A Harsh Reminder...

frosty42 · 06-21-2015, 10:31 PM

After a relaxing trip to Cabelas today, the wife and I are on the interstate heading home and witnessed a wreck involving a truck, travel trailer and a couple of other cars. The truck pulling the travel trailer was going way to fast, lost control and rolled not once, not twice but three times before landing upside down in the ditch. A dog was ejected, several hurt in the truck. Both rigs destroyed. Hopefully all will be okay.

A harsh reminder to take it easy, drive defensively, and ensure both the TV and the trailer are squared away and safe for travel.

MartyinSC · 06-21-2015, 10:47 PM

There, but for the Grace of God, go I...... Hail Mary, .......

lmpres · 06-22-2015, 03:52 AM

Saw a guy pulling a trailer yesterday up here in NH swerving. Pulled up next to him to pass and he was texting....Some will never learn...

ewbldavis · 06-22-2015, 09:58 AM

Saw it about 2 weeks ago. A guy passed us going 75 or so with his travel trailer, swaying back and forth once he changed lanes.

I cringe when people brag about how their truck tows easily at 75 MPH. I feel anything over 65-70 is simply way to fast when towing...anything.

AmericalVette · 06-22-2015, 03:43 PM

That is just terrible. I hope they all recover from such a tragic (yet preventable) accident. Top speed for me is 60. I just stay in the driving lane, even if a tractor-trailer unit in front of me is even slower on inclines. It all works out, I arrive safely and am in no hurry. A 10 to 15 mph increase in speed just doesn't make a whole lot of difference at the end of the day.

Ken · 06-22-2015, 08:23 PM

It is truly amazing I don't see more wrecks involving travel trailers, this past weekend the wife and I were driving in to Dallas and we must have seen 5 to 6 large toy hauler TT that were being towed by 1/2 tons that were clearly over loaded and to boot none of them even had weight distrubution hitches. I couldn't imagin what a white knuckle ride that would be doing 70 to 75 down the interstate

seabee · 06-23-2015, 06:30 AM

genius has its limits....stupidity doesn't

**Lloyd** · 06-23-2015, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seabee

genius has its limits....stupidity doesn't

Well said Walt, and very true.

Darrell · 06-23-2015, 03:35 PM

We complain (I know I do!) about the sheer volume of legislation, motor vehicle rules etc that our governments heap upon us - BUT - they just cannot seem to legislate away stupid....texting and driving, towing too fast (I have witnessed my fair share of scary towing combinations of TVs and trailers). Some people are ---well---just plain old school stupid.

AmericalVette · 06-23-2015, 06:40 PM

I made a quick trip to Wal Mart this morning and saw a young couple driving towards an exit towing a TT, and as they made a turn I saw that the slide was out. I was able to get their attention and they stopped and I told them about the slide thinking that they had just overlooked it .... "We know, we stopped here last night and now the slide won't go back in, so we just decided to drive on to Branson and maybe we can get it fixed there" (

) Explaining that they could cause some major damage, plus be over width and possibly cause an accident I offered to have a look at it. Electrical for sure, but I located the wrench and showed them how to crank it in manually. The young man explained that it had been "a scary trip" from Illinois because the trailer did not pull to well. I looked and there was no WDH, and he also had an adapter to connect the 7 way plug into the TV 4 way, which meant no brakes either. (

) They had recently purchased the camper from another person and this was their 1st trip. I told them about the hitch and brakes which they had no clue about. I explained that they would be passing by a Camping World on the way and that they could stop there and get the things they needed. I just hope they made it without hurting themselves or someone else.

**mark5w** · 06-23-2015, 07:09 PM

WOW. It's good you stopped them. Could have been devastating.

COCamping · 06-24-2015, 02:04 PM

That sounds scary. Glad you were able to help them, and hopefully they took your advice.

We currently only tow a popup, but have been researching TTs and 5th wheels for a while now in preparation for an upgrade. We've done so much reading on towing safety and hookup and properly equipped TV, that we scrutinize every TV/trailer combination we see: "oh that looks overloaded", "they need a WDH", "that's just too fast for that size rig", "I could handle that setup", etc. Planning to tow wisely and safely.

AmericalVette · 06-24-2015, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COCamping

That sounds scary. Glad you were able to help them, and hopefully they took your advice.

We currently only tow a popup, but have been researching TTs and 5th wheels for a while now in preparation for an upgrade. We've done so much reading on towing safety and hookup and properly equipped TV, that we scrutinize every TV/trailer combination we see: "oh that looks overloaded", "they need a WDH", "that's just too fast for that size rig", "I could handle that setup", etc. Planning to tow wisely and safely.

Your approach to the whole thing is very commendable. I hope you find what you are looking for. All best wishes to you and yours

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