Since I found this message board about a month ago, I have learned so much. Now it's time to share one of my experiences:
On a hot August day in 2001, while driving back home with my 1998 Chevy van, pulling a Jayco 21c, I noticed a great deal of white smoke in my side mirrors. The first thing I did was check my gauges - my water temp was fine. It was over 90 that day and I was running with the AC on, so I was watching my temp like a hawk the entire trip. My first thought was something was wrong with a trailer tire. One of my biggest fears is a flat or something on the trailer and not knowing it.
I pulled over, ran to the trailer to inspect it, and everything was fine. By the time I got around to the back of the trailer, my wife, 2 kids and 2 dogs were exiting the van. Smoke was now coming out of the AC vents! I noticed flames under the hood. I ran to my trailer and grabbed the fire extinguisher and it did not work. It was only about 2 years old. I was helpless. All I could think to do was unhitch the trailer, which I did, but it was still right behind my now burning van!
I few truckers pulled over with fire extinguishers, but it was far too late. There was no saving it. With the help of 3 others, we pushed the trailer back about 15 feet - just dragging the jack on the pavement.
See pictures here:
http://civideo.com/fire
What caused the fire? We discovered a trail of transmition fluid on the road. All I can think is that a line broke, spraying fluid on the engine, catching it on fire.
Needless to say, the kids, age 9 & 11 at the time, were a bit shaken up. We lost all of the gear in the van, it just went up in flames so fast! At that point, I really did not care. Everyone was out and I knew insurance would take care of everything. The kids were quite bothered about a couple stuffed animals that did not make it out, but it was easy to comfort them knowing the REAL animals (the 2 dogs) made it out safely.
Darrell
Milwaukee, WI
2003 Outback 26RS
2001 Ford Expy 4x4
WOW!!!! Glad you were all safe and that you were able to save the trailer! I wonder if a transmission temperature guage might have helped you out on that one??
tough luck dude! now i could only wish my truck would go out in a blaze of glory like that! i've had too many problems with my chevy 4x4 since buy it new in 98'.
I had a similar thing happen to me in 1977. We were pulling a 27 foot travel trailer with a vehicle that was not properly matched to the trailer. The weather was hot, the roads were hot and the tow car was running fine. All gauges were within limits.
I began to see small puffs of smoke on occasion and when I pulled to the side of the road to check under the hood, the car began burning really well.
This was before the days of cell phones but a fire truck came to put out what of the fire that passing truckers and I was not able to handle with our fire extinquishers. The car was three months old and a total loss.
The fire report showed the cause of the fire was the direct result of pulling a trailer with a vehicle not rated for such loads. The insurance company paid the cliam and no one was injured. I also learned a lesson about fires, towing and what can happen when pulling heavy loads.
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