too fast for sure but there were at least three things the driver should have done to prevent the wreck:
1- Have a hitch with load levelers. Anti-sway bars work well too but make it difficult to back up. The load lever bars level out the tow vehicle and toad and dramatically cut down on sway. I pulled a 20' box trailer loaded to capacity (or beyond) 60-70K miles. Passing a semi (or getting passed) was usually a bit twitchy until I got the load leveler hitch.
2- Manually tapped his trailer brake. On every trailer brake controller I've ever has a manual brake switch that, when pushed, will turn on the electric trailer brakes on the toad. In my experience, easing on the brakes on a swaying trailer will cause it to straighten out. I've never been in a situation where my toad was swaying that much but that would have been the first thing I'd have done. That said, a lot of times, the brake controller is mounted where a driver would have to have 4' long arms and an extra elbow to reach it...especially while in panic situation.
3- Slow the hell down! Even the semi driver knew the guy was in trouble. He is way over on the shoulder trying to get out of this idiot's way.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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Re: [GMCnet] Trailer Wipe-Out [message #323444 is a reply to message #323241] |
Wed, 06 September 2017 13:02 |
GMC.LES
Messages: 505 Registered: April 2014
Karma: -2
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Senior Member |
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I totally agree with Kerry's comments, but will add my own.
Often these accidents are the result of poor loading of the trailer, and an in-experienced driver.
I have always done exploratory emergency manoevers at varying speeds when driving a new vehicle configuration to "practice" the vehicle's reaction to adverse situations. It has helped me to react appropriately during sudden surprises.
I have a 21ft travel trailer that weighs in around 5500lbs fully loaded. I have pulled it with both my 2008 F250 crewcab and my 2004 Touareg. The f250 pulls it well without a load distribution hitch, but in a sudden avoidance manoever, the trailer will sway. Sway is affected greatly by how I load the trailer. More tongue weight helps enormously.
With the Touareg, I pull the same trailer using a load distribution hitch and trailer sway is less noticable. Part of that is due to a factory vehicle stability module that will help control trailer braking during detected swaying. Still, with the Touareg being a lighter, shorter vehicle, I have found that I am closer to total loss of control during the most agressive manoevers and I try to drive appropriately.
I believe that special driving lessons should be mandatory for heavy trailer towing AND for larger RVs. The focus should be on emergency manoevers.
Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'
> On Sep 3, 2017, at 7:47 AM, Kerry Pinkerton wrote:
>
> Going way too fast for sure but there were at least three things the driver should have done to prevent the wreck:
>
> 1- Have a hitch with load levelers. Anti-sway bars work well too but make it difficult to back up. The load lever bars level out the tow vehicle and
> toad and dramatically cut down on sway. I pulled a 20' box trailer loaded to capacity (or beyond) 60-70K miles. Passing a semi (or getting passed)
> was usually a bit twitchy until I got the load leveler hitch.
>
> 2- Manually tapped his trailer brake. On every trailer brake controller I've ever has a manual brake switch that, when pushed, will turn on the
> electric trailer brakes on the toad. In my experience, easing on the brakes on a swaying trailer will cause it to straighten out. I've never been in
> a situation where my toad was swaying that much but that would have been the first thing I'd have done. That said, a lot of times, the brake
> controller is mounted where a driver would have to have 4' long arms and an extra elbow to reach it...especially while in panic situation.
>
> 3- Slow the hell down! Even the semi driver knew the guy was in trouble. He is way over on the shoulder trying to get out of this idiot's way.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
>
> Had 5 over the years. Still have the first a 76 that will be rebodied into an art deco car hauler.
>
> http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/
>
> '03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
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> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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