Driver lost control down mountain

[CUMMINZ]

I really appreciate all the discussion about the type of RV and what might have happened and there have been posts defending SRW trucks. Take my word for it, it was a SRW truck. Look at one of the first photos. The burned truck only has one burned rim on the rear, NOT 2 wheels bolted together.



It also was a 4x4.

 

[CUMMINZ]

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[HBarlow]

I wondered on first look why or how the truck and trailer became disconnected but the photographs don't really provide any clear indicators. I do see distortion of the back of the cab or, at least distortion of the gap between cab and pickup bed but I don't see evidence of a severe impact, the kind of damage runaway fiver would be expected to do to the cab. I simply don't know why.

A properly latched good quality fifth wheel hitch is not easy to separate but the twisting forces resulting from an upset are probably extremely severe. We don't know if it was a good brand name hitch, a knockoff copy by a noname manufacturer, or even a kingpin to gooseneck adapter/extension as another member suggested.

My guess is the owner foolishly tried to tow a large and heavy fiver down a very steep grade, had no exhaust braking capability, a loose torque convertro or perhaps was in the wrong gear of a manual transmission, overheated his truck brakes (improperly adjusted rear drums?) was using a cheapo pendulum brake controller, and/or improperly adjusted trailer brakes, and it became a runaway and he lost it. The grade may be so steep he had eight wheels sliding under heavy braking and couldn't keep it under control. I haven't been there or seen the grade.

I suppose it is possible that the driver suffered a health problem and blacked out, or even drove it over the side and jumped out because he had lost his job and couldn't afford the payments but I give less credence to either of these possibilities.

I think the poor guy made a bad decision and his driving skill and equipment weren't good enough to handle the grade. I feel sorry for him.

 

[Matt400]

Based on the door size I think it might be 30' and classified as a 29'

With one slide that truck should be fine IMO but maybe its a super heavy one, dunno.

Driver bailed and wife was behind in a car?? how come she don't like ridding with hubby?

 

[Bob Cochran]

Where is Dick Tracy when you need him. Everybody is doing great though maybe not Sherlock Holmes!!! It is is worth the reading seeing how you deduce all this stuff. I am personally not that quick gotten slower with age I think.

Sure glad it was not me!!!!!!

 

[SHobbs]

Something else to consider is road conditions, grade percentage and experience with towing a large rv. Way too many things for me to say but this is one of those things that are in the back of my mind when towing in the mountains.

 

[HBarlow]

... ... ... ... ... ... ... .....
Driver bailed and wife was behind in a car?? how come she don't like ridding with hubby?

She may have been familiar with his driving judgement and skills.

 

[jelag]

In one of the photos it showed a goose neck style ball in the bed of the truck... . so there must have been an adapter between the trailer and the ball in the bed... we just haven't seen it in the mess.....

We had an 01 that slid of the road with a 20K lb trailer (goose neck) behind the truck... . it bent the frame of the trailer and twisted the frame of the truck into a pretzel yet the hitch, both rated at 30K lbs never came apart... both were totaled... BTW - the speed at the time was under 15 MPH... .

I think what we are missing here, is what I assume is the driver, who let this whole thing get out of control..... had he been prudent and thoughtful, he'd kept this under control no matter if it was SRW, DRW, 2WD, 4WD, etc, etc,... . he let the conditions get away from him, either from lack of experience, or ability. .

He was out of his comfort zone and it has cost him... hopefully not with his life or that of a loved one... . The more I drive, the more I see so many foolish people pushing the envelope of safety... sure I like to buzz along and make good time... but after all these years in the Northwest with water, snow and ice... I've learned to temper that with some caution... .

Many of you have mentioned many safety issues... but the real key, at least the way I see it, is that the operator was working outside his comfort (safety) zone and he let it get out of control... . Pilot Error... . so to speak... .

Just my nickles worth. .

 

[Grizzly]

Excellent posts Jim and Harvey. Both of you makes the most sense in this tragic mishap.

george

 

[LBARTLETT]

Many of you have mentioned many safety issues... but the real key, at least the way I see it, is that the operator was working outside his comfort (safety) zone and he let it get out of control... . Pilot Error... . so to speak... .

great point Jim! I know my rig weighing 34k can run 80 mph, I've got the power and drive train to do it, however as I've aged and gotten a little wiser I now lock it out of OD, set the cruise at 65 mph on I35 and listen to the turbo and talk radio, that's my "comfort zone"



I have the ability for additional power and the ability to stop should some other nut cause an emergency. I have the opportunity to see many nuts from Denton to South Dallas when I turn on HWY 175#@$%! I sure get alot of one finger salutes as I run my 65 mph:-laf

 

[steved]

Something else to consider is road conditions, grade percentage and experience with towing a large rv. Way too many things for me to say but this is one of those things that are in the back of my mind when towing in the mountains.

Or bad tires... even a dually won't save you if a steer tire blows...

 

[Grizzly]

great point Jim! I know my rig weighing 34k can run 80 mph, I've got the power and drive train to do it, however as I've aged and gotten a little wiser I now lock it out of OD, set the cruise at 65 mph on I35 and listen to the turbo and talk radio, that's my "comfort zone"



I have the ability for additional power and the ability to stop should some other nut cause an emergency. I have the opportunity to see many nuts from Denton to South Dallas when I turn on HWY 175#@$%! I sure get alot of one finger salutes as I run my 65 mph:-laf

I totally agree with you (and Jim and Harvey) on driving cautiously with a load. While towing my 5er or hauling the truck camper (now sold), I keep my speed down to between 60 and 65 mph, no matter how many finger waves I get.



When I was a young man in my late 20's I had a front end blow out with a re-capped tire, which almost cost me and my young bride our lives. Since that day on I swore that I would alway have the best tires I can afford on all my vehicles and I would drive a safe speed for all conditions. So far I've done good, knock on wood.

 

[steved]

I really appreciate all the discussion about the type of RV and what might have happened and there have been posts defending SRW trucks. Take my word for it, it was a SRW truck. Look at one of the first photos. The burned truck only has one burned rim on the rear, NOT 2 wheels bolted together.



It also was a 4x4.

Umm take another look... that's either a brake drum or disc, unless that truck was running 12" tires... it looks to me like the aluminum wheels melted off from the heat.



Unless someone has a better picture, I don't think you can determine if that is a SRW/DRW.

 

[CUMMINZ]

The picture does not show dually flares.

 

[steved]

Considering most (modern) dually flares are plastic, and there was enough heat to melt aluminum...

 

[HBarlow]

And Ford dually pickups only have two aluminum wheels on the rear. The inside rears are steel. I'm satisfied it was a SRW truck.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I am satisfied it is was an SRW and the driver lost control for unknown to us reason(s).

All DRW owners can blame it on the truck being an SRW if they care to.

Personally, I pulled a 5th wheel RV off a mountain on a dirt (mud) road and several turns that were in the shade had packed snow and ice over the road. I made it down safely by using years of experience, and using the trailer brakes instead of the truck brakes. The tow vehicle was a 1997 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 SWB (with only 2 wheels on the rear). The 5th wheel was a 24' no slide RV.

Experience with a proper setup trumps the number of wheels, the size of the tow vehicle, and whether or not it is a Ford, Chevrolet, or Dodge!

 

[steved]

And Ford dually pickups only have two aluminum wheels on the rear. The inside rears are steel. I'm satisfied it was a SRW truck.

And unlike Dodge owners, Ford owners don't change wheels/tire combinations on their trucks??? I guess there isn't a FORDZ on a Powerstroke site?



I agree with Jumbo... the simple fact is the cause is unknown to us. All we can do is speculate, and admire the carnage. You cannot say that, without the shadow of doubt, this accident could have been avoided *if* the truck was a dually.



As far as we know, the steering linkage could have failed... how is a dually going to save you from a mechanical failure? Some food for thought, that could easily be YOUR dually laying there, because of a fractured tierod end or failed track bar...

 

[brods]

Accident On Red Grade Road Tuesday Could Have Been A Lot Worse | Sheridan Media

The "As to why the bailout was needed" clicky says he got going too fast and the brakes would not hold him.

Are you guys sure it a powerstroke? Doesn't the tail pipe look pretty small for a diesel? Do dually fenders bolt on leaving telltale holes in the bedside?

Can't imagine bailing out of a moving vehicle, but ... ...

 

[steved]

Are you guys sure it a powerstroke? Doesn't the tail pipe look pretty small for a diesel? Do dually fenders bolt on leaving telltale holes in the bedside?

Can't imagine bailing out of a moving vehicle, but ... ...

Nor could I... that would be desperation at its worst.

The exhaust appears to be similar in size to the drive shaft, which are both typically pretty large on the newer trucks. Even the latest GMs and Fords are using fairly large pipe on the gassers. I just noticed its straight-piped...

Most modern dually fenders bolt on using small holes and pocket nuts... from those photos, I doubt you could tell from the distance.

I just wanted to add on the brake thing... I don't know what year this truck is, but I know the first couple years of Superduty had issues with their four-wheel disc brakes... not really problems, just they seemed lackluster. The couple gasser rental SDs I drove were not even close to the braking of the 04. 5 I have... but they were rentals.