Maybe you'd like to share with us what you read that details the six other "Stupid things" the driver did.
I'm sure we'd all very much like to be as informed as you.
Mike
chadsalt wrote: These weight police guys crack me up, they just love it when a 'smaller' truck has a wreck. From what I read that fellow did nearly half a dozen stupid things that ended up causing the wreck, but what comes up the most in all three of these threads? Wheelbase and weight. It is unlikely a larger truck would have fared any better.....those of you that think an 8K dually holding onto 9K will do any better than the 6K Durango when the **** hits the fan are in for an unpleasant surprise. Seen it several times, even 6k or 7K can jerk a dually off the road with little effort. Any time you have a trailer that weighs as much or more than the truck, makes absolutely no difference if its a dually or an S10, the trailer will win in a tug of war. A heavier tow vehicle just masks the forces at work, theyre still there. Proper set up, follow the manufacturers limits, SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES and we will all be fine no matter the choice of TV.........
two threads on this topic have already been locked.
I'd like to humbly ask every member that reads this post to be reminded that this just happened, we are not only discussing a member of a family that now has a mom, dad and child dead, but we are questionning and discussing the decisions made by a father who is now dead.
out of respect for the dead, and for the family, perhaps we could all keep our opinions of how this aweful thing can be prevented in our own towing experiences to ourselves for a while, and realize how aweful it would be if our family was in the same situation. Can we not second guess the father, and can we please put off any intellectual banter on the elements of towing, rig set up, and handling our rigs on the road?
May they rest in peace, and may the daughters be surrounded by loving relatives who can provide them comfort right now.
04 Isuzu Ascender
04 Jayco 12FSO
Pete Rose - 4256 steroid free hits and still not in the Hall of Fame!
Mike Schriber wrote: Maybe you'd like to share with us what you read that details the six other "Stupid things" the driver did.
I'm sure we'd all very much like to be as informed as you.
Mike
Mike, I get the feeling that we could live to be 100 and never be quite as "informed" as this guy. Some things are unworthy of a response. Best to let this "information" pass. Hopefully, a few more folks figure it out before they end up in a pile of bodies and twisted metal. Soft sprung, short wheel-based, passenger tire shod, "soccer mom" mobiles are a hardly an ideal choice for a very large, long and heavy TT. To say that it is just as safe as a one ton dually is absolutely ridiculous and has no basis in reality. Any tow combination can end up in a wreck. However, the margin of error and the ability to recover from unanticipated inputs, like sway, are much greater is a heavier vehicle with the suspension, tires and wheelbase to handle it. There is a reason why the delivery professionals hauling from factories to dealers typically drive long wheelbase duallys, and typically run without distribution or sway control. Try the same thing with a Durango or Expedition. Then report back.
I don't understand the need to not discus this? It happened and it should be talked about. Talk about it now, maybe one person will think twice about their setup now and not later, when it is to late. I do think that we don't have all the info and that makes it hard to post about.
Well said Stumps... Thank you.
This was a tragic accident - our hearts and prayers are with the family and friends in this time of mourning.
Mark and Pat
Mark and Pat
09 Surveyor SP 186
08 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited with tow pkg
06 Jeep GC Overland 4x4 5.7 Hemi with tow pkg
75 F250 HiBoy 4x4 390CI
Reese LT duty WD, Prodigy, Reese friction sway control "Fun is standard, Pavement is optional" JEEP
While Chadsalt may not have been very eloquent in his statements, he does bring up a valid point. Vehicle size means little when dealing with towing a trailer thousands of pounds heavier than the TV and not reacting properly in an emergency. There are many TV driver factors that are not mentioned in the article that may have very well contributed to this accident besides being overweight. Without a doubt it was a heavy trailer for the TV. This article does not focus on his set up or any other factors that caused him to get out of control besides he started to sway. Did he he have sway control? Were his brakes functional? Was the brake controller set up properly? The list goes on and on.
Well said Stumps. Truly a sad event. Reading that it was on a downhill stretch made me think of a similar downhill double curve I travel often comming home from New Hampshire. The bottom of the hill changes from a 55 mph zone to a 35mph zone. I often use a little manual touch on the brake controller to make sure the house doesn't get ahead of me. We can't undo this tragic event but maybe we can learn from it. We need to be alert to conditions at all times and not get too comfortable.
Gene & Ginny 2008 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 w/factory towing option
2002 Sunline Solaris Lite T2363 Reese Dual Cam Straight Line HP Sway Control
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