Interesting, sorry if its been posted before.
http://www.sherline.com/disaster.htm
Anyone have any of their own?
http://www.sherline.com/disaster.htm
Anyone have any of their own?
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Towing Disaster Stories
- Thread starter Sled Puller
- Start Date
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Didn't happen to me, but saw the aftermath heading down to Florida 2 yrs ago.
A guy had 2 trucks, one was on the trailer. They were small Toyotas. The driver went into the ditch. The tow vehicle stayed up-right, but the trailer was on its side (still attached w/ the truck still in place) and was still hooked up.
A friend of my uncle was hauling a new grain leg on flatbed trailer. It was light enoungh that it wasn't able to flatten out the arch in the deck. He only had it chained on, without any wood blocks to support the ends. It managed to get the chains loose enough boucing down the road for it to fall off the trailer onto the roadway.
A guy had 2 trucks, one was on the trailer. They were small Toyotas. The driver went into the ditch. The tow vehicle stayed up-right, but the trailer was on its side (still attached w/ the truck still in place) and was still hooked up.
A friend of my uncle was hauling a new grain leg on flatbed trailer. It was light enoungh that it wasn't able to flatten out the arch in the deck. He only had it chained on, without any wood blocks to support the ends. It managed to get the chains loose enough boucing down the road for it to fall off the trailer onto the roadway.
Bob Wagner
TDR MEMBER
anyone remember highway patrol magazine? I remember that magazine as a child, great pictures :-laf
The worse thing I have done is bend the hitch on my old F-150, which didn't take much since the hitch was all rusted out. It happened trying to back a stock trailer full of hay up to the barn, went over a steep rise in the ground and that did it. It was on there when I got the truck and it wasn't made for any large amount of weight really. Replaced it with a class IV hitch but we played hell getting it unhooked from the trailer after I did it.
I was riding with a guy to a demolition derby couple years ago. He had a jacked up chebby 4x4 well he loaded the car onto the trailer backwards which put to much weight on the rear of the trailer. Well we turned out on the highway and got going about 45 and the whole rig just started going back and forth across the road. I swear you could hear the hum of the tires stop when the truck switched directions like they came off the ground or something. We ened up running one guy off the road before he got it slowed down enough for it to stop. We both had to go home and change our shorts after that one.
I've had some other mishaps occur that weren't anyones fault really but those are the only two that involve trailers. And most of them involve the old F-150 (which my dad still has today, just backfires like a cannon going off when you shut the engine off).
Nathan
I was riding with a guy to a demolition derby couple years ago. He had a jacked up chebby 4x4 well he loaded the car onto the trailer backwards which put to much weight on the rear of the trailer. Well we turned out on the highway and got going about 45 and the whole rig just started going back and forth across the road. I swear you could hear the hum of the tires stop when the truck switched directions like they came off the ground or something. We ened up running one guy off the road before he got it slowed down enough for it to stop. We both had to go home and change our shorts after that one.
I've had some other mishaps occur that weren't anyones fault really but those are the only two that involve trailers. And most of them involve the old F-150 (which my dad still has today, just backfires like a cannon going off when you shut the engine off).
Nathan
Turbo Tim 1
TDR MEMBER
Summer before last I was heading to work on a Friday evening and alll of a sudden traffic was backed up. After quite some time I get up to the cause and there it is across 2 1/2 lanes of highway, some retard thought his V-8 power 1980 something Ford bronco could pull a 30-35 camper with no problem, he may have had the power (but I doubt it) but he definantely didn't have the stability. About a week later a guy got killed about 10 miles from there while towing too big of a trailer with a tiny SUV. The trailer got to whipping and the CAR couldn't handle it. It's amazing how many people think that because their Ford explorer has a V-8 it can haul a 25-30 foot trail, that's fine till you do a quick lane change or hit some wind.
Yep, I saw an Exploder flipped upside down in the middle of the interstate hanging in air from the also upside down 25-30' travel trailer 
pwerwagn
TDR MEMBER
We were towing a boat from our cabin a while back and all of a sudden the trailer passed us going down a hill. It went off into the trees, about 1/8th mile off the road. It passed through the trees without a scratch! 
What happened was the ball had broken off. It wasnt to heavy of a load for the ball or hitch, it just broke. That is why I cringe when I see safety chains wrapped around the ball! (this trailer never was towed further than about a mile, so it had no safety chains).
My uncle one time figured it would be a good idea to haul his 11-1/2 foot camper on his 1/2 ton 73 dodge, and pull a 26 foot boat. Well, the truck had the power, but the right rear axle snapped and the tire passed him on the freeway. surprisingly, nothing got hurt, and the truck came to a controlled stop. that one still baffles me.
Last story, I was given a free trailer one time. It was a triple axle 28' flatbed backhoe trailer. I had to get it right away, because there was another person it was given to also, and I had to beat him. I was told it had a regular ball, so I drove to pick it up, and it was a pintle hitch. So, I took the ball off my reciever, set the pintle on it, and liberally wrapped it with a chain. It made it all the way to my driveway, where the chain broke, the trailer fell and trashed the jack. oh well, it was still free!!!
What happened was the ball had broken off. It wasnt to heavy of a load for the ball or hitch, it just broke. That is why I cringe when I see safety chains wrapped around the ball! (this trailer never was towed further than about a mile, so it had no safety chains).
My uncle one time figured it would be a good idea to haul his 11-1/2 foot camper on his 1/2 ton 73 dodge, and pull a 26 foot boat. Well, the truck had the power, but the right rear axle snapped and the tire passed him on the freeway. surprisingly, nothing got hurt, and the truck came to a controlled stop. that one still baffles me.
Last story, I was given a free trailer one time. It was a triple axle 28' flatbed backhoe trailer. I had to get it right away, because there was another person it was given to also, and I had to beat him. I was told it had a regular ball, so I drove to pick it up, and it was a pintle hitch. So, I took the ball off my reciever, set the pintle on it, and liberally wrapped it with a chain. It made it all the way to my driveway, where the chain broke, the trailer fell and trashed the jack. oh well, it was still free!!!
Last Spring on Southbound I-540 Springdale, Arkansas. Good friend who I advised to buy a 3/4 Ton truck and 5th wheel camper, instead bought a 26' TT to pull behind his 1/2 Ton Chevy Ex. Cab. Behind the TT he had a small utility trailer with two Honda ATVs. He got about 5 miles from his house and rolled the TT and utility trailer in the median. 1/2 Ton truck was wrecked on the rear by the TT. Came near to flipping the truck with his wife and 3 kids. Got to weaving uncontrollably and he locked the truck brakes. Trailer brakes were no help. Scattered the TT and contents. Eggs didn't break in what was left of the refrigerator.
Me my brother and a freind were towing are boat down the freeway in a hurry when all of the sudden BAM :--) there whent a tire . Are boat trailer is a single axle and yep one of the trailer tires whent at 75mph . The boat swerved side to side pulling the hell out of my brothers F 150 we were lucky it was late and there wer,nt many poeple on the road because we took up alot of road. A lesson learned the trailer tires were dry rotting we did,nt check them now i always do plus we were going alittle fast. I have,nt got to tow the boat yet with my dodge i am going to have to make sure the boats surge brakes working well because this truck can barley stop its self im thinking of geting an EGR rear disc coversion kit or try the cylinder upgrade.
In Montana ... a Suburban & Airstream on their sides. One of the things that made me get a 5'er.
On 395 N, thru town, a Suburban towing an Airstream rear ended a stopped car. :--) The front of the Suburban was really smashed in. The cab & rest looked fine. Testament to front crumple zone stuff.
On 395 N, thru town, a Suburban towing an Airstream rear ended a stopped car. :--) The front of the Suburban was really smashed in. The cab & rest looked fine. Testament to front crumple zone stuff.
Near disaster.....
Summer of '03 - late leaving for the camground. I hooked up the 28' TT and drove very aggressively such as pulling away from intersections fast and driving 80 on the freeway, total drive was about an hour. Stopped at the camground station to dump the tanks, then as I pulled up in front of the camp site and the trailer tongue dropped to the ground... . forgot the hitch pin.
This is so embarrasing I hate to even re-tell it thus sharing my stupidity. I can only assume that it must have been the hand of God holding things together on the drive. To state that this could have been a serious disaster is an understatement! Yes, the pin stays in the receiver full time ever since.
Summer of '03 - late leaving for the camground. I hooked up the 28' TT and drove very aggressively such as pulling away from intersections fast and driving 80 on the freeway, total drive was about an hour. Stopped at the camground station to dump the tanks, then as I pulled up in front of the camp site and the trailer tongue dropped to the ground... . forgot the hitch pin.
This is so embarrasing I hate to even re-tell it thus sharing my stupidity. I can only assume that it must have been the hand of God holding things together on the drive. To state that this could have been a serious disaster is an understatement! Yes, the pin stays in the receiver full time ever since.
When it comes to towing disaster stories I believe I have everyone beat.
Twice while pulling a Jayco fold down with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Once while
pulling a 32ft fifth wheel with my 99 Dodge 2500 Cummins and a year later
pulling my new 34ft. 5th wheel.
Both incidences involving the fold down occured in the same year while
returning home to Chicago. On each occasion we were entering Saint Louis
on I44 during the evening rush hour. The first involved a truck trailer tire in our lane. We were going around a bend on a bridge and didn't see it until we were on top of it. On our left was a semi and on our right a narrow shoulder.
We were in heavy traffic and with no where to go hit it head on. The result
damage to the front end,rear right side on the truck major damage to the front of the rv. The second accident occured when a landscaping timber flew
off a flat bet truck right in front of us. We were traveling in the middle lane
at 50mph. This time my Jeep went up and over it. As it exited the rear end
it caught the tires on the right side of the rv. As I looked up in my rear view
mirror I could see the right side of the trailer come off the ground. When it
came down it first swung into the left lane clearing traffic to the shouder. It then swung over into the right lane clearing that lane of traffic. It took me a
good half mile to regain control before I was able to pull off onto a shoulder.
Needless to say the first thing I did after calming down was to change my pants. To be continued.
Twice while pulling a Jayco fold down with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Once while
pulling a 32ft fifth wheel with my 99 Dodge 2500 Cummins and a year later
pulling my new 34ft. 5th wheel.
Both incidences involving the fold down occured in the same year while
returning home to Chicago. On each occasion we were entering Saint Louis
on I44 during the evening rush hour. The first involved a truck trailer tire in our lane. We were going around a bend on a bridge and didn't see it until we were on top of it. On our left was a semi and on our right a narrow shoulder.
We were in heavy traffic and with no where to go hit it head on. The result
damage to the front end,rear right side on the truck major damage to the front of the rv. The second accident occured when a landscaping timber flew
off a flat bet truck right in front of us. We were traveling in the middle lane
at 50mph. This time my Jeep went up and over it. As it exited the rear end
it caught the tires on the right side of the rv. As I looked up in my rear view
mirror I could see the right side of the trailer come off the ground. When it
came down it first swung into the left lane clearing traffic to the shouder. It then swung over into the right lane clearing that lane of traffic. It took me a
good half mile to regain control before I was able to pull off onto a shoulder.
Needless to say the first thing I did after calming down was to change my pants. To be continued.
TRUE STORY... ... ... I had a CAT 955 track loader I needed moved 10 miles from home to do a job so I called a friend with a Kenworth 10 wheel dump truck and a Miller 15 ton "tilt top" trailer to move it. After an hour waiting for him to get there I knew something was WRONG. He went down a county road, 2 lane 45 MPH with houses on both sides and had a oncoming truck move into his lane somewhat He said... I moved to the right all I could to give him room and after he passed I looked in the mirror and %#$& ! theres NO trailer behind me, It had broken the pintle off of his truck and landed on the jack went about 250' down the street and veered slowly to the right and right up into a 5 acre lot [the only empty one] and parked itself. He turned around backed up to it and found the pintle broken. We put a new one on , went back and got it. It could have been one of those horror stories" dozer destroys house"
Rdunkin,
We had that problem with a 977, last fall, different solution, though, we DROVE it down a secondary road, for about a mile, then cut cross country. One guy stopped, "Are you allowed to do that?"
I said, "Yea, it has street pads, and we have a permit. " (NOT!)
Ok, he said, and drove off! LMAO.
We had that problem with a 977, last fall, different solution, though, we DROVE it down a secondary road, for about a mile, then cut cross country. One guy stopped, "Are you allowed to do that?"
I said, "Yea, it has street pads, and we have a permit. " (NOT!)
Ok, he said, and drove off! LMAO.
Got Hay?
Ok, here's what happened. I was traveling along side of I-35 near Lewisville TX. The exit I take is a 2 laner (both ways) in a construction zone with concrete barriers on each side. This exit is very narrow, barely enough room for my trailer. As I'm slowing down I'm checking my load in the drivers side mirror and actually see it start to slip. At the SAME time some yahoo (I'm the other one) in a Cherokee tries to pass me on the left. If I hadn't had anything to eat I'm sure I would of lost another load . What to do? I couldn't stop, there's no emergency lane, I didn't hear an accident, my load was sitting on its side, I didn't know If I lost the back one, and I was 100 yds from my turn so I took it. I hobbled into a McDonalds parking lot and checked all the straps. Now the hay was securely tied down! I decided to limp home with flashers on. I have 7 miles to go on narrow country lanes. Near the homestead I notice a power stroke is following me. He follows me right up to where I parked in the pic. I get out and do you know what he asks me? HOW'D YOU STACK THAT HAY THAT WAY? :-laf . Well I said with great skill!!!.
Man I was lucky no one got hurt. I'm usually anal about using lots of straps. That fact saved my bacon this time. I had forgot to tighten my load down after it settled. Something you should do frequently with hay. I Dodged a bullet.
tjm
Ok, here's what happened. I was traveling along side of I-35 near Lewisville TX. The exit I take is a 2 laner (both ways) in a construction zone with concrete barriers on each side. This exit is very narrow, barely enough room for my trailer. As I'm slowing down I'm checking my load in the drivers side mirror and actually see it start to slip. At the SAME time some yahoo (I'm the other one
) in a Cherokee tries to pass me on the left. If I hadn't had anything to eat I'm sure I would of lost another load . What to do? I couldn't stop, there's no emergency lane, I didn't hear an accident, my load was sitting on its side, I didn't know If I lost the back one, and I was 100 yds from my turn so I took it. I hobbled into a McDonalds parking lot and checked all the straps. Now the hay was securely tied down! I decided to limp home with flashers on. I have 7 miles to go on narrow country lanes. Near the homestead I notice a power stroke is following me. He follows me right up to where I parked in the pic. I get out and do you know what he asks me? HOW'D YOU STACK THAT HAY THAT WAY? :-laf . Well I said with great skill!!!. Man I was lucky no one got hurt. I'm usually anal about using lots of straps. That fact saved my bacon this time. I had forgot to tighten my load down after it settled. Something you should do frequently with hay. I Dodged a bullet.
tjm
I was in Texas, westbound on the I10 about three months ago and saw, in the eastbound slow lane, a late '80's 2wd s-10 Chavy pulling at least a 32' fifth wheel RV with triple slie outs and all. The poor s-10 was on the bumpstops and barely doing 40mph. Not more than an hour later I saw the cops had an RV on the shoulder again on the other side of the freeway, low and behold another yahoo pulling a HUGE 5er with an s-10 pickup. I can't believe some people would actually do that but they do.
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