RV Dangling off bridge

mich800 wrote:

Lantley wrote:

DavidP wrote:
I agree, staying within a tow vehicles capabilities is paramount. Reading the limited details of how the accident occurred, this could have easily been an f250 or any other ¾ ton tv attached to that trailer. No doubt he was close to his limits and may have been over but we don’t know one way or the other. We can say the same about a 35ft tt weighing in 10K+ being pulled by (Insert your 3/4/1 ton here) and the same laws of physics apply. Accidents happen and there is no stopping that. All we can do is stay within capacities and capabilities of both truck and trailer and drive defensive and conservative in our approach. Even then it’s not going to stop a inattentive Hyundai Elantra driver from drifting into your lane and crashing into you

There is a difference. A larger vehicle will withstand the impact
to a greater degree. That doesn't mean a larger vehicle can't be involved in an accident.
However the result of a combo that is 20K combined will be different than a combo that is 10K combined. All tow vehicles are not created equally.

Are you endangering everyone on the road if you are within your trucks limits? MDT would be much safer. If someone runs you off the road should our assessment be you are under trucked for that fifth wheel?

It's simple you can travel,in a Yugo or you can travel in an S-Class Mercedes. One is inherently safer than the other.

I cannot control the other drivers, nor can I decide what vehicles they choose. But I can choose a safe vehicle/combo for myself.
I reiterate mass matters, you mention an MDT so I assume you understand there is a point where size/mass will make a difference.
Some choose MDT's for that exact reason. With that in mind yes I agree an MDT would be a safety improvement over my current Dually.

Lantley wrote:

DavidP wrote:
I agree, staying within a tow vehicles capabilities is paramount. Reading the limited details of how the accident occurred, this could have easily been an f250 or any other ¾ ton tv attached to that trailer. No doubt he was close to his limits and may have been over but we don’t know one way or the other. We can say the same about a 35ft tt weighing in 10K+ being pulled by (Insert your 3/4/1 ton here) and the same laws of physics apply. Accidents happen and there is no stopping that. All we can do is stay within capacities and capabilities of both truck and trailer and drive defensive and conservative in our approach. Even then it’s not going to stop a inattentive Hyundai Elantra driver from drifting into your lane and crashing into you

There is a difference. A larger vehicle will withstand the impact
to a greater degree. That doesn't mean a larger vehicle can't be involved in an accident.
However the result of a combo that is 20K combined will be different than a combo that is 10K combined. All tow vehicles are not created equally.

Are you endangering everyone on the road if you are within your trucks limits? MDT would be much safer. If someone runs you off the road should our assessment be you are under trucked for that fifth wheel?

DavidP wrote:
I agree, staying within a tow vehicles capabilities is paramount. Reading the limited details of how the accident occurred, this could have easily been an f250 or any other ¾ ton tv attached to that trailer. No doubt he was close to his limits and may have been over but we don’t know one way or the other. We can say the same about a 35ft tt weighing in 10K+ being pulled by (Insert your 3/4/1 ton here) and the same laws of physics apply. Accidents happen and there is no stopping that. All we can do is stay within capacities and capabilities of both truck and trailer and drive defensive and conservative in our approach. Even then it’s not going to stop a inattentive Hyundai Elantra driver from drifting into your lane and crashing into you

There is a difference. A larger vehicle will withstand the impact
to a greater degree. That doesn't mean a larger vehicle can't be involved in an accident.
However the result of a combo that is 20K combined will be different than a combo that is 10K combined. All tow vehicles are not created equally.

But if it had a rear axle that was rated at 10000lb it would newer have happened.
Frank.

pennysmom09 wrote:
So, bottom line seems to be.....no matter the circumstance, it's the camper's fault for not having a heavy enough tow vehicle. Typical for this blog.

LOL, spot on. We are spending the winter in the area of the accident, and this is our fifth year doing so. As soon as I saw it on the Morning news, I automatically assumed the exact opposite of our resident experts on the forum. I assumed that he wrecked due to some idiot maneuver by another driver, since it's something that happens about every 30 seconds in these parts. No vehicle inspections, cars that are in no shape be on the road. Trailers without working lighting. drivers that go 90MPH+ while weaving through 4-6 lanes, and my favorite, cars that have gone decades without the turn signal stalk ever being moved. It's a wild and crazy place, and getting tossed half way off a bridge, when some chucklenut slams your TT sideways, doesn't even suprise the locals. Seriously, driving my motorhome and toad in this area is about as stressful as it gets, and I've done hundreds of thousands of miles pulling everything from pop-ups to 35' TTs, and piloting motorhomes.

You can all say what you want, but I admire that operator for getting the sling around that back of the TT and putting it back on the roadway with no additional issues.

The reported fact that the young lady hit the trailer (maybe twice the way I read it), sure takes the owness off the driver of the Explorer.

Matt

troubledwaters wrote:

bka0721 wrote:
Since accident investigation is what I use to do for a living I would introduce the following scenario. The driver of the Ford Explorer was traveling forward in the left lane (#1), traveled into the breakdown lane, either inattentive (use your own imagination) or to avoid traffic slowing in front of it and attempted to slow down with the rear weight pushing the tow vehicle and both vehicle drove up the side of the Jersey Barrier causing the Driver, in the Ford Exlorer to suddenly try to avoid driving over the barrier by providing steering input to the right. The direction of the trailer continued forward with frame and rear axle overcoming the edge of the Jersey Barrier as the Explorer then begin to rotate clockwise due to the input and rear weight of the trailer. The Tow Vehicle coming to rest on the roadway, rear wheels off the ground due to the Teeter Totter effect from the weight of the trailer over the Jersey Barrier. Travel Trailer came to rest, still coupled to the Tow Vehicle (anchor luckily) resting on the Jersey barrier, partially suspended (supported) off the Jersey Barrier. Driver Exited from suddenly fowl smelling Tow Vehicle to view Travel Trailer parking situation.

b

Guess we all know why you don't do Accident Investigation anymore.

Exactly. Talk about conjecture!! Whole new level.

Mortimer Brewster wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
He’s extremely lucky. Even if it wasn’t his fault, an Explorer pulling a trailer that’s just under 25 ft long with a GVWR of 6005 lbs is trouble waiting to happen.

Just because it has a GVWR of 6k lbs, doesn't mean it was loaded to that. At 4k lbs dry and not much storage, I don't see them loading to more than 5k lbs. not to say they couldn't have done that, but it would be hard.
they had more than enough tongue weight!

I have an Explorer very similar to the one pictured, so I have a fairly good idea how it handles (sluggish). We considered getting a small trailer for local camping. I decided not to in part because I didn’t want to pull a trailer over 21 ft long with the Explorer. Anything less than 21 feet was too small inside for us. In addition visibility was a problem. The sideview mirrors on the Explorer are useless for towing, you can’t get mirror extensions and I didn’t want a McKesh style mirror.
Whether he was at 5000lbs or over doesn’t matter. IMO, a near 25 ft long trailer on a mid-sized SUV is a bad idea. Combine that with a trailer which is heavy for the Explorer is going to make for bad emergency handling. That is what I meant by “trouble waiting to happen.” Accidents happen and you don’t get to choose their time and place. Good visibility can help in avoiding them and having a stable combination of TV and trailer is important as well. Given the circumstances, it could have been a much, much, worse outcome.

I too have a 13 Explorer limited with the factory tow pkg. the only thing I tow with mine is a 3 place snow mobile trailer weighing in around 2k lbs. it does well. And yes 5k lbs behind it will be noticeable, but setup properly will be OK.

I used to tow a 5k lb 25 ft Award TT with a 95 4dr Explorer with the factory tow pkg. it too was setup properly and it performed well. A V-8 with more power would’ve been great, but it was stable.

I agree it could’ve been worse!

bka0721 wrote:
Since accident investigation is what I use to do for a living I would introduce the following scenario. The driver of the Ford Explorer was traveling forward in the left lane (#1), traveled into the breakdown lane, either inattentive (use your own imagination) or to avoid traffic slowing in front of it and attempted to slow down with the rear weight pushing the tow vehicle and both vehicle drove up the side of the Jersey Barrier causing the Driver, in the Ford Exlorer to suddenly try to avoid driving over the barrier by providing steering input to the right. The direction of the trailer continued forward with frame and rear axle overcoming the edge of the Jersey Barrier as the Explorer then begin to rotate clockwise due to the input and rear weight of the trailer. The Tow Vehicle coming to rest on the roadway, rear wheels off the ground due to the Teeter Totter effect from the weight of the trailer over the Jersey Barrier. Travel Trailer came to rest, still coupled to the Tow Vehicle (anchor luckily) resting on the Jersey barrier, partially suspended (supported) off the Jersey Barrier. Driver Exited from suddenly fowl smelling Tow Vehicle to view Travel Trailer parking situation.

b

Guess we all know why you don't do Accident Investigation anymore.

So, bottom line seems to be.....no matter the circumstance, it's the camper's fault for not having a heavy enough tow vehicle. Typical for this blog.