Passed a Tacoma pulling an approx 26'-27' TT

I've seen lots of tractor trailers in the ditch and no other vehicles around in the ditch either.I guess they aren't safe either?

On a recent trip through Wisconsin I saw

1) a new Ford Explorer in the ditch towing a travel trailer (trailer was flipped over)

2) a Volvo XC70 towing a utility trailer filled to the brim swaying severely at anything over 40mph (I honked and waved at him to get off the highway because he was a danger to everyone else).

3) a previous gen Honda Pilot towing a travel trailer and his rear wheels were angled inward at the top (overloaded).

I tow with a V6 truck and am about 1000lbs below my limit when loaded up for camping, but am amazed to see so many overloaded vehicles in one weekend (though honestly I can't say why the Explorer was in the ditch since I didn't see it happen). Stay safe!

RoyB wrote:
He probably hadn't slowed down yet from the previous 15-mile 6% mountain grade...
Roy Ken

Yea, it would have taken 7% grade to slow the driver down before cresting the top. :B

Dog Folks wrote:
RV.NET Rules: Without pictures, it did not happen! :)

I got scolded for nearly driving off the road gawking at it. Taking a picture was out of the question :)

RV.NET Rules: Without pictures, it did not happen! :)

naturist wrote:
It's amazing to me the loads people think they can tow. Just because it has a hitch does not mean it can tow anything. When I see one of those, I try to stay far, far away, lest "the big wreck" happen next to me.

You mean like the Dodge 2500 I saw a number of years ago with one of the Fummins deezal motors towing a 5w that had the back end swinging from side to side the whole lane width. Front end of trailer was raised up, hence the uncontrolled sway.

I've seen a tandem axel flatbed truck, Kenworth that had a tandem axle tip bed that was going haywire down the freeway at speeds more than 55 mph. Incorrect trailer loading on that rig too.

It is not just the little rigs that are unsafe with improper loading techniques. Both of the rigs I mentioned, were well under gvwr and gawr's of the rigs in question.

Marty

It's amazing to me the loads people think they can tow. Just because it has a hitch does not mean it can tow anything. When I see one of those, I try to stay far, far away, lest "the big wreck" happen next to me.

I've been a lot more aware of towing combinations since getting my RV and joining these forums. On the way 'down the shore' last week I saw a Hyundai Santa Fe towing a monstrous (compared to the Santa Fe) travel trailer (had to be 25-27 feet). It was the scariest combination of things I've seen to date. I was surprised to find that the Santa Fe has a 5,000 lb. towing capacity but this guy was way overloaded. The thing was stuffed to the gills, had a rooftop carrier, rear suspension totally flattened out. He could barely do 45 MPH in the 65 MPH zone. Traffic was all jammed up behind him. I guess he's lucky in a way that he couldn't go any faster.

He probably hadn't slowed down yet from the previous 15-mile 6% mountain grade...

Roy Ken

But the salesman said he could tow anything!