Dangerous TV/TT/hitch combo - so hard to bite my lip

[myredracer]

A family with 2 young children pulled in yesterday evening next to us towing a Jayco Eagle 284BHS with an Escalade with NO WDH.

The "vee formation" really caught our eyes from a distance as it pulled in. Rear of the Escalade nearly dragging on the ground and coupler on the TT nearly digging into the ground. Yikes. Clearly newbies judging by the new TT and TV and how they proceeded to set up. (Painful to watch) Worst setup I've seen to date.

Eagle specs shows the 31'-8" trailer to have a GVWR of 9,000 lbs making the TW something like around 1100 lbs (maybe more?). The Escalade has a payload capacity of about 1500 lbs. With the gear they had in the back along with 2 adults, 2 kids and one large dog, the Escalade would have to be well overloaded. Combine that with a long TT and short wheelbase TV and lack of a WDH, this has to be a very dangerous scenario. Scary...

It's pretty hard to turn a blind eye to something like this, especially when innocent kids are involved, not to mention others at risk on public roads.

While a dealer may be partly to blame, I would say this is a good illustration of why RV owners should be required to pass a gov't test before getting a plate and/or upgraded DL and there should be regs, for towing trailers. Otherwise, there's no way an owner is made aware of the need for WDHs and towing/payload ratings, tire info., etc. Can't report this sort of thing because they're not doing anything illegal. It's sad that folks have to go to RV forums to learn this stuff, which the vast majority of RV owners don't.

[rbpru]

I would not have the slightest hesitation striking up a conversation with the folks.

Tell them what a nice rig they have and ask how it tows etc.

You might find they are newbies and can use some information. Likely
You might find they know better but it was just a short hop. It happens
You might find they have been towing that way for years. Not likely.

Over the years I have seen cars, vans, pickups and flat beds incredibly over loaded with furniture, college kids with stuff, farm crops, hay and such.

It may be scary but a doubt that it is illegal. Your half ton many be overloaded but if it is within the weight limit allowed by the license plate, it is legal.

The absolute last thing we need would be government intervention. Government regulations are rarely more than an excuse to expand the tax base.

[Old-Biscuit]

myredracer wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:
Yeah, that's the solution. More government involvement in our lives. Give me a break.Why are some Americans so afraid of the gov't.? Sometimes regulations are needed to protect the public at large. Spent my entire career following/enforcing extensive and complex regulations aimed at protecting the public and nobody anywhere complains.

Good question at this time of year...July 4th
We Americans are notorious for not liking gov't intervention in our lives.

Did you strike up a conversation? And I don't mean "hey dude, did you know you're gonna' kill somebody with that set up?" Well, if they had been around today, I might have. Ain't gonna hang around outside for the rest of the evening for them.
You sat by and watched them drive in---spotted the issue, watched them set up....Yikes painful to watch/worst ever AND now you don't have time to talk with them

For all you know they towed the trailer from their house a half a mile away just to see how it does for a day or two. Why do you immediately want to jump to the conclusion they don't have any idea what they are doing? Well, they're from Canada and definitely not a 1/2 mile away. Were you there to watch how they set up?

The government has done such a good job with everything else we really need to call on them to teach us how to tow a trailer. Whatever. Safety of the public at large doesn't seem to matter to some.
I think majority of folks rate 'safety' high..just don't believe that the gov't would do a good job. Would be just more of a revenue source vs real safety training. Just like most of the gov't vehicle inspection requirements. Just another fee.
:R

I would be concerned if I saw that set-up..concerned enough to approach and discuss with them. Then I might post here the results good or bad...but that would have been after.
Golden opportunity to help out a fellow RVr

[toedtoes]

If you don't know you're doing it wrong, why would you think you're doing something wrong?

I agree with the others that a polite conversation would be the way to go. Even a simple, "I noticed you're dragging;seem to be overloaded/probably having sway issues, have you considered trying a xxxx". Not confrontational - conversational. And don't get in a huff if they don't jump at your idea right there and then - very likely on their way home, they will notice the drag/sway/etc. and think "gee, maybe I should look into that when we get home".

And since they were from Canada and were towing in the U.S., exactly whose government should handle this situation?

[westend]

IMO. anyone towing over 3K lbs. should be required to have a towing endorsement on their DL. How that would be implemented, I don't know but we need to get some of this foolishness off the road.

In my area it's boats, boats, boats. The newest combination is a Lexus crossover SUV (360?) with a Mastercraft ski boat on the hitch. Or a Trailblazer with a 30' cabin cruiser. That one, I walked right up to the guy's rig while he was fueling at the pumps and started snapping pictures.

I think some of these folks see others pulling a trailer and since they have an SUV, assume that pulling anything is OK. They just aren't knowledgeable about the weight and physics involved.

[Ron3rd]

Oasisbob wrote:
I would tactfully risk offending someone for the sake of saving their lives. In fact I have done it recently speaking to a man who had no break away brake cable. It is not only him but those lives that could be changed forever. Let them know

X2, and the Escalade would have been my first clue.

[Desert_Captain]

"Why do you immediately want to jump to the conclusion they don't have any idea what they are doing?"

Given the facts as stated by the OP how could anyone come to any other conclusion? These folks desperately need some help and I hope someone cares enough to politely point them in the right direction.... BEFORE a tragedy occurs.

:E

[myredracer]

hohenwald48 wrote:
Yeah, that's the solution. More government involvement in our lives. Give me a break.Why are some Americans so afraid of the gov't.? Sometimes regulations are needed to protect the public at large. Spent my entire career following/enforcing extensive and complex regulations aimed at protecting the public and nobody anywhere complains.

Did you strike up a conversation? And I don't mean "hey dude, did you know you're gonna' kill somebody with that set up?" Well, if they had been around today, I might have. Ain't gonna hang around outside for the rest of the evening for them.

For all you know they towed the trailer from their house a half a mile away just to see how it does for a day or two. Why do you immediately want to jump to the conclusion they don't have any idea what they are doing? Well, they're from Canada and definitely not a 1/2 mile away. Were you there to watch how they set up?

The government has done such a good job with everything else we really need to call on them to teach us how to tow a trailer. Whatever. Safety of the public at large doesn't seem to matter to some.
:R

[hohenwald48]

myredracer wrote:

KFCCaravan wrote:
Not sure how long you had eyes on this guy, but I usually disconnect my WDH bars at the entrance to the campground as I am not a big fan of backing into the campsite with them connected. You are probably correct about an overload situation, though.

Possible for sure, but it's not very far from the main gate and it's a dead level drive in on pavement and hard-packed gravel.

I've got to head south very early in the morning. Might just leave an anonymous note somewhere.

Mind your own business.

[myredracer]

KFCCaravan wrote:
Not sure how long you had eyes on this guy, but I usually disconnect my WDH bars at the entrance to the campground as I am not a big fan of backing into the campsite with them connected. You are probably correct about an overload situation, though.

Possible for sure, but it's not very far from the main gate and it's a dead level drive in on pavement and hard-packed gravel.

I've got to head south very early in the morning. Might just leave an anonymous note somewhere.

[Halmfamily]

Maybe they borrowed the TT from someone and have no idea they are doing something wrong. They probably had a white knuckle ride in and maybe some friendly advice would be greatly appreciated. Go talk to them and see what their story is. The worst they can say get the he$$ away from us.

[KFCCaravan]

Not sure how long you had eyes on this guy, but I usually disconnect my WDH bars at the entrance to the campground as I am not a big fan of backing into the campsite with them connected. You are probably correct about an overload situation, though.

[hohenwald48]

Yeah, that's the solution. More government involvement in our lives. Give me a break.

Did you strike up a conversation? And I don't mean "hey dude, did you know you're gonna' kill somebody with that set up?"

For all you know they towed the trailer from their house a half a mile away just to see how it does for a day or two. Why do you immediately want to jump to the conclusion they don't have any idea what they are doing?

The government has done such a good job with everything else we really need to call on them to teach us how to tow a trailer. :R

[mike77leprechau]

Go strike up a conversation about how nice the trailer is ask how it goes and work it into the conversation... Most people are so proud of their new toys they will be happy to talk to you you never know maybe they have a hitch ordered and live a couple miles away and couldn't wait to go camping so they limped it over..see that a fair bit here actually

[Oasisbob]

I would tactfully risk offending someone for the sake of saving their lives. In fact I have done it recently speaking to a man who had no break away brake cable. It is not only him but those lives that could be changed forever. Let them know

[gazingm42]

Besides dangerous ... Illegal .

Yes part of the issue is the dealer trying to make a sale. But when you overloaded on a setup of this I sure that trailer is wagging its tail. Which would be a big sign something is wrong... You think.

I see so many drivers with no WDH it make me mad as they going hurt someone else.