Remember this next time you're towing at 80mph..
06-20-2011, 09:09 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Remember this next time you're towing at 80mph..
Last edited by Falcon; 06-20-2011 at 09:15 PM. Reason: Fixed link
06-20-2011, 09:18 PM
#2
Team Owner
junk tow vehicle 
he needed to hit the electric brakes on the trailer or if they were surge he needed to accelerate which is a bit difficult when things are getting out of control. Can happen down hill easily.
he needed to hit the electric brakes on the trailer or if they were surge he needed to accelerate which is a bit difficult when things are getting out of control. Can happen down hill easily.
06-20-2011, 09:27 PM
#3
Team Owner
I have at times gone 80 or above when towing but have since realized the time gained is simply not worth it. Even a trip at over 90 for a period of time
70 or below now
Safer
Better gas mileage
Easier on truck and trailer
More relaxed
70 or below now
Safer
Better gas mileage
Easier on truck and trailer
More relaxed
06-20-2011, 09:38 PM
#5
Team Owner
We towed a 32 Skater race boat with a Ford dooley big block flat out. Empty blank roads. Speed was _ _ _
Now I just go 60-65 with the car.
When I started racing boats my friend was towing my boat down hill I-95 in Conn. Dodge Ram Charger 1984. Thing started doing the video dancing like you see. Tow vehicle Ram rolled 3 times. Boat and trailer never rolled we could count the three twist in the safety chains. I was lying across the seat of the Ram. I told him to hit the gas when it started wagging. He didn't and I was ejected at about 50-60 mph along with suit cases and all the mechanical tools on my back on I-95 through the rear window. Ram turned into a fast back Ram. We left the boat and trailer and drove home in the wrecked Ram. I had to go pick up the boat he next day by myself with my truck and I was a nervous wreck every time the truck twitched.
Now I just go 60-65 with the car.
When I started racing boats my friend was towing my boat down hill I-95 in Conn. Dodge Ram Charger 1984. Thing started doing the video dancing like you see. Tow vehicle Ram rolled 3 times. Boat and trailer never rolled we could count the three twist in the safety chains. I was lying across the seat of the Ram. I told him to hit the gas when it started wagging. He didn't and I was ejected at about 50-60 mph along with suit cases and all the mechanical tools on my back on I-95 through the rear window. Ram turned into a fast back Ram. We left the boat and trailer and drove home in the wrecked Ram. I had to go pick up the boat he next day by myself with my truck and I was a nervous wreck every time the truck twitched.
Last edited by John Shiels; 06-20-2011 at 09:46 PM.
06-20-2011, 09:39 PM
#6
Race Director
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I had this happen with a load of gravel in a single axle trailer. Had to slow down for slowing traffic over a hill. I made it home with half the gravel. 
06-20-2011, 09:40 PM
#7
Drifting
Holy Crap! 
I had a similar experience but luckily I saved it by accelerating out of it.
I was using an El-Camino to tow with years ago (bad choice) Scared the crap out of me
I had a similar experience but luckily I saved it by accelerating out of it.
I was using an El-Camino to tow with years ago (bad choice) Scared the crap out of me
Last edited by BERETTA; 06-20-2011 at 09:42 PM. Reason: spelling
06-20-2011, 10:02 PM
#8
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Gas pedal is usually the friend in this situation. If you have the proper tongue load on the hitch this usually doesn't happen.
Bill
Bill
06-20-2011, 10:37 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Speed, in and of itself, wasn't the problem. For one, not having enough tow vehicle for a given trailer puts any rig at a disadvantage. Never had such an issue towing flatout behind motorcoaches. Heck, with the big ones you have to check the rear monitor every once in a while to make sure there's still anything back there.
That said, agree hitting the trailer brakes would probably have quickly stabilized things, but they may not have even been hooked up.
06-20-2011, 10:46 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Speed, in and of itself, wasn't the problem. For one, not having enough tow vehicle for a given trailer puts any rig at a disadvantage. Never had such an issue towing flatout behind motorcoaches. Heck, with the big ones you have to check the rear monitor every once in a while to make sure there's still anything back there.
That said, agree hitting the trailer brakes would probably have quickly stabilized things, but they may not have even been hooked up.
Having seen some of the anemic tow rigs people use to pull sizable trailers makes this video a good example of what can happen.
06-20-2011, 11:17 PM
#12
Race Director
I can't quite tell what the tow vehicle is, but it was obviously inadequate for the load it was towing. The trailer was also of a very poor design (small diameter tires and very high center of gravity), making it an accident waiting to happen!I tow a twin axle trailer, with an average weight of about 6,000 lbs., anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 miles a year. I use a 1/2 ton Silverado, rated to tow 8,200 lbs, with equalizers and an anti-sway control.
I've towed this trailer through deep snow, and on I-95 when it was covered with 2-3 inches of packed ice. I've also towed in thunderstorms where I could barely see the end of my hood and in cross winds that flipped over semi's. I've often towed at 70-75 mph, and couldn't even tell the trailer was back there.
It's not so much, how fast your towing, it's what your towing, what your towing with, how your towing it and the conditions under which you are towing.
Like so much else on the internet, I have to wonder if this was a set up. Yeah, it would have been a dangerous and expensive set up, but it seems strange that someone happened to be following along at just the right time, filming a random car and trailer on the road? Just thinking out loud.
06-21-2011, 08:29 AM
#14
Melting Slicks
Proper procedure for trailer sway is to use the controllers brakes manually. Just a small amount is all thats is needed. I tow with min tongue weight and had a bit too little once that caused me to have trailer sway at 80 going down hill. No problem when you know what to do and know how to drive.
Looks like his tow vehicle and trailer brakes lights were on. Im thinking he didnt have trailer brakes or they failed to activate, but we can only speculate.
Looks like his tow vehicle and trailer brakes lights were on. Im thinking he didnt have trailer brakes or they failed to activate, but we can only speculate.
06-21-2011, 11:49 AM
#16
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06-21-2011, 12:42 PM
#18
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Maybe the car was severely damaged due to contact with a wall at the track and he was just setting things up for the insurance company. "I don't know what happened, it just whipped around and flipped over, I have no idea where the blue paint on the car came from."
Bill
Bill
06-21-2011, 12:46 PM
#19
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Maybe the car was severely damaged due to contact with a wall at the track and he was just setting things up for the insurance company. "I don't know what happened, it just whipped around and flipped over, I have no idea where the blue paint on the car came from."
Bill
Bill
