|
|
11-07-2019, 10:22 AM
|
#41
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
|
I got her message without feeling a need to critique / criticize the messenger .
I still believe the base cause was too much trailer for too little truck tied to an inexperienced driver . I would like to believe I could safely handle what she experienced but that may be my male ego overriding my brain .
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 10:42 AM
|
#42
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Denver area, Colorado
Trailer: Decisions, decisions
Posts: 104
|
I don't recall the women mentioning her speed at the time of the wreck. She stressed time and again, that she was in a rush to get to her destination. I suspect that she was driving quite fast; clearly faster than the conditions dictated.
Speed impacts trailer sway and handing in an emergency; no matter the emergency.
Drive to arrive alive.
Sam
__________________
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Dr. Seuss
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 10:48 AM
|
#43
|
Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,049
|
I have to wonder how many people in this thread critiqued the video based on ALL the knowledge they have, rather than as a total newbie.
Could the video be better? Sure, just like anything. Items could be added, like speed rating on tires and PSI and are ALL the exterior lights working before pulling out.
I watched it twice. These are her tips:
1. Take responsibility for your own safety.
2. Practice before a road trip.
3. Lose the agenda.
4. Don't drive in the dark.
5. Know the weight of your camper.
6. Be aware of your surroundings.
7. Know how to use your trailer brakes.
8. Check the recall list.
None are wrong, at least for newbies.
All you have to do is spend sometime reading social media groups for towables to realize there are literally hundreds of people who don't know what they're doing when it comes to towing and their responsibility for sharing the roads with the rest of us.
It's not like every single buyer of an ETI build is experienced either. We've seen trailers rolled for various reasons that have nothing to do with frames or bad roads.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 10:53 AM
|
#44
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
|
20% rule is usually pretty universal.
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 12:05 PM
|
#45
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
|
Drive like hell. You'll get there.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 12:37 PM
|
#46
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham
I got her message without feeling a need to critique / criticize the messenger .
I still believe the base cause was too much trailer for too little truck tied to an inexperienced driver .
|
Isn't that the message which you wanted to hear, expected to hear, and would have heard even if the video consisted of nothing other than the words "Newbie Toyota Bigfoot crash"? She didn't even mention the gross weight or tongue weight of the trailer, or the trailer or hitch rating of the truck.
I don't care about the messenger, but the message doesn't contain anything useful about matching the truck and trailer, so if that's what some people are getting from it, perhaps it wasn't well communicated.
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 01:02 PM
|
#47
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Isn't that the message which you wanted to hear, expected to hear, and would have heard even if the video consisted of nothing other than the words "Newbie Tundra Bigfoot crash"? She didn't even mention the gross weight or tongue weight of the trailer, or the trailer or hitch rating of the truck.
I don't care about the messenger, but the message doesn't contain anything useful about matching the truck and trailer, so if that's what some people are getting from it, perhaps it wasn't well communicated.
|
My wife and I are considering purchasing a Bigfoot trailer . We’ve researched the published weights of various Bigfoots including listed weights on the Bigfoot website , Trailer weights in the real world and various other forums / websites . I would not attempt to tow a larger Bigfoot with most 1/2 ton trucks including my Ram 1500 .
I watched the Youtube video and made my remarks on what I saw and heard
If we purchase the Bigfoot 25RQ we want then we will be towing it with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck
I see nothing wrong in learning from the mistakes of others even if they are not presented in an Oscar quality video
I witnessed my neighbor trying to tow an 8000 lb travel trailer with a Tundra and it didn’t take an engineer or a towing expert to figure out that it wasn’t a good or safe match .
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 05:32 PM
|
#48
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,809
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Isn't that the message which you wanted to hear, expected to hear, and would have heard even if the video consisted of nothing other than the words "Newbie Toyota Bigfoot crash"? She didn't even mention the gross weight or tongue weight of the trailer, or the trailer or hitch rating of the truck.
I don't care about the messenger, but the message doesn't contain anything useful about matching the truck and trailer, so if that's what some people are getting from it, perhaps it wasn't well communicated.
|
I agree. In all the years since the accident she had plenty of time to learn that tongue weight is critical to maintaining control of the trailer. But she didn't mention tongue weight. Has she even learned about it in the long interval.
One thing she did mention was all the "stuff" that they had purchased or brought with them. It may not have been placed in the trailer with any regard for tongue weight and that might have initiated loss of control.
Ron
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 09:57 PM
|
#49
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Opelika, Alabama
Trailer: 2012 19
Posts: 130
|
Are there any states that require a written or driving test to get a drivers license for towing? Alabama has such requirements to get a motorcycle and boat endorsement on a drivers license. I think towing requires as much knowledge as either one of those.
Graham
Opelika Al
|
|
|
11-07-2019, 11:53 PM
|
#50
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gyuill
Are there any states that require a written or driving test to get a drivers license for towing? Alabama has such requirements to get a motorcycle and boat endorsement on a drivers license. I think towing requires as much knowledge as either one of those.
Graham
Opelika Al
|
A separate license class (with associated testing) is normally required to ride a motorcycle, but I haven't heard of a class or endorsement (with testing) for personal (non-commercial) or RV towing. There are jurisdictions (states or provinces) that have specific licensing and testing requirement for air brakes (found in some large motorhomes) and for trailers over a certain weight, even though the RV is otherwise allowed under a normal car driver's license.
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 06:52 AM
|
#51
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: alpharetta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 21' Escape
Posts: 494
|
Some people sure have thin skin in this thread if you believe anyone was attacking this woman personally, they were only questioning the information she is trying to give.
I would agree yes she brought up some important points but also missed many that are crucial and that is all I have seen in this thread is people pointing out what she did not talk about that's equally or more important then some of the things she did.
For instance her not driving at night, many would disagree on that statement.
If you read enough forums and or watch enough you tube videos you will see everyone has their opinions.
Enjoy the journey.
Steve
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 10:45 AM
|
#52
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 854
|
The one point I liked was don't tow in the dark. Besides the safety aspect, arriving at campsites in the dark is stressful at best. Can be hard on your marriage.
__________________
Carl,
"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 02:34 PM
|
#53
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiman
The one point I liked was don't tow in the dark. Besides the safety aspect, arriving at campsites in the dark is stressful at best. Can be hard on your marriage.
|
I would totally agree on driving after dark . Your eyesight , reactions times are not what they use to be . Trying to get in your sight and set up in the dark is not anything we like to do . Pat
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 02:37 PM
|
#54
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
|
Sometimes after dark is safer though. I remember 93 through E NV had no traffic at all driving it after dark. Daytime after leaving Ely, NV continuing N the truck traffic alone was much more dangerous. Most of the time it is probably safer in the daytime hours, though. In by 2pm!
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 02:41 PM
|
#55
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg A
Sometimes after dark is safer though. I remember 93 through E NV had no traffic at all driving it after dark. Daytime after leaving Ely, NV continuing N the truck traffic alone was much more dangerous. Most of the time it is probably safer in the daytime hours, though. In by 2pm!
|
Hey Greg your a youngster still ! I hear you don’t care for busy traffic either . Pat
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 03:30 PM
|
#56
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,259
|
After Dark
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiman
The one point I liked was don't tow in the dark. Besides the safety aspect, arriving at campsites in the dark is stressful at best. Can be hard on your marriage.
|
The three best sentences uttered in a campground when arriving after dark are:
1. Look there’s a pull through that’s not reserved.
2. It looks level enough that we won’t have to unhook
3. The restroom is right across the road
Worst sentences
1. Can you back between those trees?
2. Look at all those little bicycles next to us
3. It’s been a while since I saw a Grateful Dead decal on a Winnebago.
And finally, move on if it is:
“I hear banjos.”
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 04:08 PM
|
#57
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,809
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiman
The one point I liked was don't tow in the dark. Besides the safety aspect, arriving at campsites in the dark is stressful at best. Can be hard on your marriage.
|
Much of the time we travel in the dark when we're making tracks. In that case we're usually heading for a Walmart or a truck stop that we've been to before. I wouldn't take an unknown twisty turny two lane mountain road in the dark but other than that, it's not a consideration for us. Except in Baja, then it's never drive at night.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
And finally, move on if it is:
“I hear banjos.”
Iowa Dave
|
Oh man, if they're playing "Cripple Creek" I've just made new lifelong buds.
Ron
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 05:21 PM
|
#58
|
Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,155
|
my takeaway is, she had no concept of tongue weight, a Tundra should /not/ be pulling a bigfoot over 17f (and that one looked like a 25 to me), and she didn't udnerstand brake controllers (which she admitted).
this june, i had my escape 21 come unhitched from my F250 (the hitchball came out of the tow bar, with a stripped shank), and start to sway violently. because A) my F250 is as solid as a locomotive, and B) I knew to grab the manual brake before slowing, I quickly brought in under control and pulled off the road. If we'd still been using a Tacoma, things could easily have gotten out of hand.
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 07:01 PM
|
#59
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz
my takeaway is, she had no concept of tongue weight, a Tundra should /not/ be pulling a bigfoot over 17f (and that one looked like a 25 to me), and she didn't udnerstand brake controllers (which she admitted).
this june, i had my escape 21 come unhitched from my F250 (the hitchball came out of the tow bar, with a stripped shank), and start to sway violently. because A) my F250 is as solid as a locomotive, and B) I knew to grab the manual brake before slowing, I quickly brought in under control and pulled off the road. If we'd still been using a Tacoma, things could easily have gotten out of hand.
|
Question ? When should you replace the hitch ball ? Pat
|
|
|
11-08-2019, 07:14 PM
|
#60
|
Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,155
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patandlinda
Question ? When should you replace the hitch ball ? Pat
|
they /should/ last forever, unless the surface of the ball shows excess wear or galling. in my case, somehow the nut had come loose, perhaps it wasn't torqued on hard enough in the first place.
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|