What can happen without enough tongue weight?

Had the experience of responding to several vehicle/semi 'underride' accidents in my firefighting career. I can unequivocally state the end result is to put it charitably, grisly. Found a news story about this accident; amazed the passenger was still alive when extricated.

I tend to agree it was probably low tongue weight. But unfortunately we don’t know for sure. But as I’ve said before you can have towing issues even with a 3/4 1 ton truck.

Apparently I do have a problem with my vision. I re-read your post and see nothing about a statement of it being your opinion.

Try looking at the first line of his signature...

Then take a trip to an eye doctor... ;-)

Ivylog wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Are these your guesses and assumptions? Or somehow based on facts actually known about this particular incident. It is not uncommon at all for someone distracted to run into the back of a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the highway.

Thanks for your post...I did not post this in the 5er section for a reason: I believe I covered that with this at the bottom of my post: "This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose."
I made the same mistake 40+ years ago...putting to much weight in the back of a single axle 21' Airstream trailer. At 45 MPH the fun began BUT I put on the trailer brakes creating more tongue weight and then slowed down only using the trailer brakes. Moving half (200lbs) of what I'd put in the back to the front solved the problem.

Maybe you missed this at the bottom: These two bits of info...Apple Valley man and Stoddard Wells road plus Google Maps and knowing lack of tongue weight shows up once you get above 45-50 MPH leads to the following. They got on I-15 (exit 154) and in less than 1.5 miles (access road on east side) they lost control and slammed into the park semi trailer that was well of the road.

PS: I've also slept at a Holiday Inn.:B

Apparently I do have a problem with my vision. I re-read your post and see nothing about a statement of it being your opinion.

And it always amazes me how someone can look at a picture and tell right away exactly to the detail of what happened. There are no pictures to show if there are any tire marks leading up to the crash as you would expect with severe fishtailing. No eye witness reports of the rig fishtailing. Nothing at all of known facts immediately before the event. And yet is "obvious" what happened. Are y'all crash investigators? :S

Your theory could very well be correct. Or. He could have spilled his coffee in his lap, drifted off the road in an attempt to clean it up at the worst possible moment, saw his error, swerved hard to the left to avoid a crash, but too late. :(

One other item that comes up on this forum regularly is tow speed. I regularly read posts from owners saying they tow at 75 mph in a matter of fact tone.

I look at it this way, it's a vacation, not the Indy 500. 75 per is way too fast to have any control in an emergency situation (like a tire blowing for instance). All 75 gets you is poor gas mileage and you are a liability to everyone else on the road as well.

Myself, I run the posted speed or 5 under. I get there almost as quickly, get better fuel mileage, less wear and tear on my vehicle and components and I wave as the speedballs go flying past (and then pass them up when they are fueling up).... I don't get it but then I've gotten to the point where I dismiss that type behavior as irresponsible.

Like Kenny Rodgers croons... 'You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.....

They folded.

BB_TX wrote:
Are these your guesses and assumptions? Or somehow based on facts actually known about this particular incident. It is not uncommon at all for someone distracted to run into the back of a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the highway.

Thanks for your post: I believe I covered that with this at the bottom of my post: "This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose." I also did not post this in the 5er section for a reason.
I made the same mistake 50+ years ago...putting to much weight in the back of a single axle 21' Airstream trailer. At 45 MPH the fun began BUT I put on the trailer brakes creating more tongue weight and then slowed down only using the trailer brakes. Moving half (200lbs) of what I'd put in the back to the front solved the problem.

Maybe you also missed this at the bottom: These two bits of info...Apple Valley man and Stoddard Wells road plus Google Maps and knowing lack of tongue weight shows up once you get above 45-50 MPH leads to the following. They got on I-15 (exit 154) and in less than 1.5 miles (access road on east side) they lost control and slammed into the park semi trailer that was well of the road.

PS: I've also slept at a Holiday Inn.:B

BB_TX wrote:
Are these your guesses and assumptions? Or somehow based on facts actually known about this particular incident. It is not uncommon at all for someone distracted to run into the back of a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the highway.

I'd say assumptions based on the physical pictures of the 'accident' Pretty obvious to me that the single axle RV with the motorcycle on the back was tongue light and a light tongue equals a fishtailing trailer., but then all you have to do is look at the pictures. I take it you have issues with your vision?

I agree 100%. Was the case of the trailer 'driving' the tow vehicle. One thing for sure, the occupants won't be going 'camping' ever again. Kind of surprised they made it that far. I bet it was a real treat pulling that 'tail wagging' trailer down the road at any speed.

I feel bad for the semi owner/driver. He was a victim as well. A victim of the stupidity of the RV owner.

I see that regularly, not enough tongue weight on a trailer and fishtailing on the road. I stay well away from those potential accidents.

Are these your guesses and assumptions? Or somehow based on facts actually known about this particular incident. It is not uncommon at all for someone distracted to run into the back of a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the highway.