Dinghy or dolly blow-out but didn't notice?

2gypsies wrote:
We had a front tire blow on our Jeep and towed it for a good distance before someone pulled alongside us with that dreaded pointing. We didn't feel a thing and the rear camera didn't show the tire area - only the front end. The tire was off to the rim. We had a big repair bill to the Jeep and that's when we installed tire pressure monitors on both the motorhome and the Jeep. We would never run without them!

I have to agree... same thing happened to our tow dolly in a construction zone, never felt a thing. Trashed the rim, fender, and some wiring. After installing a TPMS, we were headed thru Dallas in a construction zone (funny just realized both of these happened in construction zones) and a low pressure warning buzzer goes off. After getttig the buzzer I was able to pull over to the side of the road before any damage was done to the dolly or rim. I won't travel without mine!

Doug

I can imagine the comments hitting my phone.

There's an App for That.

Maybe not exactly an smartphone app, but you join a service like that "How's My Driving?" bumper stickers. Anybody following you can call a central number and then you get a cell call saying there's an issue with what you're towing.

It was recently posted here. "tow pal" or someething like that. The nice thing about that is that it'd let people report many kinds of issues.

We had a left front tire get cut with something in the road. We were towing a Mazda Miata Convertible. Didn't feel a thing. A driver coming from behind us got our attention and let us know. Tire was still intact, but beat up badly. We have a rear camera and check it frequently, however, nothing gave us any indication of the flat.

We had a front tire blow on our Jeep and towed it for a good distance before someone pulled alongside us with that dreaded pointing. We didn't feel a thing and the rear camera didn't show the tire area - only the front end. The tire was off to the rim. We had a big repair bill to the Jeep and that's when we installed tire pressure monitors on both the motorhome and the Jeep. We would never run without them!

2 low corner cameras would be a great idea for anyone towing. Do they exist?

Had a dolly tire cut down. All of a sudden it was towing sort of corner wise, that side bumping up and down, and towing harder. About the same as any other flat except the corner wise towing thing.

Last year on the approach to Glacier from the south I needed RV fuel and at the gas station, my routine is to walk around the vehicles to identify status. This time I noticed a large bulge had developed in a front toad tire. Got it replaced about a mile down the road. The bulge would have blown and tpms would told me after the fact. My investment priority would be good tires,rear view cameras and walk arounds

a blown tire is not the only thing you may not feel. I drive daily a small car with a very small engine. The car is a pooch at best. I also have a Jeep Grand with a V8. The other day I took off in the Jeep, I guess it did feel a bit slugish, but compared to the car, it felt full of energy. I didnt realize I had a caliper locking up till I saw smoke. Oh yes the stupid TPMS did light up. The TPMS has lit up at least a thousand times before. When it does and I check air pressure, all 4 tires is always good. You tend to not pay attention to the stupid light after so many times of no problem.

So NO I dont trust TPMS. Even though it was right that time. It is the only time it has been right.

rjstractor wrote:
A rear view camera is a good idea but nothing can take the place of paying attention. A driver who is oblivious to everything other than the song on the radio and the view ahead is likely to have their share of bad experiences driving an RV. Something like a blown tire on a toad should be felt by the driver if they are paying close attention to how their rig is driving.

Towing my 20' enclosed car trailer a few years ago I had a tire blow, with part of the tread to come off. I watch my rear view camera frequently, heard nothing and did not feel anything after the tire let go. Fortunately my wife was following me and called me on the radio to ask if I ran over a tire thread. Said no and she advised my roadside front tire on the trailer had blown and to pull over. This happened on I-70 heading to Indy. pulled over as soon as I could, as the trailer had dropped down with all weight on the rear tire on that side. The fender on the trailer was rubbing on the sidewall and starting to melt the sidewall by the time I got stopped.

Contrary to your opinion it should be felt, is wishful thinking when the tow vehicle is a Class A DP. I did not have the radio on and watch continuously my side mirror and rear view camera,neither which would show a blown tire, unless you happened to watching when it blew and pcs. came off.

Years ago I blew a rear tire on the curbside on my 32'Avion TT in the dark and never knew it blew until I stopped at a rest area. I never indicated anything from a towing feel in my Chevy Suburban 2500 2 WD, no sway, etc. In the dark with windows up in cold weather. No radio, on only the heater, I don't care how much attention you are paying circumstances do not cause an awareness, under some circumstances.