gdeal
Southern California
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Joined: 05/31/2007
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I saw a SUV laying on its side on the right shoulder and the Folding Camper on the left shoulder several feet in front of that. I don't know what happened but my guess is that it was going to fast for starters. That was almost enough for my wife to say NO to me getting a Fleetwood Evolution Cobalt to be towed by my Jeep Wrangler. My only comeback was that I would go 55 when towing.
* This post was
edited 07/07/08 05:30pm by gdeal *
2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
2007 Palomino Pony 280
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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You can almost bet that he didn't have any sway control eighter. JMHO Bill
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goodcruisin
Greenwood, IN
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With a lightweight short wheelbase vehicle you'll need to be careful about anything you tow or the tail will wag the dog.
John (USN Ret) and Debbie
The Paw Pack (Freckles, Stinky & Ranger)
'96 Monaco Windsor 36' DP 8.3L Cummins
Ready Brake w/ Demco Excali-bar
'03 Ford Explorer (Toad)
'04 Honda Insight
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'74 Dart Swinger Drag Car
14' Boat 9.9 Mercury
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gdeal
Southern California
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Sway Control and Short Wheel-Base. Ok, Ok, Thank you...
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ge2
Seattle
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For reference, the wheelbase on a 4 door wrangler is LONGER than that of a commander (116 vs 109.5).
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SoCalRailFan
Riverside, CA
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Joined: 04/02/2008
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If it's an Unlimited it can two 3500lbs max. If it's the short wheelbase it's 2000lb max. Personally when I looked at trailers all the Evolutions would have been overweighting my load capabilities. Remember to go with loaded weight, not dry weight when chosing a trailer. The day I got my trailer the first thing I encountered was sway. I had a sway bar installed the next week and calculated proper tongue weight using the 10% rule. Now with that achieved and the sway control the my jeep tows my Westlake fine.
I see the Cobalt is 2300lbs max. You'll still need the longer wheelbase to tow it. Personaly I don't see the point of the Cobalt. With a max carrying capacity of 1055lbs you realy can't put anything on it you can't fit in any other trailer that would be bigger and have more room.
Thanks,
Dave
www.SoCalRailFan.com
2006 Jeep Wrangler Umilimited, 2008 Fleetwood Westlake
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Sounds like some world class conclusion jumping going on. There could be MANY reasons for the accident and making unfounded guesses server nobody. There ARE some (a few) states that set a different speed limit for ALL VEHICLES towing trailers but I've never seen any statistics showing any increased safety because of it. Certainly SOME vehicles (most cars) towing SOME trailers shouldn't be going any faster but then some cars shouldn't be towing anything at all and some others are overloaded. Some go too fast, some don't have proper hitch set up and others have very good hitches set up poorly and other are driven by drives without the necessary skills for towing. Other accidents are caused by ANOTHER driver in ANOTHER vehicle completely. I just didn't see ANY facts that would lead anyone to think it was one or another reason for this accident.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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smkettner
Southern California
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Since you are in SoCal you would have to drive 55 to be legal.
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TheGrinch
Western MD
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Driving 55 only sounds logical to me given gas prices. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't every 5mph over 55 equate to an added 10 cents/gallon at the pump? Something like that. Nonetheless, whatever the reason for the wreck at the beginning of the thread, I've found a new friend in sway control.
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CHEWY51099
Salem, Mass
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I call it common driving/towing sense. If you are towing a 3000 pound trailer you should slow the heck down. It will take you twice as long to stop in an emergency. You need to have the proper mirrors on the TV. You should have sway control if needed. I normally drive at 60 MPH while towing. I have been passed many times by some moron with a 30 FT. TT going 70-75 MPH. Why? Those are the people who cause the accidents on the roads. You are supposed to be going on a vacation where time doesn't matter. You get there safe and relax while you are there. Isn't that why you go camping?
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