I have been RVing for awhile but when I had some serious health issues I gave my older ClassB to a friend and was RVless. Health improved enough for me to decide to 'get back out there'.
I found an older (1988) Terry Resort in Ventura Ca. for a decent price and I wanted to visit a friend in the area anyway. So I drive from Ft Worth Tx and pick up the trailer. In the ad the pictures showed a WD hitch but it was nowhere to be found. We get everything hooked up and working and I decide I can make it to the east side of Los Angeles and find an RV dealer and get a WD hitch.
Traffic was bumper to bumper from Ventura to the first rest area on the eastbound side of I-10. I stop for the night and get an early start, traffic was heavy but moving about 30-40MPH. Trailer started to sway a couple of times but trailer brake got it back under control.
As I get into the City of Banning traffic was moving about 40 but the freeway was packed. My trailer swayed far left once and when I hit the trailer brake it did not help. Here's where things get a bit blurry, one or two wide sways and I feel my truck turning left, very rapidly turning left.
I did a 180 degree jacknife, sitting looking west in the three middle eastbound lanes. No one hit me, nor did I hit anyone. I am not a spiritual person but somehow a minor miracle happened.
The funny thing is not one person honked or made rude gestures. Just watched me get my truck restarted and finish the 360 to the shoulder. One kind lady waved (and not with one finger).
After a cigarette and a bit to calm down I got out to survey the damage. Battery cover was gone, lp cover was almost off and a small dent on the trailer. Truck was not so lucky, good crease and large dent. I put the LP cover on as best I could and limped to the nearest exit which was another blessing, it was very close.
Found a vacant lot with a no parking sign and parked. As I stopped a friend called and asked when I would be by to see him. Told him what happened and he drove two hours with his WD hitch and rescued me. A true friend.
While I was waiting a Banning Police Officer came by and pulled in next to me. I'm sure someone called 911 when my jack-knife happened but he didn't say a word about it. He asked me" If I needed any help?" and when I told him I had help coming he just said "Have a better day" and left.
Trailer is being repaired now, the estimate on the truck would have been a total on my old truck so I called a guy off of Craigslist who pulled the crease and dent out, puttied it and painted it for $150.00.
And I found out my new and improved Pacemaker works.
