5 Hurt in Truck/Travel Trailer Accident

rockhillmanor wrote:

Home Skillet wrote:
Every time I see a 5th wheel. I wonder to myself , why do they have to be 18 feet tall?.
They are a sail going down the freeway.

I'll put my flame suit on.
FW's are getting bigger and bigger, longer and longer and taller and taller. But the trucks that tow them have stayed the same sans the choice of maybe a bigger engine. Most of my RV friends go bigger and keep the same truck.

All you have to do is just look at them going down the road from the side and the percentage of the length of the TV versus the length of the FW.

Yes they 'tow' just fine on the flat with O possibilities of any variance in wind, road conditions or the idiot that passes to close in front of you and next thing you know the rig is spinning for it's dear life. Because no matter how BIG the engine is or what gear ratio you have NONE of that is going to help you get the truck and trailer out of a jacknife and out of an uncontrolled crash.

IMHO most get a false sense of security because it's a 'fifth wheel'. I hauled horses for years with 5'ers and goose neck trailers and they can come around and slap you in the face in a heartbeat if you have to make a quick ER correction on the road. Their main function is to be able to turn and park them easier like a semi not to be safer to tow.

Pulling a 5er in the wind is far safer than a TT.

#1. The 5er foot for foot is heaver than a TT. I see ads for 33' TT that weigh about 6,000#, my 33' 5er weighs 9,500# DRY, currently it runs 11,000#.

#2 inherent stability! The 5er with the with the pivot point over or slightly forward of the rear axle, is far more stable than a TT with the pivot point 3' to 4' aft of the axle.

#3 Size and weight of TV. Almost all 5ers require at least a 250/2500 to handle the payload, heaver TV heaver trailer more stable.

Not saying that it can't happen,earlier picture proves that! Just that it is less likely to happen, with a 5er and a 250/2500 or 350/3500.

There are many 150/1500's out there towing 33' TT where the most likely case is the tail is wagging the dog!!