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Pop-Up Camper Pops its Top on Expressway

96Bounder30E
Explorer II
Explorer II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH7lR46KX9w
Eric
96 Bounder 30E-F53(460)
stock Ford intake w/K&N air filter
used Thorley headers
new Banks resonator, muffler, tail pipe and 4" polished SS exhaust tip

27 REPLIES 27

myredracer
Explorer II
Explorer II
drsteve wrote:
myredracer wrote:
The youtube comments are interesting...


Youtube comment sections are unmoderated and tend to be cesspools full of morons, haters, and trolls.
That's for sure. The only thing that could be worse is Rants & Raves on CL. Until the internet came along, I had no idea how many disgusting people there are in this world.

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
myredracer wrote:
The youtube comments are interesting...


Youtube comment sections are unmoderated and tend to be cesspools full of morons, haters, and trolls.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

mgirardo
Explorer
Explorer
rhagfo wrote:

The driver of the little car took almost two seconds to react and hit the brakes. If he was aware of traffic to his left he had time to make a smooth lane change. The little car was traveling at or a little faster than the rig with the dash cam.


I think the driver of the car behind the camper handled him/herself very well. Most people's first instinct is to swerve. At that speed, swerving would have caused an accident. I doubt there was any damage to the car other than maybe some cracked plastic trim.

Seems silly to cast judgement on someone's response time in a situation like this. Perhaps the driver was trying to judge if speeding up to go under the top was the best solution. That would have been my first thought if I was in that situation. It goes airborne and stays aloft a few seconds.

There are way too many variables to quickly determine where it will land and I doubt many people could correctly anticipate where the top of the camper would have landed. The top landed in the right lane, while the canvas went to the shoulder. If the driver swerved to the shoulder, the canvas might have landed on the windshield. Then he'd be blind.

-Michael
Michael Girardo
2017 Jayco Jayflight Bungalow 40BHQS Destination Trailer
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class C Motorhome (previously owned)
2006 Rockwood Roo 233 Hybrid Travel Trailer (previously owned)
1995 Jayco Eagle 12KB pop-up (previously owned)

pira114
Explorer II
Explorer II
The best lesson to take from all this is time.

Look how much time goes by from the very start of things going wrong, to when the car hits the debris. It seems like a long time, and maybe he decided not to react, but t shows us some things.

First, we're watching a video knowing something bad is about to happen, so we're watching for it. The driver wasn't, he was just cruising down the road oblivious to what was to come. No reason he should have expected it.

Second, at whatever point he first notices something is going wrong, a second or two is not a lot of time. Reaction times are seriously longer than what a lot of drivers like to think they'd have.

Finally, whether he meant to or not, he did the right thing. Most times driving through the debris is the safer thing to do. Yes, you'll likely incur some damage (and I bet he did), but swerving to avoid it would likely involve hitting other vehicles. People also tend to over react when swerving and crash anyway, often with more severe damage than had they not.

As far as the pop up goes, I can only guess that it wasn't latched. Having towed many pop ups, I can't see how wind can get under the roof without the latch being left open or damaged in some way. Also, it kind of looks like the trailer is swaying a bit a few seconds before it went high order. Anyone else see that? Watched on my cell phone so I'm not sure. If it was, I'd emphasize that when your trailer starts acting funny, it's time to slow down and get off the road to investigate.

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Explorer II
In the for-what-it's-worth category: I painted the insides of my latches bright orange, so I would notice that they were not latched. When latched, no orange shows.
Ed, Deb, and 2 dogs
Looking for a small Class C!

Crowe
Explorer
Explorer
I am surprised the rig with the dash cam didn't even appear to slow.

If the camera car had braked, the other car might have been able to avoid the debris.

He did. Wasn't a lot but he did slow down if you watch real closely. We also don't know what was BEHIND him. It may have been too dangerous for him to slow down or pull over to help.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be

Douglas Adams

[purple]RV-less for now but our spirits are still on the open road. [/purple]

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
coolbreeze01 wrote:
If the camera car had braked, the other car might have been able to avoid the debris.


The driver of the little car took almost two seconds to react and hit the brakes. If he was aware of traffic to his left he had time to make a smooth lane change. The little car was traveling at or a little faster than the rig with the dash cam.
I am surprised the rig with the dash cam didn't even appear to slow.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

coolbreeze01
Explorer
Explorer
If the camera car had braked, the other car might have been able to avoid the debris.
2008 Ram 3500 With a Really Strong Tractor Motor...........
LB, SRW, 4X4, 6-Speed Auto, 3.73, Prodigy P3, Blue Ox Sway Pro........
2014 Sandsport 26FBSL

myredracer
Explorer II
Explorer II
The youtube comments are interesting...

jnharley
Explorer
Explorer
We just purchased a pop up style motorcycle trailer and were told to put a padlock to secure the latch. Sure would not want that to happen!
2015 Dodge Dually
2012 NuWa Discover America 355CK

Homer1
Explorer
Explorer
The guy following; had he swerved to avoid the wreckage could have been deadly. It appears he took a pretty good bounce. I give him credit for hanging tight.

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
TooManyTents wrote:
belairbrian wrote:
nice that the person with video of the incident didn't feel the need to stop.


Maybe he will in a few months on Nov 16, 2016 - that's the date stamp on the video. Clairvoyant mode turned on?

The following driver was very fortunate he wasn't tailgating or he'd have been wearing that top wrapped around his windshield.

More seriously, I had the front trunk hatch fly open on the highway, but it at least stayed attached. Just gave me a scare but no damage to me or anyone else. In my case, I'd forgotten to latch the latches (minor detail...).


Likely if tailgating the following driver would have gone right under the top as it was air borne.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Explorer
Pulling over from the left lane to help would not have served any purpose to begin with because he would have been too far away from the incidence. Don't shoot the messenger!

To the poor guy with the PUP.
THAT is really one sad video to watch seeing ALL his personal belongings go flying up in the air. ๐Ÿ˜ž

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

westend
Explorer
Explorer
Things noted: Running over the top of a pop-up on the roadway in a small car is an extreme event. Slowing down in a construction zone may be good procedure. Don't trust that your top will stay down without additional measures when towing pop-up. Most folks don't pull over in the event of an accident if they can safely proceed around, matters not if it is just road debris or if someone may be hurt.
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton