Trailer Safety

mkirsch wrote:
Half the population feels that the highway patrol isn't doing enough, and the other half think their sole purpose is to generate revenue (i.e. write tickets for violations).

If the highway patrol's sole purpose were to generate revenue, you would NEVER see a patrol car parked in a median "taking pictures." They would constantly be on the shoulder, lights flashing, writing a ticket. Yet, you hardly ever see a patrol car with someone pulled over. 99% of the time they're lurking along at just over the speed limit in the left lane, or sitting in the median.

I wonder if you and others can see a problem with paying for that level of "service)?

As they say, you can't fix stupid, you just have to stay out of its way. When I tow I try to be mindful and courteous of those I share the road with. That's all I can do.

As far as being safe in our towing travels well, I will admit to driving off without plugging in my trailer pigtail. I use a lock on the hitch ball latch so that is always in place. Always test the trailer brakes as I am pulling out while going slow. I am a firm believer in reviewing fundamentals. We do have a tendency to get complacent.

My problem is that we pay considerable taxes for law enforcement and next to nothing is done to correct the many problems. I live along a rural road with a 45 mph speed limit and almost everyone is driving at interstate speeds. Almost every Harley has an open exhaust, and that is just a joke for the police department. That is just two examples of the many problems, but my point is that if laws mean nothing, fire those that ignore the problem and stop wasting the money.

Guess it just goes to show you can't please everyone. Half the population feels that the highway patrol isn't doing enough, and the other half think their sole purpose is to generate revenue (i.e. write tickets for violations).

If the highway patrol's sole purpose were to generate revenue, you would NEVER see a patrol car parked in a median "taking pictures." They would constantly be on the shoulder, lights flashing, writing a ticket. Yet, you hardly ever see a patrol car with someone pulled over. 99% of the time they're lurking along at just over the speed limit in the left lane, or sitting in the median.

Mr Murphy moments captured on video...that most think only happens to "the other guy"...

You have to understand, most of those signs, especially speed limit signs, are just suggestions. Most people don’t know that the red one with S T O P on it means Spin Tires On Pavement.
Get with the program people.

DutchmenSport wrote:


Recently, (like in the last year), I've seen and experience more and more aggressive driving on the highways and in cities. I'm beginning to wonder if the people of this country have finally lost all their minds! Yes ... I'm talking to whoever reads this.

There was a news article on television, just yesterday, about a town in Indiana that is having real problems with people stopping at stop lights and stop signs. I've experienced daily driving, being cut off, cars jumping in front of me from drive ways, intersections, and ramps.

I no longer wonder, I am now convinced that many have lost their minds. While no area has a shortage of mentally deficient drivers, I will say that getting across your state was by far the worst part of last summers trip. I was hoping to drop farther south to cross Indiana in the future, but apparently that has gone bad as well.

Here in PA, we still have a very minor problem with people stopping at stop signs, every once in a while someone will come to a complete stop causing them to be rear-ended. :(

My problem is that we pay considerable taxes for law enforcement and next to nothing is done to correct the many problems. I live along a rural road with a 45 mph speed limit and almost everyone is driving at interstate speeds. Almost every Harley has an open exhaust, and that is just a joke for the police department. That is just two examples of the many problems, but my point is that if laws mean nothing, fire those that ignore the problem and stop wasting the money.

:) Hi forget that coupler latch pin, I use a lock. And that 25 cent pin costs about $2.50 at Camping World.

I can't count how many large, heavy trailers I've seen with no power cord hooked up. How they stop scares me to death. My ABS Modulator Valve on my truck failed last month while doing a hard stop for a quick changing red light. I ended up in the middle of a busy intersection. Thank God I had good trailer brakes that were hooked up. Scared the bejeus out of me.

That video has been around a while, but its still noteworthy for everyone.

Recently, (like in the last year), I've seen and experience more and more aggressive driving on the highways and in cities. I'm beginning to wonder if the people of this country have finally lost all their minds! Yes ... I'm talking to whoever reads this.

There was a news article on television, just yesterday, about a town in Indiana that is having real problems with people stopping at stop lights and stop signs. I've experienced daily driving, being cut off, cars jumping in front of me from drive ways, intersections, and ramps.

I've experienced several occasions when I'm in a straight lane and the guy beside me in the left turn lane would zoom forward and go straight, cutting me off (This actually happened 4 times this week).

Its not so much our driving abilities, its about the other idiots out there. Especially towing a trailer, folks can get even more stupid. I experienced this week two different occasions here someone towing long utility trailers towed by pick-up trucks jumped right out in front of traffic when pulling out of gas stations. Twice! this week! Luckily, I was on the far inside lane

Then there is the risk to us RVers who settle into a world of our own. We are happily buzzing down the highway of life when some absolute idiot comes whizzing out of now where causing us to perform evasive action. It's times like this that truly test the rig we are driving, our set-up, and our own driving skills.

The video reminds us to never take thinks for granted. It reminds us to always be vigilante hitching up correct and never missing a thing. It reminds us to test our own equipment before hitting the road every time. It reminds us to be consistent in our approach to driving.

I have also seen other RVers on the highways driving at extreme rates of speed, zooming through traffic, driving like there is no tomorrow, and every time I see this, I cringe and hope I don't come upon an accident up the road.

Just this last week end, it took my wife and I 4 hours to return home from a 1.5 hour trip. Why? Well, we took our time. We drove secondary roads. We stopped for food. We relaxed. We drove below the posted 55 mph speed limit.

It seems we always take about 3 times longer than expected to arrive at our planned destination spot. I constantly remind my wife:

"It's never about the speed we drive, it's ALWAYS about safety!"

Slow down America! Slow down!