couple wreck trailer 20 minutes after purchase

[Demovictory9]

?1530298182397

http://keprtv.com/news/offbeat/couple-wrecks-trailer-on-freeway-20-minutes-after-buying-it

The couple had bought the trailer in Poulsbo and was heading south on SR-3 in the center lane around 3 p.m. when the travel trailer began to sway behind their Jeep Cherokee, according to Trooper Chelsea Hodgson. The driver told troopers she was unable to regain control and the trailer flipped over in the left land and landed on its top.


Luckily no one was hurt.

Hodgson originally said the driver will be cited for driving too fast, but later said she wouldn't be cited after all.

"Unbeknownst to them, the trailer has pressure treated 2x6 boards underneath, making the trailer heavier than they believed," Hodgson said.

[Tipperary]

1. Oh, that is awful. I sure hope they insured it before they drove off with it.

Poor folks.

[woodsprite]

2. No sway bars installed on the hitch?

They should be required.

[uponit7771]

3. Thx for this, I am looking for one and scared crapless of this very thing

[sarcasmo]

8. Sway bars are your friend and a full size truck if you plan on a big trailer.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. Does it also have something to do with the load distribution?

I’ve never towed anything except for a construction air compressor around town.

My understanding is you have to load trailers front heavy.

My brother’s buddy took his newly restored muscle car to a show and flipped it over on the maiden voyage. I guess it started swaying back and forth and then flipped. Probably looked like the pic in the op.

[sarcasmo]

14. Yes. More weight towards the front of the trailer.

[ornotna]

18. You have to balance it correctly

A little front heavy is good. Too much up front and it will bounce. Too much towards the rear and it will sway side to side. And you definitely need a vehicle big enough to handle it.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. This is a common Rookie Mistake.

They are not the first and won't be the last.

[Archae]

5. I'm reminded of an old movie, with Lucille Ball...

"The Long Trailer."

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I remember seeing that when I was young.

The scene I remember most was when they were driving into the mountains and all the rocks Lucy had collected started shifting and sliding across the floor.

[exboyfil]

9. The movie extension of I Love Lucy

I saw it about 10 years ago and loved it. The character names may be different but it is Lucy and Ricky.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

12. Trailer Brakes First!!

[Soxfan58]

6. It must have been such a happy day

Until this happened. Hope they have insurance, and they make sure this does not happen again.

[Grammy23]

10. I wonder how much instruction and experience she had before driving off the lot?

You don’t just hop in the tow vehicle and head out. But I am guessing a fair number of people do that without realizing they are pulling a heavy brick down the highway.

When we bought our travel trailer my husband did some practice in an almost empty parking lot. He read a lot about it and didn’t get out on the highway with it until he felt confident he knew the basics. And he had previously towed our smaller pop-up camper so he was not completely without experience.

What blows my mind is the number of people I see roaring down the interstate, often approaching 80 mph towing a 32’ pull behind. They will be swaying from side to side and seem to have no clue that they need to slow down. Then stop and install a sway bar. And vow to keep their speed in check for the safety of themselves and everyone else on the road with them. It is nothing short of miraculous that the folks in this story got out alive, unhurt and without hurting anyone else.

One time my husband noticed a trailer next to us on the highway (being towed) had a bad tire. He signaled the driver he needed to stop, which he did at the next rest stop. My husband pulled off to tell him what he saw. Turned out all FOUR of the tires were in bad shape, nearly flat. It was a very precarious situation. The guy thanked my husband and when we left they were trying to figure out where they could go and get some tires. But my husband strongly advised them not to pull that camper until they did something about the tires. (He was a fleet maintenance manager for a large package delivery company so he knew what he was talking about.)

[cwydro]

15. I know; I have seen that on the highway too.

I get the hell away from them as quickly as possible.

[dembotoz]

11. Perhaps a temp hitch

If bought from dealer it never should have left the lot with an improper set up

[csziggy]

16. A Jeep Cherokee only has a towing capacity of 2000 lbs

https://www.jeep.com/jeep-capabilities/towing.html

My 16' stock trailer weighs 1500 lbs. empty. I don't know what a travel trailer like the one they bought weighs but I bet it is more.

If I load the stock trailer with four mares, that is 4000 - 6000 lbs. more. A full load of hay (150 bales @ 50 lbs each) = 7500 lbs. My three quarter ton Suburban 2500 with a 9,400 to 9,600 lbs. towing capacity can handle those weights, while a vehicle rated for 2000 lbs. towing capacity cannot.

In addition the Jeep Cherokee only has a 106.6" wheelbase while my Suburban has a 130" one. The longer wheelbase makes it more resistance to fishtailing. It is particularly important when hauling livestock since they can move around and exacerbate fishtailing.

[mythology]

17. At least they weren't hurt

You sometimes hear about people who buy a motorcycle and crash it almost immediately, those usually have an injury or worse.