Trailer crash on mountain road.

Z-Peller wrote:
Five pages here, and only one person mentioned pulling on trailer brakes to get out of a sway situation, regardless of what caused it. Been there, done that. And I don't mean stomping on the brake pedal. I mean applying trailer brakes only, to pull unit into alinement. This thread shows how many trailer tow'rs sure need more education.

We have a winner!!!

I got my Class A CDL in 1988, been there, Done that! You know why they call it skid pad training? Because by the time you complete the course, you have SKID marks in your drawers!

I one time had pulled a rental dump trailer with a 2001 F150, Well within the weight limits of the truck since I was taking it empty to my farm and use it to move materials around, then return it empty. So as I am cruising at 55 down a rural road, washboard road actually, the trailer started wagging enough to toss the front. I immediately slammed on the controller and got the trailer brakes activated, which immediately stopped the sway, brought the trailer and truck back in line.

Watching that video, the driver was doing at least 75 MPH when he passed that Semi, was either not using a sway control hitch, or was extremely tail heavy to move the Excursion like that. The fact he never slammed the trailer brakes on shows the lack of towing experience. Even with one pair of wheels in the air, it would have been enough to help correct it if applied in time.

Improperly loaded trailer and/or wrong, or incorrectly setup WDH, driving too fast, and inexperience all add up to this. I don't need to armchair it, I have seen it happen first hand. I have seen s**t happen on the highways while sitting high above the road that will make you sick.

Just because you could, does NOT mean you should. Don't let your ego drive your foot,use your brain, especially with kids in the vehicle. They just got very lucky that it didn't go completely over the other side and that they walked away.