tow bars and brackets question
We are full time and have been towing a 20 ft enclosed trailer with a mini cooper inside. With coach, tongue, trailer we are 63 ft. We have had a few problems with tight spots but have found a phone c...
Forum Discussion
A little story about "making your own"...
I'm a retired sherrif from a large south Fla dept. Spent 8 years as a traffic homicide detective and re-constructionist, Job was to investigate traffic accidents involving death/critical injury and to persue charges against those at fault.
Investigated an accident where a 5 x 10 utility trailer came detached from the tow veh. Trailer then veered into oncomming traffic and was hit head on by a Chevy Cavalier. Driver, wearing seatbelt, was critically injured, but lived. (This was before airbags)
Turns out the trailer was professionally made, but the owner had "re-done" the hitch area, welding a new mount onto the trailer frame. The welds broke, and as the safty chain mounts were on the mount, they didn'd do their job.
Turns out the trailer owner was just a homeowner who had no formal training as a welder, more like "my neighbor showed me".
Needless to say, the guy was just charged with a traffic violation as there was no death involved. But, his insurance co would not pay for anything as the trailer had been altered, alterations were not done by a certifies welder/mechanic.
When the lawsuits setteled, he had nothing left as he was foung at fault and was libel for hospital bills and money he lost as a result of loosing the lawsuit.
So, if you want to "make your own" or have someone cobble one up for you to save a few bucks, than go for it.
Grumpy
I'm a retired sherrif from a large south Fla dept. Spent 8 years as a traffic homicide detective and re-constructionist, Job was to investigate traffic accidents involving death/critical injury and to persue charges against those at fault.
Investigated an accident where a 5 x 10 utility trailer came detached from the tow veh. Trailer then veered into oncomming traffic and was hit head on by a Chevy Cavalier. Driver, wearing seatbelt, was critically injured, but lived. (This was before airbags)
Turns out the trailer was professionally made, but the owner had "re-done" the hitch area, welding a new mount onto the trailer frame. The welds broke, and as the safty chain mounts were on the mount, they didn'd do their job.
Turns out the trailer owner was just a homeowner who had no formal training as a welder, more like "my neighbor showed me".
Needless to say, the guy was just charged with a traffic violation as there was no death involved. But, his insurance co would not pay for anything as the trailer had been altered, alterations were not done by a certifies welder/mechanic.
When the lawsuits setteled, he had nothing left as he was foung at fault and was libel for hospital bills and money he lost as a result of loosing the lawsuit.
So, if you want to "make your own" or have someone cobble one up for you to save a few bucks, than go for it.
Grumpy
