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.

[gmw_photos]

pitch wrote:
I scream,close my eyes and slam on the brakes. What are ya supposed to do?

...all the above, plus throw your hands up in the air.

[ramgunner]

Gonzo42 wrote:
Has anyone had experience using one of those whistles on their vehicle that supposedly warn deer away from the road?

Growing up in Oregon I saw a lot of them on vehicles that had hit a deer. I don't think they do any good.

[Houston_Remodel]

I scream,close my eyes and slam on the brakes. What are ya supposed to do?

My mother taught you to drive too ?

[Road_Ruler]

rexlion wrote:
I have always favored vehicles with low center of gravity for better avoidance maneuvering.

That works for me too. Add to the list a high performance braking system, V rated performance tires, a Can AM pro set up, and a trailer with big brakes and torsion axles.

Sticks to the road like glue.

[Slate_CM]

I usually don't try evade an animal. Of course I will brake, but I've always heard it is easier to do an insurance claim with wildlife damage versus a ditch or tree.

Last summer while towing, I spied some loose dogs in a driveway about 3 cars ahead. Sure enough when passing them, I heard a pretty good thump from the trailer. I pulled over as soon as possible, couldn't just leave an injured dog. But the owner came over and said they seemed to be fine and thanks for stopping.

Regarding other drivers, I think Adam Ferrara on Top Gear summed it up, "Let's face it, everyone on the road except for you, is a moron."

[Stefonius]

mich800 wrote:
Sometimes it is just impossible to miss an animal. Years ago I had a deer jump out from the ditch. Hit the brakes hard and managed to come to a stop just in time. Just as I looked over to my friend proud of my driving another one came out of the ditch and ran right into the passenger door. So yes you can be stopped and still hit a deer.

I'd say that in your case, the deer hit you! Did the deer stay around to exchange insurance information?

[badercubed]

Pretty sure this is what it seems like most drivers do...

[mich800]

mowermech wrote:
"EVASIVE MANEUVERS"??
I have hit three deer and a dog in my driving life (since 1958). None of them gave me any chance to evade/avoid the collision.
I can see no reason to wreck my truck and trailer, and the 2 ATVs in the trailer, in a vain attempt to save the life of an animal.
While you are planning that "evasive maneuver" or "panic stop", remember that at 60 MPH you will likely travel over 100 feet before your actions have any effect on your vehicle, whether it be dodging something or simply braking!
That deer (or whatever) that is going to jump into the road 20 feet in front of you won't leave enough time for you to react!

Sometimes it is just impossible to miss an animal. Years ago I had a deer jump out from the ditch. Hit the brakes hard and managed to come to a stop just in time. Just as I looked over to my friend proud of my driving another one came out of the ditch and ran right into the passenger door. So yes you can be stopped and still hit a deer.

[2oldman]

It's hard to hit a deer, dog, cat, knowing you could have made risky evasive maneuvers, but in the long run it's better them than you.

[pitch]

I scream,close my eyes and slam on the brakes. What are ya supposed to do?

[Frostbitte]

Some of the things I do are...
Leave lots of room between myself and the vehicle ahead of me.
Try not to drive at dawn and dusk when the deer are out in certain areas.
Don't speed even if other traffic is. Drive at a pace I'm comfortable with. Physics is much more noticeable when you have 14000 lbs behind you. 🙂

Some of my peeves are...
Someone pulls out in front of you from a stop sign on the road totally misjudging your speed and the time it would take for you to slow down and run up their arse! I have no logical explanation as to why people do this. I don't.

Small cars in the lane next to you that make a turn but creep towards the center line like they're pulling 53 feet behind them, yet they're driving a Corolla. It always spooks my wife when she sees them wandering into our lane.

Folks who just gotta' pass you and get ahead of you, pull in front of you only to slow down... Bonus bonehead maneuver is when they do this and then immediately make a turn right in front of you and there's no one behind me making the passing maneuver a real waste of gas and time for them and dangerous!

Any driver who's distracted while driving. I've seen eating, reading, watching movies, texting, applying makeup, looking behind them or on their floor, some doing any of the above while steering with their knees or not at all! I usually give them a honk.

Motorcyclists on crotch rockets pulling wheelies in front of me while towing. Umm, if you wipe out you better hope you slide into the grass as I can't stop and I will keep going straight over you. I'd rather do that than try to swerve and sideswipe someone or end up in the ditch/rolled myself. And trust me I won't feel bad if my 22000 lbs is what does you in.

Other folks towing but who are reckless. This includes speeding and/or being overloaded. Many times I've seen the tail wag the dog. One memorable moment was a Tundra pulling a TT probably doing 20 to 30 Klicks over the speed limit. The guy came into a curve in the road and the tail started wagging the dog badly. Almost lost it. Unfortunately, he recovered but didn't slow down. All I can say is slow down. Let's all get their alive. Oh, and those towing loads. Please make sure your load is secured. I've seen straps flapping around near trailer tires, stuff coming loose and falling on the road causing others to swerve and dodge. There's no need for this. Please just pull over and re-secure your stuff.

Whew!

[mowermech]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Gonzo42 wrote:
Has anyone had experience using one of those whistles on their vehicle that supposedly warn deer away from the road?

Essentially a lot of agencies have studied the air powered ones and come to the conclusion that they don't work.

All I know is; while I had them on the front bumper of our Ford Club Wagon (E150 van), I never hit a deer. Was that because I had the "deer whistles" on the bumper?
I do not know.

[gijoecam]

When it comes t other drivers, I think everyone else (the OP included) has it covered.

When it comes to wildlife, I have a 'One Meal Policy:' If I can eat the critter/object/thing in the road in one meal, I don't even think about taking evasive actions. On larger animals, like dogs, deer, etc. my policy is to brake as much/hard as is practical for the conditions, and hit it if necessary. I know it'll do some damage, but likely not as much as parking the rig in the ditch will. For the largest of the critters (bear, moose, elk, elephants), the law of tonnage wins-out. I'll do what I can to avoid them.

[badercubed]

ktmrfs wrote:

Stefonius wrote:

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

I agree. I'm not inclined to make emergency maneuvers that could flip me over or cause me to end up in a ditch. If I can't avoid it by braking moderately with the wheels straight, it's going to get hit.

That's doubly true for the folks who do 85 to pass me and then cut in front with one car length to spare, then promptly slam on the brakes.

me also.

sheet metal is easily repaired or replaced. Human bodies, well hard to repair, and irreplaceable.

sheet metal wins hands down.

Count me in this group.

If in traffic, rear-ending the vehicle in front of you straight on is almost always the best option for everyone around.