Gooseneck Adaptor Blamed for Fiver Rollover

jerem0621 wrote:
Video Link

The description in the video says the following

"2008 Dutchmen Denali fifth wheel trailer flip-over accident at Hwy 436 & Hwy 434 in Altamonte Springs, FL. The trailer leaned over in a left hand turn at an intersection, and the locking mechanism on the gooseneck adapter sheared off the rear of the ball. A deeper locking mechanism or a fifth wheel hitch would have prevented the flipover, as the lean would have been corrected by the truck's weight."

Jeremiah

It is also possible that if he had been using a fifth wheel hitch, that didn't fail it could have also flipped the truck. I agree that it was most probably driver error.

valhalla360 wrote:

Tango, AE7UI wrote:
The tow truck drive could have attached a preventer strap on the opposite side of the lift using the second cable on the tow truck and eased it down.
Very poor handling by the tow truck operator.

It's a trade off.

I'm in traffic engineering and getting an accident clear just a few minutes quicker, can be worth a lot of $$$. As long as there is no danger, the goal is to clear the accident and get it open to traffic as quickly as possible.

Odds are the insurance will call it a total loss regardless. I'm sure the initial rollover did tons of structural damage that will be very expensive to address.

That's it right there.
Look cops or whoever don't care about your trailer.
They want the road cleared and they want it cleared ...now.

The wrecker driver did a nice job of up righting that trailer. The second strap might have made more damage to the up side of the body when the trailer came up on to its wheels. if both cable guides were fixed to the same box tube it would have pinched the second cable and strap causing more damage. More than enough damaged was caused during the first flip than the up righting. Possible a second truck or air bags could have made it a smoother up right. then the insurance or customer would be screaming about the cost.

valhalla360 wrote:

Tango, AE7UI wrote:
The tow truck drive could have attached a preventer strap on the opposite side of the lift using the second cable on the tow truck and eased it down.
Very poor handling by the tow truck operator.

It's a trade off.

I'm in traffic engineering and getting an accident clear just a few minutes quicker, can be worth a lot of $$$. As long as there is no danger, the goal is to clear the accident and get it open to traffic as quickly as possible.

Odds are the insurance will call it a total loss regardless. I'm sure the initial rollover did tons of structural damage that will be very expensive to address.

Yep, the major damage was done when it rolled over the first time.....

Tango, AE7UI wrote:
The tow truck drive could have attached a preventer strap on the opposite side of the lift using the second cable on the tow truck and eased it down.
Very poor handling by the tow truck operator.

It's a trade off.

I'm in traffic engineering and getting an accident clear just a few minutes quicker, can be worth a lot of $$$. As long as there is no danger, the goal is to clear the accident and get it open to traffic as quickly as possible.

Odds are the insurance will call it a total loss regardless. I'm sure the initial rollover did tons of structural damage that will be very expensive to address.

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hopefully the propane tanks where off by that time!

Fred.

WHY?


As for the trailer rolling......driver err-----going to fast for the turn

I agree. I see no way the hitch caused the roll over. Driver taking turn too fast. Hitch likely broke when trailer flipped.

Nope, Problem is a bad driver trying to blame it on his equipment.

Hi,

My buddy also almost flipped a big rig trailer when he was a new driver. Problem is the truck was slowing into a curve while getting on a cloverleaf freeway entrance. The truck was slowing, and he felt the big rig start to get pushed sideways by the trailer forward momentum, and slowing the truck further would have caused the trailer still moving forward to push the truck on it's side. Lucky for him, the instructor driver said 'hit the gas' and he mashed down on the gas pedal, causing the truck to move out of the way of the trailer, and start pulling the trailer, not the trailer pushing the truck, and everything was saved!

Later he showed him with a model tractor trailer what was going on. If the trailer is at a angle to the cab, and it is pushing the tractor, it can push it sideways, and topple it over with ease!

Yes the tow truck driver should be using a safety strap during each time they flip a rig upright, to keep it from falling on the other side, and also to let it down gently, not that the repair costs will change by much if it falls to quickly. Hopefully the propane tanks where off by that time!

Fred.

The tow truck drive could have attached a preventer strap on the opposite side of the lift using the second cable on the tow truck and eased it down.
Very poor handling by the tow truck operator.