Manslaughter charges for improper towing equipment.

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. ...

yes you do IMHO. more nonsense govt. regulation, hoops to jump through. just cause the driver can handle the "trailer" which can be a 6 ft. U haul type, doesn't mean they can handle a 40 ft TT.
reminds me of my friend who wanted a CDC to tow fruit back from FLA. borrowed a flat bed to take his test. easy visibility, etc. Of course he towed a box trailer in "real life".
bumpy

Tlauden wrote:
I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. I've seen way to many unsafe setups. If you don't know how to properly connect a trailer, or the proper equipment you need, you shouldn't be towing.... They don't just let everyone hop behind the wheel of a tractor trailer, so why should just anyone be allowed to pull whatever they want behind there own vehicle...

I am with you. A required trailer or towing endorsement would be a good thing.
Written test and 30 minute video would not hurt a bit.

Just more government regulation.....

rhagfo wrote:


Didn't know you could find a coupler rated as low as 3,500#!!

I used to have a small utility trailer with a coupler rated for 2,000#

I may stand alone here, but I think you should need to take a separate DOT test and be endorsed on your license to pull a trailer of any kind/size. I've seen way to many unsafe setups. If you don't know how to properly connect a trailer, or the proper equipment you need, you shouldn't be towing.... They don't just let everyone hop behind the wheel of a tractor trailer, so why should just anyone be allowed to pull whatever they want behind there own vehicle...

It is also possible for a hitch to unlatch if the trailer is bouncing too much and there is no clip in the latch to keep it down into the latch position.

wa8yxm wrote:
Oak if the ball is not properly centered under the hitch (on a ball hitch) the latch may latch ABOVE the ball instead of under it I have seen it happen many times.. I tested for it and fixed it (Usually I knew it right away).. I do have an advantage in that I've been hooking up trailers ever since I was about 10 years so I know how it should look and feel when it latches..

But it is very possible to have it latch normally or appear to only the latch is ABVOE the ball, not below it, so the trailer simply lifts off.

Very likely I agree 100 percent. I have a box trailer that can easily happen & like you said; in hitching trailer for many years you can tell but you have to know what to watch for. I have 3 different latches on 4 trailers. 4 if you count the fifth wheel trailers.

As I mentioned I have seen several travel trailers spin the tow vehicle around end up on their sides but the trailer & the tow vehicle stayed attached.

Oak if the ball is not properly centered under the hitch (on a ball hitch) the latch may latch ABOVE the ball instead of under it I have seen it happen many times.. I tested for it and fixed it (Usually I knew it right away).. I do have an advantage in that I've been hooking up trailers ever since I was about 10 years so I know how it should look and feel when it latches..

But it is very possible to have it latch normally or appear to only the latch is ABVOE the ball, not below it, so the trailer simply lifts off.

Sounds like either the ball was the wrong size, the hitch was not latched properly, or the hitch had excessive wear. The trailer's balance may have been off & may had little to no weight on the tongue. There is a reason that it came unhitched. More issues than just overall weight.

I am positive there is alot more to this story.

I have seen some scary home made trailer as well.

I have seen a trailer driving a car down the road due to improper loading. How the guy kept control of if he did I will never know.

I have also seen many trailers on their side but the tow vehicle stays attached.

mich800 wrote:

bucky wrote:
OK, so how did the trailer get loose without a failure?

One way it happens is the person lowers the coupler onto the ball but it does not go down all the way and closes the latch. Now the coupler is sitting on top the ball and not connected. It is just a matter of time before it bounces off.

This is where using your tongue jack to raise your truck to make putting the weight distribution bars on easily really comes in handy. If your coupler isn't properly connected, it will not raise the rear of the truck and you will notice the obvious mistake.

Bruce

bucky wrote:
OK, so how did the trailer get loose without a failure?

One way it happens is the person lowers the coupler onto the ball but it does not go down all the way and closes the latch. Now the coupler is sitting on top the ball and not connected. It is just a matter of time before it bounces off.