Evasive Maneuvers when towing

[TexBohunk]

I have been travel trailering for several years now. I always try to think of what to do in certain situations on the road. I have always tried to remember certain key things when towing. (1) I cant stop on a dime. (2) I cant swerve too hard. (3) Leave yourself a way out. I always leave plenty of space between myself and the vehicle in front and watch the road. However Idiots abound and i have had just a few close calls. Other drivers are one thing and another is animals. Deer being the main cause of concern in most areas i travel, I talked the DW into letting be install a Ranch Hand bullnose bumper on my truck for the wildlife. Knock on wood havent had any encounters. Just want to know what other RVers do or have had to do in similar situations.

[path1]

I talked the DW into letting be install a Ranch Hand bullnose bumper on my truck for the wildlife.

I was going to comment IMO most bull bars or whatever you want to call them. Some do more damage when you do impact something than without. But looking at pic's on-line, I like yours. Not going to bend in fenders etc and cause more damage.

I drive no more than 45 so I have lots of stopping distance in front of me, people pass me giving a wave and they create all kinds of stopping distance for me.(OK joking):)

I always try to think of what to do in certain situations on the road.

Stopping distance is primary in avoiding hitting something IMO

Before I retired and it was slow at work and a little group of us went thru over 20 years of data of all our corp accidents. All class 8 trucks. I never once read where someone said they had to much "stopping distance".

Our wildlife accidents was mostly during hours of darkness plus or minus an hour from sunup to sunset.

Other info:

"Vehicle in reverse" at time of accident outnumbered all other accidents, by a very large percentage.

Second highest accident percent was "vehicle in tight quarters" as in being close to something.

But what surprised me was "Vehicle left roadway and lost control" . Not just dollar amount but the injury's and yes a couple deaths. Example is when a vehicle coming at you on 2 lane hwy, you move over or leave the roadway to "prevent the accident", then driver would "over correct" to get back on roadway and lose control. Of course those accidents are also hard to prove driver was not asleep or digging in lunch box etc. The old saying of "be sure to take some paint with you before leaving road" so could prove you were forced off the roadway is easier said than done.

To bad more people don't think about safety more often.

Thanks for your post, safety is always a good reminder.

[gbopp]

I don't pull a TT but, when in the Southwind I try to drive 20 (or more) seconds ahead of my location.

And sometimes no matter how careful and observant you are, things happen quickly and there is no avoiding an impact.

[ktmrfs]

lots of good comments. On wildlife, other than watching carefully, not much one can do. However if it's between swerving to avoid wildlife or hitting them, probably better to brake hard and hit than risk something worse with evasive manuevers.

Son was pulling a 35' trailer for his work with the state on a two lane road. there were in a convoy, everyone spaced well apart. He saw a deer come out of the woods and into the ditch ahead and began slowing as quick as reasonably possible but kept in his lane. At the last minute the deer jumped into the lane, he didn't try to avoid, got off the brakes to help maintain steering control at let the deer hit him. deer got the mirror, passenger door, passenger fender.

Needless to say he had to fill out a state accident report including why he didn't take further more drastic evasive manuevers to avoid the deer. His comment was
1) two lane road with blind curve ahead
2) known traffic behind him
3) you don't make fast lane changes pulling a 35' trailer.
4) rather hit the deer than risk injury to myself, passenger and possibly to occupants of vehicles behind me if vehicle lost control.

Response from investigator was you did exactly the best thing in this situation.

IMHO your most often better off hitting animals, road debris etc than to take fast evasive manuvers.

And watch for those folks who decide to pull out from a stop sign on the side of a highway thinking you'll be able to slow down. NOT!

When your pushing 60ft overall and 20K lbs, evasive manuevers are an oxymoron, or a recipe for a big disaster.

[Houston_Remodel]

If we can't gently maneuver to avoid hitting an object, we're taking it with us.

[Passport2250RB]

When people pass my +40' rig on a two lane, I let off the throttle as soon as they are passing my seat and cover the brake. If they start to move in too early I am ready to slow and get distance between me and them.

[cyntdon2010]

I always Drive with Headlights ON.

If you encounter Road debris (ladders, tire recaps ) in the road.

Sometimes its safer to Hit it. because panic turns causes major accidents.

[RCMAN46]

Use a quality brake controller such as the Prodigy P3 and make sure it is set up correctly.

Make sure trailer brakes are in good condition and not contaminated with wheel bearing grease. Make sure the brakes are adjusted correctly.

What ever do not go cheap on brake controllers and brake components on the trailer.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

My biggest complaint is people passing on a two lane and then cutting and and hitting the brakes. One should not have to brake when passing.

[rexlion]

I have always favored vehicles with low center of gravity for better avoidance maneuvering. I've only owned 1 pickup in my lifetime (for 12 years). Of course that won't work for everyone.

[2oldman]

TexBohunk wrote:
leave plenty of space between myself and the vehicle in front and watch the road.

this