Counter weight for added back storage area/deck

rbpru wrote:
Perhaps it is my TT and TV combo but I have towed it heavily loaded with the fresh water tank full and enough stuff for a six weeks trip across the country; or a lightly loaded two week jaunt.

The only adjustment I make is a chain link or so to keep the TT level.

Others seem to have great difficulties with sway etc. I believe you simply have to load up and see what you combo does.

Again I would like to CAUTION folks to reconsider doing something like this simply have to load up and see what you combo does. This can be a catastrophic mistake and to illustrate this the following is a first hand verbatim quote from a post several years ago on the RVision site by a gent that is worth remembering ...

Thread title Don't let this happen to you

My wife and I recently left Lakeside campground in Arizona and discovered that the dump station was closed because the septic tank was full. I decided to drive on home and deal with the waste tanks when I got home to Phoenix. I've never traveled with 40 gallons of water in my grey and black tanks before and I did not realize the danger I was in. My 8263s is already a little heavy in the back with the kitchen and bath and the 40 gallons of water made it very unsafe.

Long story short, I totaled my truck and trailer last Sunday on highway 260 east of Payson, AZ. No one was hurt - not even a scratch

By the time I could reach down and hit the trailer brake, it was too late. The trailer went into a skid and whipped us around 180 degrees and then we slammed into the guard rail.

I've logged over 5,000 miles with this truck and trailer combination in all kinds of weather, road and traffic. Making the mistake of not finding a place to dump the tanks changed the whole dynamic of the trailer.

I know there will be a lot of you who will think "duh" no kidding idiot. That will be a fair response.

Most accidents happen when we don't thoroughly think through the ramifications of what seems like a simple decision.

This is my first and last post to this site. I offer it with hopes that it may save a life.



Did I have a sway control bar? Yes. Was it cranked down tight enough, probably not.

Why didn't I accelerate? There were cars ahead of me.

Was I speeding? No, 60 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Tow vehicle? Nissan Titan.

Larry