Lost control when towing?
Purpose of this post is for me to learn something, If you don't have first hand experience with a towing accident and you do respond please extend all the courtesies as if it were you that this happe...
Forum Discussion
I had an almost lost it moment. Our salesman told us after hooking our brand new HTT to our van after the sale that we didn't need to worry about a weight distribution hitch or anti-sway. He was wrong. Third trip out, driving through rough PA interstate, I hit a pot hole and then immediately got passed by a tractor trailer. The combo was too much and the trailer started swaying pretty bad.
I was swerving back and forth into both lanes, at one point even chirping the camper tires. The one useful bit of info the Salesman gave me was that if the trailer starts to sway, just give it a little gas to straighten it out. I gave it a lot of gas and got it under control, then slowed way down the rest of the trip. The first purchase after that was an Equalizer hitch system. Didn't have any problems after that.
I think what saved our camper was a clear head. I didn't panic, even though the first thought in my head was, I can't believe I'm about to wreck our brand new camper. I kept on the gas until it stopped swaying and got it under control. Although we don't tow anymore, I will never forget the lesson I learned that day - that a level trailer means nothing if the TV isn't level.
I think the biggest cause of loss of control is inexperience and lack of knowledge.
-Michael
I was swerving back and forth into both lanes, at one point even chirping the camper tires. The one useful bit of info the Salesman gave me was that if the trailer starts to sway, just give it a little gas to straighten it out. I gave it a lot of gas and got it under control, then slowed way down the rest of the trip. The first purchase after that was an Equalizer hitch system. Didn't have any problems after that.
I think what saved our camper was a clear head. I didn't panic, even though the first thought in my head was, I can't believe I'm about to wreck our brand new camper. I kept on the gas until it stopped swaying and got it under control. Although we don't tow anymore, I will never forget the lesson I learned that day - that a level trailer means nothing if the TV isn't level.
I think the biggest cause of loss of control is inexperience and lack of knowledge.
-Michael
