dog wagging the tail

joe0508 wrote:
Can someone explain the sensation you get behind the wheel when you have tail wagging the dog.

You have it right in your post - but backwards in the thread title..:W

Also - with a MH the "dog" (MH) usually outweighs the "tail" (toad, or?). Should be easy to keep your tail where it belongs!

However, when towing a trailer - often it's vice-versa - the tail outweighs the dog.

Experienced TT folks usually have learned how to counter the 'vortex' caused by big rigs passing - by either applying power or applying trailer brakes keep the dog and tail in line.
Obviously, sway control devices help also.

~

Been to a lot of carnage on freeways - but always arrived *after* the incident.

I watched this unfold in "real time".
Fortunately the couple in the "dog", weren't injured.

It looked a lot like the YouTube video clip - except worse!

I was Eastbound on the CA 91 fwy - somewhere close to San Bernardino,
pretty heavy traffic, close to -or part of- rush hour/s.

Four lanes - I was in car with DW and two kids. (early 90's)
Up ahead I notice a 24' TT just like mine - in the 2nd lane from the shoulder.
It's being towed by an extended cab Ford Pickup - I had a Ford p/up also......but what *really* caught my eye - they're towing a utility trailer behind the TT.

I'm thinking....Yikes, is that dumb - or what!.:(

Then - this all happened in about 20 seconds - or less -
I'm in the 3rd lane over, and as I'm catching up - the guy with the double tow starts a move to the far right lane.
Maybe he was trying to get over quickly due to heavy traffic, or?

The utility trailer started to "whip" - which escalated to the TT.
I made some unprintable comment, and the wife who was dozing - went to "big eyes" instantly!

As I moved far left - and went pedal to the metal to get past, we got to watch the TT go full sideways, then straighten out - and then the pickup went full sideways.

I expected to see the pickup roll - or go over the embankment.

However, it "high centered" on the (dirt) berm and slid along like that scrubbing off speed, half over, half still on the roadway - the TT and utility trlr sort-of jackknifed in the two right lanes.

Mom & pop in the pickup most *certainly* needed at minimum a change of underwear - or maybe CPR..:R

Words can't do it justice! Clouds of tire smoke combined with clouds of dust when the front of the pickup went off the pavement.

Made a believer out of me!
You don't *EVER* want to be part of a "serious" tail wagging the dog - no matter what your RV "combo" consists of.

~