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11-05-2019, 02:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Trailer: 2012 Escape-19
Posts: 383
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Bigfoot Wreck
Video worth watching, especially new campers.
Eddie
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11-05-2019, 04:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 282
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Recalls?
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11-05-2019, 05:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
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First impression “ Too much trailer— Not enough truck “
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11-05-2019, 05:37 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by James Gang
Recalls?
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The 2003-2007 Bigfoot 21FB was recalled due to unsafe towing conditions with a light tongue. It appears to have been a poor design. The fix was a reinforced tongue section and 275# of ballast (weighted plates) that was added. The recall went out in 2007 and Bigfoot went out of business in 2008 which means that if an owner waited or the recall info didn’t reach them that possibly some of these trailers never got fixed.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/B...2520FB#recalls
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11-05-2019, 05:43 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 282
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Thanks
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11-05-2019, 06:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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While this was traumatic and a terrible thing to happen, many of her tips are not all that accurate, especially for the masses.
The number one point she put across though, is that folks need to bother to learn about towing and all the particulars of that. Too many think it will be no problem as lots of people do it, but........
Glad they came out of it okay.
BTW, I love to drive at night, whether or not towing.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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11-05-2019, 06:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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She doesn't even know how long the trailer is... not exactly an expert. Even after this learning experience, she still clearly doesn't understand much. Fortunately, it's often possible to learn from the experiences of people who themselves don't know much.
Her list and my comments: - Take responsibility for your own safety.
I think that all females should be insulted by her characterization of this mistake as a "typical woman thing", but the point about responsibility (for everyone) is valid.
- Practice before a road trip.
Yes, but I don't know how pulling the Bigfoot around a parking lot would have made a difference to this incident.
- Lose the agenda.
That's idiotic; in the real world, people have schedules. A useful tip might be to prioritize safe towing over schedule adherence.
- Don't drive in the dark.
While darkness increases the probability of problems, especially on unfamiliar roads, as a general rule this is nonsense.
- Know the weight of your camper [trailer].
Yes, but she seems to think that it is important only to know whether the trailer weighs more or less than the tow vehicle, which is irrelevant trivia.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
Yes... and not just surroundings, but the whole driving situation
- Know how to use your trailer brakes.
Um, yeah. You needed to crash to think of that? Scary.
- Check the recall list.
In this case, the recall only addressed ballasting to ensure suitable mass (weight) distribution, but the trailer could have been loaded properly without the ballast, which was added to handle situations in which people had full tanks behind the axle, empty tanks ahead, and other cargo not loaded to compensate.
Now for the two things which she didn't learn, and which are actually relevant: - load the trailer for proper mass distribution
- adjust the hitch for suitable trailer attitude (level) (and in this case thus equal load distribution between the axles)
I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised that someone who calls herself "Liz Amazing" feels qualified to tell people how to tow, without knowing anything about towing.
By the way, a fifth-wheel RV trailer (or "camper") is a travel trailer... just one with the tongue extending over the back of the truck. It has all the same characteristics and issues as any other trailer, but is typically more stable because it typically (but not always) has a more forward weight distribution, and because the hitch coupling point is much closer to the tow vehicle's rear axle.
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11-05-2019, 07:00 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Both of them had limited or no trailer towing experience at all.....another factor,
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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11-05-2019, 07:22 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,040
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I'm not insulted by her characterization. Surprisingly, that's typical. Perhaps it's because females are more vocal when it come to their fears about towing? At any rate, I often remind women on Facebook... no one, absolutely no one is born with the hooking up the trailer and towing gene. Everyone learns. It actually gives a few an A-Ha moment.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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11-05-2019, 09:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,786
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised that someone who calls herself "Liz Amazing" feels qualified to tell people how to tow, without knowing anything about towing.
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That was my impression. I felt that the video was posted more to get youtube revenue than because she learned some of the factual stuff like proper trailer loading etc.
Hopefully a few of the points might be of benefit to someone. But if they learn from that video then it's scary that they're towing and don't already know those basics.
Ron
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11-05-2019, 10:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
I felt that the video was posted more to get youtube revenue than because she learned some of the factual stuff like proper trailer loading etc.
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Probably. Her mission is to “help and inspire others” yet it appears she posted this many years after it happened. It’s looks like a Gen 1 Tundra, 2007 Bigfoot 21FB at the newest and she looks much younger in the photo still next to her smiley face boyfriend. If she really cared one would think she would have published this much earlier than Oct 4th, 2019. Just seems a bit disingenuous. Adding insult to injury is that in all that time it doesn’t sound like she learned too much.
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11-05-2019, 10:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Hi: elongest... THANKS for posting this. It's good to know how to... from others mistakes. I have had to correct my 5.0TA's attitude once by using the trailer brakes only!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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11-06-2019, 06:40 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: alpharetta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 21' Escape
Posts: 494
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Yes would agree with all of the comments I read in this thread, she seemed clueless about a lot of important things when you are towing. Interesting how I never heard the mention of a WDH, that would have helped.
Driving today has gotten more dangerous because to many people are not driving hands free. GA passed a hands free law in 2017 but I have seen little change in driving habits. I say all the time enforce the hands free law and speeding in school zones, you could save lives and use the revenue to help with local budgets.
Enjoy the journey.
Steve
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11-06-2019, 06:57 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stratos175
Yes would agree with all of the comments I read in this thread, she seemed clueless about a lot of important things when you are towing. Interesting how I never heard the mention of a WDH, that would have helped.
Driving today has gotten more dangerous because to many people are not driving hands free. GA passed a hands free law in 2017 but I have seen little change in driving habits. I say all the time enforce the hands free law and speeding in school zones, you could save lives and use the revenue to help with local budgets.
Enjoy the journey.
Steve
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Actually a w/d may not have helped as the issue of too light of tongue weight was the issue. Anti-sway equipment as well as the newer vehicles with built in anti-sway brake control would have helped. Neither was in use here.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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11-06-2019, 08:45 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,254
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While her “mistakes and tips” had value to many trailer owners, from my experience, talking with many trailer owners about towing, I think there’s a whole additional level of towing considerations, many more important than some of the ones she offered up. As mentioned, no explanation or revelation of several important towing considerations.
1. WDH
2. Properly mounted and adjusted WDH
3. Properly set trailer brake controller
4. Properly adjusted trailer brakes
5. Tire inflations , tire age, tire suitability, tread depth
6. Side to side balanced loading
7. Knowledge of tongue weight.
8. Dead level towing attitude
9. Load limits of the tow vehicle (all around)
10. Mentally preparing for tight situations including the manual override of the brake controller.
Most all of these topics are discussed about once a month on this and other trailer forums so due diligence would indicate a responsibility for education before towing.
Sorry she wrecked her trailer and truck and glad nobody was real seriously hurt or worse. Her video was an appetizer in the seven course meal called towing. Left everybody hungry and waiting for the main dish. In my experienced opinion. Your opinion may vary.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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11-06-2019, 09:14 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Denver area, Colorado
Trailer: Decisions, decisions
Posts: 104
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And be the tortoise and not the hare.
I’ve always towed at 60mph max. A comfortable, for me, speed to handle emergencies, blowouts , etc.
Sam
__________________
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Dr. Seuss
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11-06-2019, 10:50 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,174
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
10. Mentally preparing for tight situations including the manual override of the brake controller.
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Having trailer brakes and knowing how to use them are two different concepts. Every time we leave, usually withing a block or so, I squeeze the trailer brakes to make sure they're working. When Terry drives I make sure she squeezes them too.
On some vehicles the brake controller is on the left side of the steering wheel where only the driver can initiate trailer brakes. Our F150 controller is on the right side. On her Toyota the trailer brake controller was on the left. Once, with our Cougar, the trailer started to sway, Terry panicked, and I squeezed the brakes. There is a good vs a better place to install the brake controller. On our Odyssey I had the controller mounted as far to the right as possible.
Enjoy,
Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
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11-06-2019, 10:55 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Installer has to be aware of air bag locations before mounting controller.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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11-06-2019, 01:43 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perryb67
On her Toyota the trailer brake controller was on the left.
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I don't think the video ever shows the brake controller used in the Toyota; the short clip shows the integrated controller on the left in her current Chevrolet Silverado, and a first-gen Tundra wouldn't have even had an integrated controller available.
Personally, while my controller is mounted in the middle because that's where a suitable space was available, I don't want a passenger touching it.
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11-06-2019, 02:02 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,174
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
I don't think the video ever shows the brake controller used in the Toyota; the short clip shows the integrated controller on the left in her current Chevrolet Silverado, and a first-gen Tundra wouldn't have even had an integrated controller available.
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I stand corrected.
Quote:
Personally, while my controller is mounted in the middle because that's where a suitable space was available, I don't want a passenger touching it.
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And I was glad I could grab the controller when the sway happened with Terry driving. I knew where the controller was to activate.
What kind of passengers ride in your tow?
Enjoy,
Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
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