Towing wreck - overloaded hitch
Please people follow the rules and don't run over loaded. First article I've seen like this. Surprised it does not happen as often as this. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2960844-181/chp-hitch-...
Forum Discussion
Has there ever been a "certified" home built trailer?
If so, who "certified" it, and to what standards?
Most of them around here are built out of the back half of an old pickup (my last one said "INTERNATIONAL" on the tailgate). Bend the frame rails together, weld in a tongue, install a 1 7/8 or 2 inch hitch, wire the lights, and it is a trailer. There are a LOT of them hauling firewood, hay, and whatever else. Very few (if any) have surge brakes installed. I have never seen one with electric brakes. If the GVW is kept under 3000 lbs., brakes are not required anyway. If brakes are not installed, a breakaway braking system obviously can not be installed, either. Safety chains or cables ARE required.
The first trailer ever built was a "home built" unit (undoubtedly "uncertified"), and they have been available ever since. In reality, I doubt that there have been any more accidents involving a homebuilt trailer than with factory built fully engineered and certified units.
I know of one such accident involving a fatality on the freeway near here. It was a fully CERTIFIED factory built flatbed trailer, BUT the 2 inch hitch was on a 1 7/8 inch ball, the safety chains were not hooked up, the brakes were not functioning, and there was no breakaway system installed (the system hadn't been invented when the trailer was built).
The point is, NO "certification" will ever offset operator stupidity. Neither will any law!
If so, who "certified" it, and to what standards?
Most of them around here are built out of the back half of an old pickup (my last one said "INTERNATIONAL" on the tailgate). Bend the frame rails together, weld in a tongue, install a 1 7/8 or 2 inch hitch, wire the lights, and it is a trailer. There are a LOT of them hauling firewood, hay, and whatever else. Very few (if any) have surge brakes installed. I have never seen one with electric brakes. If the GVW is kept under 3000 lbs., brakes are not required anyway. If brakes are not installed, a breakaway braking system obviously can not be installed, either. Safety chains or cables ARE required.
The first trailer ever built was a "home built" unit (undoubtedly "uncertified"), and they have been available ever since. In reality, I doubt that there have been any more accidents involving a homebuilt trailer than with factory built fully engineered and certified units.
I know of one such accident involving a fatality on the freeway near here. It was a fully CERTIFIED factory built flatbed trailer, BUT the 2 inch hitch was on a 1 7/8 inch ball, the safety chains were not hooked up, the brakes were not functioning, and there was no breakaway system installed (the system hadn't been invented when the trailer was built).
The point is, NO "certification" will ever offset operator stupidity. Neither will any law!
