How do you deal with jerks while towing?

[RoyBell]

Living in the Chicagoland vicinity, driving a vehicle is a challenge without a trailer. When towing with a travel trailer, it seems to bring the worst out of everyone.

No one likes being behind a trailer, but I have people constantly putting themselves and myself in dangerous situations. I can't figure out why, short of impatience and the fact that everyone seems to be self centered.

How does everyone deal with these jerks? I drive the speed limit or with the flow of traffic and hang out in the right lane the majority of the time. I am not poking along in the fast lane. I get people cutting me off left and right. They pass on the shoulder or merge/exit ramp to get around me (2-3 lane roads) **** near taking my bumper off because they don't want to be behind me, passing me and cutting over before it's safe. People getting in front of me then slowing down. People camping out next to my trailer or tv at speed. Etc etc.

It can really wear on you when taking longer trips. Does anyone have a secret stress relief or way to deal with these idiot drivers short of just shaking your head?

[nineoaks2004]

You have to drive for yourself and the other people driving, the closer you get to town the worse it gets as the idiots are in a hurry to go wherever they must go, I personally just try to ignore them (it is not easy)and if they hit me then that is the reason for insurance.

[07hemi4me]

If and when I encounter them, I just wave, but sometimes it is with 1 finger.. 😄

[stetwood]

RoyBell wrote:

How does everyone deal with these jerks? I drive the speed limit or with the flow of traffic and hang out in the right lane the majority of the time.

For me if I drive slight less than the flow, they will pass you and pull away from you, lessening the problems of you tailgating and giving yourself a better (most of the time) distance between vehicles.

[steve-n-vicki]

put this on the back of your rig and they stay away from you

[trail-explorer]

I ignore them. I don't even make eye contact with them if the drive by me.
I don't want to get in to an escalating situation while traveling. With all the whack-jobs there are these days, who knows what they might try.

[Hybridhunter]

I choose to not baby my truck or worry about mileage, and keep up with traffic, and by that I mean not hide out behind the slowest moving fool, but actually DRIVE.
The odd donut head gets passed and pulled in front of. Not sure about those folks who think that a gutless truck is fine..... I find if you play your part in traffic, people treat you the same, towing or not.

[Allworth]

I now avoid Boston!

[mikebte]

I usually give myself lots of coffee and it helps keep the Jerk down. But sometimes I have no control.

[nineoaks2004]

I see very little of that, most of the drivers in my area will give me a break the once in a while guy, I just ignore as you cannot change
them anyway, I do try to avoid large towns anyway as that is where most of the rush, rush people seem to reside.

[DirtyOil]

3oaks wrote:
I don't think the situation the OP describes is unique to the Chicago area or the state of Illinois.

However, we travel I-80 east and west just south of Chicago at least two times a year while towing our TT. Heavy traffic for sure but really not un-nerving. We pick a lane, usually the second from the right, to avoid entering and exiting vehicles. I hold my speed steady and try to leave a gap between myself and the vehicle in front of me for safety. When another vehicle cuts in front and fills that gap (which happens quite often), I just drop back a bit to reopen that gap for a safety margin. The worse thing to do is have the attitude of "If I can't beat them, I may as well join them".

If convenient, I will try to follow a commercial semi-truck and stick with him/her all the way through the congested area. That is as long as the semi is not traveling over the speed limit or faster than I care to drive.

We have learned over the years to watch for certain landmarks as to when our exit lanes will be coming up and make our moves over to the proper exit lanes.

Transporting TT/fifth wheels from Indiana through Illinois, Wisconsin, North Dakota is a lot of fun! Not a fan of NASCAR but I see lots of drafting, ppl cutting across 4 or 5 lanes of traffic to make an exit, so called professional OTR drivers cruising I80, 90, 94, 39 doing their log books, women painting their toe nails, guys reading newspapers, shaving... goes on and on what some do behind the wheel while "flying down the freeways". Its like that right from when I get off I20 onto 94/80 from Southbend, IN through to Illinois, then through Wisconsin (even worse when the Packers are playing at home), doesn't let up till I'm well west of Fargo, ND. And it really doesn't matter what time of the day or night or what day of the week! Portland, OR and Spokane, WA are just as bad as well. All this makes me feel alive!! :W

[gijoecam]

How do I deal with the jerks?

I don't. I learned a long time ago that no matter how bad a driver the other jack-wangs are, getting upset about it won't make them better drivers.

I do my thing. When they cut me off, I back off. They obviously needed to get there faster then me. Have at it. When they are hanging out along-side me for too long, I give the tail a little waggle. They usually get the hint.

Make sure your insurance is paid on time, and don't worry about it. It's not worth the stress!

And honestly, I've driven through any number of metro areas, both with and without a trailer. This phenomenon is not unique to Chicago.

[rhagfo]

Got a good chuckle this weekend coming home from the coast on OR 6 from Tillamook. The line of traffic I was in slowed as the lead slow vehicle used a turnout near a restaurant, just then I see this idiot passing me on the left in to the two vehicle space I had left as we slowed to less than 30. Well mister "My hurry is more important that road safety" was stuck in front of us for about the next20 to 30 miles as on coming prevented passing where it was allowed. So for the next 20 to 30 miles all he had in his mirror was the Ram and 5th wheel. Traffic was rolling at 55 to 60 up the road, and just watched as he rode the bumper of the car in front him.
Yes on two lane roads, I will roll with the speed of traffic within reason, 60 to 65 in a 55, is not an issue, The rig handles well, I refuse to be the some idiot makes an unsafe pass.

[Dave_H_M]

Frostbite, I was thinking of posting something along those lines.

I do not see why folks have to be road warriors but the road is crowded with them.

I don't "deal" with them, kinda like my dog ain't in that fight.

[Frostbitte]

How do I deal with jerks towing?

Get to the campsite safely and once I'm set up crack open a beer or a straight stiff drink.

In all seriousness, I take my time, expect there to be idiots and morons driving and give them a wide berth if possible. My wife on the other hand gets all tensed up and nerves frayed. LOL.

Frost