Forum Discussion
carringb wrote:
Trackrig wrote:
It's interesting that on the third accident that the guy was towing an empty car trailer when it happened.
Bill
Looked like maybe that flatbed had been modified with a tail extension? The tail end wasn't the same material as the rest, but it didn't look like a dovetail. Might have had negative tongue weight from the mods?
I believe that is a full width ramp as is used on a lot of lawn and garden trailers. It's usually mesh and is usually vertical when towing. Not sure though as the trailer didn't stay still long enough to get a good look.- Nah just hook it and go be all right don't need no stinking scales.
Thats the cost of a 12 pack and the time to drink it ha ha.
Oh hell its a white knuckle ride. Nearly killed us kids a screamin
Guess I need to get me a bigger truck.
That salesman lied to me said my truck pull it no problem,
What honey.. no we don't need to go to no stinking scales.
What yea I know your brother tows twice the trailer with half the truck for years but he is weird.
What I don't care what he said bout da hitch. I know what ima doing. This new truck pull anything,
Hope you enjoyed todays presentation of thats so true it hurts. - Some come here to these types of forums just looking for what they want to hear...they will get tons of them...along with the: "sure you can" & "have been doing it for decades with no issues"
Or if they don't get what they wish to hear...call out those advisors "Weight Police"....there is no 'policing' on these freebie forums and they use the derogatory "Weight Police" to dis those advisors...
These are Mr Murphy moments that they think...."only happens to the other guy"
Ignorance is bliss until Mr Murphy crosses their path...{tpc} wrote:
Hate watching those videos. I understand its to show how serious this kind of stuff is, but I feel bad that these folks never knew, or just chose to ignore things. Or got told bad information.
I've rolled up on some aftermath before, thankfully nothing too serious, but I always wonder "why" to a multitude of things. Seems like there needs to be a safety class and some sort of certification. - What were the words we were supposed to get from these videos?
The only that I see an obvious take away is the boat trailer: make sure you have proper rated safety chains AND use them.
Otherwise, there wasn't a common topic in the rest of than - trailers do unexpected things. They showed all sizes of tow vehicles minus getting into the MDT/HDT side of things.
So, let's say we make people buying a camper at a dealership watch this - what's their take away? How do you make lessons from this video that can be actionable for the people watching it? ependydad wrote:
What were the words we were supposed to get from these videos?
No words...just proof that poop happens
Why this is serious stuff, or at least 'some' can see that...betcha too many will only see humor and entertainment in these types of threads
That Mr Murphy does cross "someone's path"...wonder if anyone one of those poor folks ever said: "it only happens to the other guy"...
"...Supposed to get from these videos?..." guess this is going to continue to be over folks head as to how serious towing is...can be...oh yeah...it only happens to the other guy...right?
The only that I see an obvious take away is the boat trailer: make sure you have proper rated safety chains AND use them.
Yup...but...only *ONE* thing out of many, many, many things to consider and take action
Otherwise, there wasn't a common topic in the rest of than - trailers do unexpected things. They showed all sizes of tow vehicles minus getting into the MDT/HDT side of things.
Hint...it HAPPENED !!!...and again, happened to that other guy that no one ever thinks would be themselves someday out there when Mr Murphy crosses their path
That all things can meet Mr Murphy...that on that day...there will be no time to go back to the store for proper stuff...and/or...readjust everything properly....
Therefore...learn the HOW2's and follow those instructions for 'your' TV...not what others have done...it may work on theirs...but may not on yours...
Then the OEM ratings systems...that most all of those ratings are mandated by the government for the protection of their customers...
On that, decide if you believe in the ratings system or not.
If not, then do whatever these people who advise to ignore ratings
If yes, then learn the HOW2's and what 'your' ratings are. Go out and actually weigh your setup axle by axle to apply that info 'your' TV's ratings
So, let's say we make people buying a camper at a dealership watch this - what's their take away? How do you make lessons from this video that can be actionable for the people watching it?
It might have 'some' realize how serious towing really is...that it can happen to them...not just the other guy...to then have them try to learn the HOW2's.
Either by searching and reading...or asking (that is a load of poop some times)
Not a horse person....many buddies are and always wondered about that old adage: "you can lead a horse to water...but...you can't make it drink"...
So, let's say we make people buying a camper at a dealership watch this - what's their take away? How do you make lessons from this video that can be actionable for the people watching it?
1.That they NEED to know what the correct tow vehicle, tow set up is for what RV they are buying. Ot that could be the consequences.
And not just taking a salesman saying "Yup your truck and/or SUV can tow that" as pure fact. Most newbies don't have a clue if their vehicle can tow what they want to buy. And RV salesman prey on that fact to make a sale.
2. And it also shows just what can happen when driving too fast towing. My bet is on that a newbie has NO idea that you can flip ass over apple cart like in those videos when towing a trailer.
It would at least give them pause to think about just what they are buying AND to ask questions what can happen to their precious family if they have not thoroughly researched and learned everything related to towing BEFORE they buy a TT.
I still think newbies would benefit tremendously from viewing those videos.
I have met over 20 RV'ers in my travels that said they have never towed in their life and just walked into a dealership and bought one. When you full-time like I do you see it all.:R
And BTW.....everyone one of them I had the pleasure of talking to had dangerously too small of a tow vehicle that had no business being on the road towing. Henceforth these newbies need some help before they buy their first TT.- My bumper pull toy hauler hitch was set up poorly when I bought it. I relied on the RV dealership to properly configure and adjust it since I had no experience with weight distribution hitches prior to that time. I had towed utility, camper and boat trailers but none used a WDH and they either had surge brakes or no brakes at all. It took me over month to learn how the hitch functions and how the settings/adjustments interact with the trailer and tow vehicle. It wasn't until I took the initiative to learn and adjust the hitch myself that I had a good tow combination. In my case, the dealer gave me an under rated WDH for my toy hauler (which I made him swap out for a higher rated model) and the preload on the spring bars was weak due to lack of hitch head angle. Once I had the sufficiently rated hitch and properly adjusted tension, I had to drop the hitch head lower and readjust spring bar preload one more time because I was finally redistributing tongue weight.
rockhillmanor wrote:
So, let's say we make people buying a camper at a dealership watch this - what's their take away? How do you make lessons from this video that can be actionable for the people watching it?
1.That they NEED to know what the correct tow vehicle, tow set up is for what RV they are buying. Or that could be the consequences.
But that's the thing. In the one clip, it was literally a dually pulling a moderately sized travel trailer. The truck was a correct tow vehicle.
I'm all for user education. Heck, it's why I started and maintain the LearnToRV website. But, I just don't think this video proves anything other than "caca happens".rockhillmanor wrote:
2. And it also shows just what can happen when driving too fast towing. My bet is on that a newbie has NO idea that you can flip ass over apple cart like in those videos when towing a trailer.
Again, it's hard to say if speed was a factor in any/many of these. It definitely had nothing to do with the boat coming off of the trailer.rockhillmanor wrote:
It would at least give them pause to think about just what they are buying AND to ask questions what can happen to their precious family if they have not thoroughly researched and learned everything related to towing BEFORE they buy a TT.
I still think newbies would benefit tremendously from viewing those videos.
I do agree a bit that it will hopefully get them to stop and think.
I think there could be WAY more value in it, if it was presented as an educational type of video. "With this setup, the problem is X and it led to this conclusion." Right now, it's just a bunch of crashes- no different than watching the 11' 8" videos where people smash into the bridge. As it is presented now, it's little more than morbid entertainment.rockhillmanor wrote:
When you full-time like I do you see it all.:R
If it helps, I do fulltime also. :)
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BenK, I didn't quote your post as this got long already. But my responses to you are basically the same- yes, this does a good job of showing that the **** can hit the fan. But, I don't think it is a good representation of what not to do. There were so many scenarios and no stopping to discuss what went wrong that I can't see it really being useful outside of shock and awe that bad stuff happens.
And, I don't think there's much you can do to combat the mindset of "it won't happen to me".
And again, let me reiterate - I'm all for education and helping people. I run a website dedicated to newbies learning to RV.- IMHO...the video the OP posted is NOT a HOW2, but an informational video showing that this 'can' happen
Sure, those folks meeting Mr Murphy could have setups Mal-adjusted and/or improper sizing and a big ETC...
Informational so that folks would go looking for the HOW2's here or everywhere
That is the usefulness of this thread - No matter what if they were hooked up properly or correct TV I think just 'seeing' what happens when a TT flips and takes the TV along with it leaves a pretty good lasting impression.
I'd be if you asked newbies they don't even know that a swinging TT can take and flip your truck over.
For what it's worth about dealerships. I've towed for years and know how to safely set it all up.
My last TT I bought new after retiring....being old and feeling entitled for once. I told the service guy to just pick out the right hitch for my truck and set the TT up for me. Of course I paid extra for that service and I went out for a cup of coffee to wait for it.
Well when I got back he had the wrong drop hitch, truck and trailer all squewed up and down. It was glaring yet the service guy said "well here you go you are all set up." :R
Seasoned RVer's "know" what it should like when correctly and safely hooked up.
But a poor "newbie" would not have and would have driven off the way it looked.
So now I don't think so harshly when I see these going on down the road now that I know a service tech at an RV dealership could have had a hand in it.
