Trailer crash on mountain road.
Yet but another horrific lose of control of RV as seen from the dash cam of a semi-truck. VIDEO http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2017/8/29/Watch-The-Moment-A-Trailer-Trashes-A-Ford-Excursion-At-High-S...
Forum Discussion
Unless you've experienced this trailer wagging experience yourself, you have no idea about what caused this event.
I've experienced it once myself, and seen it happen twice.
I had 5x12' utility trailer that I was using to haul materials back to OKC from 90 miles south. I had three helpers loading and after the front part was full, we put an old chest freezer on the back. It was empty when loaded, and it didn't weigh too much, so I thought I was good to go. As I entered the highway at about 50 mph I noticed that the trailer was wagging a lot, I slowed and stopped. I examined the load, and found that one of the helpers had put six full 5 gallon pails of paint inside the freezer on the back. Result; not enough tongue weight. I moved the paint to the front of the trailer and it towed well with no wagging.
My next experience with wagging; on I-44 near Joplin a pickup pulling a 16' two axle trailer was entering from the on ramp. I noticed his load was several landscape timbers in the front, and about 30 bags of 80# ready mix on the back end of the trailer. When he hit 50 mph the trailer started to wag, he continued to gain speed and the wagging increased. I told my wife he was going to lose that trailer; a 1/4 mile later the trailer was wagging out of control and broke free and went into the median, overturned and fortunately the pickup remained upright.
The trailer in the video just didn't have enough tongue weight. That extra stuff mounted on the back was probably the culprit. When you experience it personally you will quickly recognize that wagging motion.
Tongue weight matters.
I've experienced it once myself, and seen it happen twice.
I had 5x12' utility trailer that I was using to haul materials back to OKC from 90 miles south. I had three helpers loading and after the front part was full, we put an old chest freezer on the back. It was empty when loaded, and it didn't weigh too much, so I thought I was good to go. As I entered the highway at about 50 mph I noticed that the trailer was wagging a lot, I slowed and stopped. I examined the load, and found that one of the helpers had put six full 5 gallon pails of paint inside the freezer on the back. Result; not enough tongue weight. I moved the paint to the front of the trailer and it towed well with no wagging.
My next experience with wagging; on I-44 near Joplin a pickup pulling a 16' two axle trailer was entering from the on ramp. I noticed his load was several landscape timbers in the front, and about 30 bags of 80# ready mix on the back end of the trailer. When he hit 50 mph the trailer started to wag, he continued to gain speed and the wagging increased. I told my wife he was going to lose that trailer; a 1/4 mile later the trailer was wagging out of control and broke free and went into the median, overturned and fortunately the pickup remained upright.
The trailer in the video just didn't have enough tongue weight. That extra stuff mounted on the back was probably the culprit. When you experience it personally you will quickly recognize that wagging motion.
Tongue weight matters.
