Reckless towing leads to accident

[Mike Lewis]

Greetings from Orlando. I drove down here early Wednesday to visit relatives for Christmas. Early in my trip an SUV pulling a travel trailer passed me at a high rate of speed, 75+ mph I guess. The trailer was fishtailing pretty badly. I slowed down to give this driver room. In less than 30 minutes I came across the results of the reckless towing:

[Rockhead]

Glad you didn’t get tangled up in it. Looks like too small of a tv and an idiot driving.

[Escape_19]

Looks like he could have used one of these (in all seriousness proper tongue weight, trailer loading, and speed is for everyone's safety)

[splitting_lanes]

Can’t happen to a fiberglass trailer.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Greetings from Orlando. I drove down here early Wednesday to visit relatives for Christmas. Early in my trip an SUV pulling a travel trailer passed me at a high rate of speed, 75+ mph I guess. The trailer was fishtailing pretty badly. I slowed down to give this driver room. In less than 30 minutes I came across the results of the reckless towing:

Hi: Mike Lewis... Judging by your pic. it wasn't "Wreckless towing". Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Mike G]

Lack of experience, for sure. An experienced trailer towing driver would have recognized the fishtailing right away and done something about it, rather than risk all.


Oh well, he now has experience and he lived to tell about it. Lucky.

[Centex]

Picture zoom reveals that's a Tracer trailer which touts "Eternabond" construction consisting of a fiberglass exterior with "laminated aluminum-framed" walls, floor, and roof. That's fiberglass panels, not molded construction (with perhaps the exception of the nosecone).

I'm impressed that it's still apparently in one-piece rather than 'exploded' with bits strewn all over the highway as one often sees in such cases.

Yes, reckless (and/or inexperience) can bite, both in weight distribution and driving / towing.

Glad it appears no one was injured and no other vehicles were involved. Wishing safe travels for all who are on the roads this holiday season.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by WillyB

Here are a few sayings for this moment:

"You can't fix stupid"
"Dumber than a box of rocks"
"Bad things happen when you marry your cousin"

ALSO:
“You’ll get that on your bigger jobs”
And the old bumper sticker “Speed on brother, Hell ain’t half full”.

I can hear the recounting “I wasn’t going that fast and everything was going so well.”
And the call to his insurance man “You aren’t going to believe this but……”
Iowa Dave

[splitting_lanes]

Originally Posted by Mike G

Lack of experience, for sure. An experienced trailer towing driver would have recognized the fishtailing right away and done something about it, rather than risk all.

I know a guy that parks his older trailer under big, decrepit trees. Then every few years, usually during a winter storm, he can look for a newer trailer, thanks to insurance.

[Mike Lewis]

- There were two covered objects carried on the rear bumper of this trailer. One was labeled "Firman" so I guess that was a generator. I will also guess that this was a load distribution problem in addition to driving too fast.


- I was alerted to the wreck by bright white flashing lights. These turned out to be on one of those road service vehicles. He must have been in traffic behind the trailer because he was there immediately. Cops had not yet arrived but as I continued on I saw them on the way from the approaching direction, with sirens going.

- I'm not sure if another vehicle was involved. I was also towing so I focused on getting my Escape safely past the wreck. I had just enough room to do so. I didn't glance over to see if there were other vehicles on the opposite side of the trailer.

- A woman can be seen in the dashcam photo standing near the passenger side of the tow vehicle. I don't know if she was the driver; I didn't see anyone else outside of their vehicle.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

Can’t happen to a fiberglass trailer.

There have been fiberglass trailers that have suffered similar fates. If loaded improperly, even an Escape trailer can become unstable and experience sway.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Centex

Picture zoom reveals that's a Tracer trailer which touts "Eternabond" construction consisting of a fiberglass exterior with "laminated aluminum-framed" walls, floor, and roof. That's fiberglass panels, not molded construction (with perhaps the exception of the nosecone).

I'm impressed that it's still apparently in one-piece rather than 'exploded' with bits strewn all over the highway as one often sees in such cases.

It's interesting that this manufacturer is using "Eternabond" as a trade name for the common laminated (and typically vacuum-bonded) construction method used for the majority of current trailers. This name is better known as a brand of sealing tapes: EternaBond.

These boxes often lay over on their side while staying in one piece, but any other kind of tumbling breaks them apart. In addition to the moulded fiberglass trailer we have a motorhome; I assume that if the motorhome ever rolls, the body will be destroyed.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Escape_19

Looks like he could have used one of these (in all seriousness proper tongue weight, trailer loading, and speed is for everyone's safety)

I realize that the above note about the hitch system is for humour... but in most of these discussions someone comes up with essentially "this wouldn't have happened if they had..." then a declaration that tandem axles or a WD hitch would fix everything. Of course in almost all examples, presumably including this one, the crashing rig does have tandem axles and a WD hitch. As noted above, it's really about proper loading and reasonable speed.

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

I realize that the above note about the hitch system is for humour... but in most of these discussions someone comes up with essentially "this wouldn't have happened if they had..." then a declaration that tandem axles or a WD hitch would fix everything. Of course in almost all examples, presumably including this one, the crashing rig does have tandem axles and a WD hitch. As noted above, it's really about proper loading and reasonable speed.

Yeah. It's possible that something like a Hensley would have avoided this specific accident.


But the root cause was almost certainly a poorly loaded trailer and excessive speed. A good hitch helps, but the trailer has to be loaded correctly and, well, over 75 mph is never a safe towing speed.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

As noted above, it's really about proper loading and reasonable speed.

...and a driver that is familiar with his equipment and can make adjustments when something isn’t right. This is negligence if this driver knew the trailer was swaying and continued on at high speed. I hope they get charged with reckless driving and get their license suspended.

[Iowa Dave]

I think that if you’ve towed much at all you’ve probably been passed by a similarly set up rig. I know I have several times over the past few years. I usually remark to my wife “Look at that thing away.” And then I back off several thousand feet.

To me, towing a loaded vehicle successfully is the culmination of getting many factors working together. Several are “givens” or common to about every situation. Others are specific to the rig and all need to be checked off before hitting the road.
She’s the modern combination,
She’s the Wabash Cannonball!
Iowa Dave

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

- There were two covered objects carried on the rear bumper of this trailer. One was labeled "Firman" so I guess that was a generator. I will also guess that this was a load distribution problem in addition to driving too fast.

I made a post a year or so ago regarding a very similar looking accident, that almost, not all, but nearly all, of the accident pics I had seen, there was something on the back bumper. Its a somewhat common theme.

My travel buddy mounted a box on his back bumper to enclose two Honda 2000's, actually he replaced the bumper with one made of thicker metal, and added additional supports, and all professionally welded, but the spare tire went to the front, and a couple of things inside went forward, two GC2 batteries got installed on the tongue, and yes, the trailer tows fine. You can add stuff on the back, but you gotta plan it out.

Charles.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

You can add stuff on the back, but you gotta plan it out.

A Sherline scale or equivalent is your friend to confirm tongue weight with different loading scenarios.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

A Sherline scale or equivalent is your friend to confirm tongue weight with different loading scenarios.

True, but one also needs a good handle on total trailer weight as loaded to ensure proper weight distribution.

A CAT / public scale 'baseline' can be very useful.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Centex

True, but one also needs a good handle on total trailer weight as loaded to ensure proper weight distribution.

A CAT / public scale 'baseline' can be very useful.

Yes, I should have clarified that this assumes you have a good idea of your loaded trailer weight. As we know it’s better to be a little heavy on the tongue than light.