DarrellQ2001
US
New Member
Joined: 10/22/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
I was traveling in the fast lane at about 72 MPH while following two 18 wheelers and we came upon a Ford F-150 pulling a ~30 ft TT in the slow lane. As the first 18 wheeler passed it seemed to cause the TT to start swaying back and forth and like an accordion it jackknifed the pick-up, the trailer flipped over and it "exploded" in pieces as the truck became detached and went over the guardrail upside down. I have never seen anything like this in my life. I don't know if the people in the truck survived or not as people with crow bars were breaking windows in an effort to get them out.
What would have caused this? Could a sway bar have broken? I know it will cause me to slow down to max speed of 65MPH while towing my 7000 lb TT (with my Tundra). I'm not even sure if this is slow enough?
|
popeyemth
owensboro ky
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
MAX safe speed for your TT tires IS 65 mph. lucky it wasnt you upside down over the guardrail after a blowout.
"wine is a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy" ben franklin
|
TowHaul
Ontario
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
popeyemth wrote:MAX safe speed for your TT tires IS 65 mph.
Tires aren't the only reason to keep the speed down...
2009 Cikira Classic Cruiser 21R
2007 Jeep Commander Hemi
Trailing Away... our travel blog
|
JiminDenver
Denver, Co
Senior Member
Joined: 09/09/2011
View Profile
|
When we first got our TT a few months ago my BIL asked me how my Ford handled it. (whole family worked for and drives Chevys) I told him it had no problems maintaining highway speeds. (75+ here)
All he had to say was Jimmy, slow you a$$ down. You are going to get yourself killed. Now I set the cruise to 60 and enjoy the view more.
As for the wreak, it sounds like the TT was going slower so who knows what caused it to go over like that. We have a sway bar and have never felt the trailer move when the big rigs fly by us.
JinD
2011 GulfStream Amerilite 25BH
2007/2003 Ford Expedition
|
PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 12/23/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Sounds like the semi's passing at a much higher speed caused the trailer to get blown to the side....and the driver wasn't able to compensate, or over compensated...causing the jackknife.
What a shame. I don't know if anyone was really at fault.....you said the RV was in the slow lane, (and may have been doing 65 or less)....and the Semi was just doing what they do.
RV may not have had proper hitch, or had it set wrong? Or he had his weight balanced wrong, causing the TT to be a bit squirrely.
A shame to be sure......hope that they were all OK!!
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris / GS MJ
Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie, Tugger & Beau 
RIP: Cookie, Foxy & Gidget @ Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293
The Pets
|
|
|
downtheroad
Pacific Northwest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2003
View Profile
|
Could you (or anyone) provide a link with details to this accident? I'm fairly decent at searching and can't seem to find any mention of it on the net...
thanks.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane"
GMC Duramax/Allison (LBZ)
Komfort .... Our Rig Picture>>Click.
Reese Dual Cam HP
|
BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 04/04/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
A large truck passing at a much higher speed will cause quite a pressure wave as it passes. When it first approaches, it pushes the air out from the front of the truck against what ever is in the next lane. As it passes, it sucks the air back into the vacuum created behind the truck. The result is a quick push/pull force enough to cause a trailer to sway and the unsuspecting driver to lose control. Happened to a co-worker of mine a number of years ago on a lonely stretch of NM interstate. Caused quick swaying, over correcting, and overturning. High speed semi truck was there and gone before he knew what hit him. Fortunately he and his wife come out with only minor injuries.
|
MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
On windy days or heavy traffic, it is best to keep the towing speed to 55-60 mph. If you notice the pull from passing traffic you need to go even slower. I suspect the driver was going faster. The swaying trailer may have accually contacted the passing semi making saving the trailer even worse.
You should have learned from this that you are towing too fast for conditions. Slow done or you may have the same thing happen to you sometime.
I came close to a similar case about 8 years ago. I used my manual braking button on the trailer-brake before using the truck brakes. I saved my butt that time, and kept my speed then towing to 60 mph. or less after that experience.
Mark & Jan "Old age & treachery win over youth & enthusiasm"
2003 Fleetwood Jamboree 29
|
sparkyjcm
North Carolina
New Member
Joined: 08/16/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
I was on I40 pulling my TT about a month ago and was in a section that was about 4 lanes wide. I was going about 65 at the time and before I could get into the far lane, one semi passed to the left of me and one passed to the right of me. Both passed me like I was sitting still. My front end of the TV felt like it was going left and right, almost like it was off the ground. It was the scariest moment I've had in a very long time. I thought for sure I was toast.
2012 Coachmen Freedom Express LTZ 230BH
2009 GMC Sierra SLT Extended Cab 5.3L 1/2 Ton 3.73 Ratio
|
LIKE2BUILD
Mt. Zion, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Online
|
DarrellQ2001 wrote:What would have caused this? Could a sway bar have broken?
My first question is to know if a WD hitch was even in use. I believe it's member BLT2SKI that always emphasizes setting up your tow rig for the worst of conditions. The bow wave created by that 18-wheeler is certainly the worst of conditions. If the driver did not have a WD hitch, or it was improperly set up, it's entirely possible that rig would pull just fine in a straight line but react terribly in a situation like that. Also, if the driver were to over correct and the front axle was too light it could cause things to get out of hand in a hurry. Even if there is no sway control (friction bar, Dual Cam, Equalizer, etc) the balanced load created by the WD hitch will help keep steering in better control.
While camping this weekend I saw two different rigs pull in, maybe 22' to 24' TT's being pulled by 1/2 ton trucks. Neither of them had WD hitches and the rear was squatting pretty well but not bottomed out. All they had in the receiver was a standard 3/4" thick draw bar with the hollow, 1/4" wall 2" shank.
Obviously there was a lot wrong with both tongue weight, receiver ratings, draw bar ratings, and weight distribution. I didn't get a chance to talk with those folks and I chose not to walk over purposely and offer suggestions of what they should do. From a safety perspective it was really bugging me and I really wanted to say something to them. But on the personal side it's kind of hard for a complete stranger to walk up and tell someone they aren't towing their trailer right. I would venture to guess that most often that won't be well received.
KJ
'02 Jayco Qwest 324G
'04 Chevy 2500HD CrewCab |6.0L|2X4|4.10:1 | Eaton Posi-Trac
Curt MagnumV receiver
Eaz-Lift Hitch with Reese Dual Cam
2000 Crownline 205BR
'96 Polaris SLT780 PWC
'94 Polaris SLT750 PWC
3 Wonderful Sons (12, 6, & 4)
1 forgiving wife!!!
|
|
|
