Pedal to the metal!

[GordonThree]

SUV loses control of trailer

[1stgenfarmboy]

this is one reason I stop on the on ramp and crank my sway/friction bar to the hilt, I had a sway problem once while pulling a 28ft TT and zero sway control, a 3 lane interstate in florida, I was in the middle lane and a semi on both sides of me passing one was 1/2 the rig in fron of the other, when one was pulling the other was pushing, it was scary, I never left home without a sway bar tight again, that was 20 years of towing ago.


speed can be a common cause of problems, I don't go fast anymore and I stay in the left lane, It takes longer but I feel better.

[3oaks]

mike-s wrote:
It's not hard. The video is labeled "Interstate 82 East Bound at the 9 Mile Marker in Washington State." That would be central Washington.

"load of junk on the rear bumper, guaranteeing a light tongue."

Now there's hubris - you don't how they were loaded, just that they experienced sway which they couldn't control. A rear load doesn't "guarantee" anything, you don't know how it was loaded.

My thoughts exactly. Although I hadn't bother to mention it. Too many experts that know all the facts without knowing the details. They fill in the unknowns to suit their analysis of the situation.

[time2roll]

1320Fastback wrote:
Wonder if his insurance will deny the claim after seeing the video?

May get cancelled after but they will pay.

[BenK]

JIMNLIN...agree that we can only speculate without the police/accident report...even then, not all of the pertinent information will ever be known...but...

This did happen and say too many think only happens to: "they other guy"...

Speculation also has several components/aspects/etc and "educated guess" is one huge aspect of this and other situations where someone can get maimed/killed.

"Educated Guess" can be from personal experience & survived...education on the laws of physics...empirical education...right down to common sense that is extremely rare (reference your Will Rogers quote)

To me...it seems most/too many/etc here want to get the biggest trailer (tongued or Fiver) and get the smallest TV because of non-towing attributes. More MPG, better ride quality, etc...and think many/most will just think: "it only happens to the other guy"...and only want to hear what they want to hear: "Sure you can"..."I've been doing that for years with no problems"...etc...

Do hope no one was seriously hurt in that crash.

[Lynnmor]

If you ever stopped at an accident scene, you probably witnessed the jerks flying right thru like those in the video. Anyone else notice the cars and truck not even slowing?

[JIMNLIN]

Lots of speculation as usual about all weights.....wind conditions.....even the speed/etc.

In '73 I saw the same type accident involving a '60s Buick 4 door sedan pulling a small single axle trailer do the same exact thing in front of me only the combo went into the right hand ditch on a 2 lane highway and rolled.
It took me about 75 yards to shut down and get off the highway. By the time I and two others could get back to the scene I'll never forget the old man in shock sitting on the ground holding his unconscious wife. No seat belts back then and both were ejected from the car.
Takes a certain person to make derogatory remark about others mistakes/misfortunes.

[noteven]

Clicky

How a trailer responds to load location.

[dodge_guy]

mike-s wrote:
It's not hard. The video is labeled "Interstate 82 East Bound at the 9 Mile Marker in Washington State." That would be central Washington.

"load of junk on the rear bumper, guaranteeing a light tongue."

Now there's hubris - you don't how they were loaded, just that they experienced sway which they couldn't control. A rear load doesn't "guarantee" anything, you don't know how it was loaded.

Yes it does guarantee. With the sway that was involved and the wind pushing the semi, light tongue weight was a contributing factor! had they loaded properly this could've been avoided, along with a slight application of the trailer brakes.

[rhagfo]

mike-s wrote:
It's not hard. The video is labeled "Interstate 82 East Bound at the 9 Mile Marker in Washington State." That would be central Washington.

"load of junk on the rear bumper, guaranteeing a light tongue."

Now there's hubris - you don't how they were loaded, just that they experienced sway which they couldn't control. A rear load doesn't "guarantee" anything, you don't know how it was loaded.

Yes, I82 eastbound if at mile 9, right in the middle of the three little ridges headed to Yakama from Ellinsburg. Most likely on a downhill I drove that section of I 82 way too many times in the late 80's and early 90's!

[mike-s]

It's not hard. The video is labeled "Interstate 82 East Bound at the 9 Mile Marker in Washington State." That would be central Washington.

"load of junk on the rear bumper, guaranteeing a light tongue."

Now there's hubris - you don't how they were loaded, just that they experienced sway which they couldn't control. A rear load doesn't "guarantee" anything, you don't know how it was loaded.

[1320Fastback]

Wonder if his insurance will deny the claim after seeing the video?

[drsteve]

Ignorance on display. Going way too fast, passing a wind pushing semi, and has a load of junk on the rear bumper, guaranteeing a light tongue. Likely that the hitch setup was way off too. Obviously had no idea he was supposed to be hitting the trailer brakes to pull it back in line.

This was so avoidable it barely qualifies as an accident.

[time2roll]

Sometimes hanging behind the slow moving truck is the fastest way up the hill.

[dodge_guy]

HuckleberryHunter wrote:
Unless it was a different event, that was eastern WA. Pretty sure it was I-90 between Vantage and Ellensburg. Happened on Thursday 8/24. Saw it on the news! And I don't know what the wind conditions were like during that event, but that can be one blustery section of road.

Yep. If you watch the semi you can see he is being pushed all over. I have passed many semis at 10mph faster and the X is solid as can be. This one with everything on the back coupled with the wind and speed was a disaster waiting to happen and it did. Glad they all made it in one piece.

[ScottG]

jfkmk wrote:
Maybe you CAN fix stupid.

If nothing else, you can drive it off an embankment.