Manslaughter charges for improper towing equipment.

bucky wrote:
I'm thinking that the oven weighed as much as or more than the trailer. A lot of chuckleheads load trailers wrong and I'll bet my own money the oven was right up against the front of the trailer. Tongue weight would have been thru the roof for that hitch set up.

Did you watch the video trooper stated that the hitch and ball didn't fail just over capacity. The safety chains failed or were not hooked up, and the trailer had no brake away brakes.

I'm thinking that the oven weighed as much as or more than the trailer. A lot of chuckleheads load trailers wrong and I'll bet my own money the oven was right up against the front of the trailer. Tongue weight would have been thru the roof for that hitch set up.

Cloud Dancer wrote:
The video dialogue makes it sound like someone might've forgotten to tighten up the latch on the hitch coupler. Nothing appears to be broken. I've seen that happen a couple of times.

I have seen people put/use a 2-5/16" coupler on a 2" ball also.

Montana Code Annotated 61-1-101 (82) (a)and (b):
""Trailer" means a vehicle, with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
(b) The term does not include a mobile home or a manufactured home, as defined in 15-1-101.

A passenger car or pickup is not designed to carry property (it is designed to carry PEOPLE), and is not designed to be towed by a motor vehicle (it has to be modified for that purpose). It is not a trailer in Montana.
Neither is a pole trailer or a mobile home or a manufactured home!

http://globalnews.ca/news/1134728/fatal-collision-near-mackay-bridge-blocks-traffic-on-barrington-st/

The victim was a friend. No charges, no nothing for the trucker.

Dave H M wrote:
What has this got to do with RVing. ?

I scanned the article and it seemed to be centered about cargo not being secured properly.

I answered that question: There are many folks towing 3,000, 4,000 or even heavier cars without aux brake systems.. A car in tow is a trailer, it trails behind the tow vehicle and thus is a trailer. Imagine loosing a hitch pin (i did) and not having an aux brake system (I also had that). and what could happen when the car breaks free?

I have seen a man with a Gasser, 5,000 pound hitch and likely less than that vehicle tow rating (Very much like mine) towing a 5,500 pound SUV on a trailer.. So far over the rating it's scary.. Brakes on trailer or not, he would be in violation.

How many RVers tow a car, or SUV on a trailer and are over the tow ratings fo their motor home as a result.. (Please do not answer that cause I do not want to know).

A vehicle that is towed in such a way that the weight of the towed vehicle does not rest on the towing vehicle is a trailer under Michigan Law.. A car towed 4-Down, fits exactly, A 5er, not so much, (But is addressed elsewhere) this is why I say if it trails behind you it is a trailer. That is the simplified way to describe a trailer.

Dave H M wrote:
What has this got to do with RVing. ?

I scanned the article and it seemed to be centered about cargo not being secured properly.

Not about the cargo, more about the trailer not being correctly attached to the TV. Thus the two parted ways while at speed and the trailer T-Boned the Honda!
That and no break away brakes!

There was a recent accident in the Atlanta area. A man was towing a utility trailer. It came loose and struck a car, killing a young woman. He had the wrong size ball on the hitch and he did not have his chains attached.

Dave H M wrote:
What has this got to do with RVing. ?

I scanned the article and it seemed to be centered about cargo not being secured properly.

That he problem with "scanning", you don't get the story. This has nothing to do with cargo not being secured......

JMHO, Proper towing isn't rocket science. Tow chains have been around for decades, and would have prevented this tragedy, unless they were attached to something that tore off the van.

Trailer breaks are important. Maybe because I live in Austin with a lot of members of the "Anti-Destination League"... people who deliberately cause wrecks with bigger vehicles in hopes of an insurance jackpot. I don't see how someone can drive around an urban California area with such a big trailer without rear-ending another driver.