That accident sway video ... question
OK that video that is making the rounds here. I'm sure most have watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyiMA3hfto&feature=youtu.be This is 3 or 4th time this video has been posted on t...
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Have not had it happen. Have had it start to happen, and I controlled it by use of the trailer brake. My brother insisted that I handled the sway of a blowout on a single axle TT, but I think my mom was driving at the time. Either way, it was doing the right thing at the right time that got us back into control.
On my trip last weekend Michigan to Oklahoma saw it happen, brand new "lightweight" TT being towed by a midsize SUV. Made a mess, destroyed the TT, but SUV stayed upright and nobody was hurt. 55 mph speed limit on two lanes in Indiana, but everybody runs faster, 20-30 mph faster for overtaking moves. What might work in a mid-size sedan can be disaster for a small SUV towing.
Friends in my RV club have had a medium size (24 foot, 6000 pound) TT flip their 3/4 ton pickup, a sudden avoidance move (motor coach coming down on on ramp moved into them) setting off an accelerating cycle of sway. Totally destroyed the TT, totaled out the truck.
Son-in-law's father lost his TT to an accelerating sway induced by a wind gust.
The incidents I know about, all were at or above speed limits for single vehicles, and speed vs hitch to axle distance on a trailer is really critical for stability. The rig in the video was passing somebody (guy with the camera) so probably way out of the safe speed envelope.
Many countries limit recreational tows to 50-55 mph, and balance weights of tow vs towed vehicles by licensing, but we tend to be anything goes.
You are probably not just lucky, you've been driving in the speed ranges for which your combination is most of the time stable, although an occasional wiggle means you are at the limit. Aggressive drivers, needing to be at the front of the pack, running at the highest speed, first in line at the next red light, they will get into trouble.
Also, on high speed limited access highways, running at light vehicle speed limits will get you into trouble while towing RVs. Big rigs get into trouble, trying to keep up with cars where speed limits are 70-75-80 mph and running speeds are somewhat higher. Doubles and triples are particularly a problem at high speed, but cruising a bit below speed limits, I see even single semitrailer rigs struggling for control after they whip around me and cut back in.
On my trip last weekend Michigan to Oklahoma saw it happen, brand new "lightweight" TT being towed by a midsize SUV. Made a mess, destroyed the TT, but SUV stayed upright and nobody was hurt. 55 mph speed limit on two lanes in Indiana, but everybody runs faster, 20-30 mph faster for overtaking moves. What might work in a mid-size sedan can be disaster for a small SUV towing.
Friends in my RV club have had a medium size (24 foot, 6000 pound) TT flip their 3/4 ton pickup, a sudden avoidance move (motor coach coming down on on ramp moved into them) setting off an accelerating cycle of sway. Totally destroyed the TT, totaled out the truck.
Son-in-law's father lost his TT to an accelerating sway induced by a wind gust.
The incidents I know about, all were at or above speed limits for single vehicles, and speed vs hitch to axle distance on a trailer is really critical for stability. The rig in the video was passing somebody (guy with the camera) so probably way out of the safe speed envelope.
Many countries limit recreational tows to 50-55 mph, and balance weights of tow vs towed vehicles by licensing, but we tend to be anything goes.
You are probably not just lucky, you've been driving in the speed ranges for which your combination is most of the time stable, although an occasional wiggle means you are at the limit. Aggressive drivers, needing to be at the front of the pack, running at the highest speed, first in line at the next red light, they will get into trouble.
Also, on high speed limited access highways, running at light vehicle speed limits will get you into trouble while towing RVs. Big rigs get into trouble, trying to keep up with cars where speed limits are 70-75-80 mph and running speeds are somewhat higher. Doubles and triples are particularly a problem at high speed, but cruising a bit below speed limits, I see even single semitrailer rigs struggling for control after they whip around me and cut back in.
