[Paul W.]

I log on today glad to be alive after a near miss two weeks ago while towing the OB from Ohio to the OBX.

We were enjoying a clear, perfect summer day driving through the mountains of West VA. about to pass by a popular tourist trap called the Tamarack. I was in the center lane with an exit lane on my right and the fast lane on my left. With less than 100 yards of exit lane left, a speeding car appeared in the fast lane and veared sharply in front of us in an attempt to make the exit to our right. I was forced to vear to my right, partially into the exit lane, as he cut violently across our front. Fortunately I was able to miss hitting him by a few feet but there wasn't enough exit lane left for us both. He blew by me and I instinctively jerked the T.V. to the left to regain my lane and avoid running off of the road.

I would just like to say that the laws of physics are completely accurate and unforgiving. "FOR EVERY ACTION, THERE IS AN EQUAL AND NEGATIVE REACTION".

I came back into my lane with a sigh of relief just as all hell broke loose. The O.B. began to sway so violently in both directions that it actually tipped back and forth from side to side off of the wheels. Everything went into slow motion as I somehow remembered to tap my breaks to engage the trailer braking system enough to dampen its movement. I didn't dare let go of the wheel to do it manually on the controller and outrunning it by accelerating was impossible in the traffic. After what seemed like an eternity, I was able to regain my lane (now for the second time) and bring the O.B. back into line. I dared to look into the mirror just in time to see the slide out slam hard back into the side of the trailer. It had partially extended 6"-8" inches in all of the commotion.

God was watching over us. We never hit any other vehicle or guardrail. We do have some exterior stress cracks in the fiberglass as well as some interior damage to a bench dinette and I am anxious to have someone give things a detailed inspection. The old O.B. kept on ticking! We continued on with our vacation and had a wonderful time.

Enjoy yourselves out there and stay safe. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!

[crunchman12002]

Paul W., on Aug 6 2009, 05:55 PM, said:

I log on today glad to be alive after a near miss two weeks ago while towing the OB from Ohio to the OBX.

We were enjoying a clear, perfect summer day driving through the mountains of West VA. about to pass by a popular tourist trap called the Tamarack. I was in the center lane with an exit lane on my right and the fast lane on my left. With less than 100 yards of exit lane left, a speeding car appeared in the fast lane and veared sharply in front of us in an attempt to make the exit to our right. I was forced to vear to my right, partially into the exit lane, as he cut violently across our front. Fortunately I was able to miss hitting him by a few feet but there wasn't enough exit lane left for us both. He blew by me and I instinctively jerked the T.V. to the left to regain my lane and avoid running off of the road.

I would just like to say that the laws of physics are completely accurate and unforgiving. "FOR EVERY ACTION, THERE IS AN EQUAL AND NEGATIVE REACTION".

I came back into my lane with a sigh of relief just as all hell broke loose. The O.B. began to sway so violently in both directions that it actually tipped back and forth from side to side off of the wheels. Everything went into slow motion as I somehow remembered to tap my breaks to engage the trailer braking system enough to dampen its movement. I didn't dare let go of the wheel to do it manually on the controller and outrunning it by accelerating was impossible in the traffic. After what seemed like an eternity, I was able to regain my lane (now for the second time) and bring the O.B. back into line. I dared to look into the mirror just in time to see the slide out slam hard back into the side of the trailer. It had partially extended 6"-8" inches in all of the commotion.

God was watching over us. We never hit any other vehicle or guardrail. We do have some exterior stress cracks in the fiberglass as well as some interior damage to a bench dinette and I am anxious to have someone give things a detailed inspection. The old O.B. kept on ticking! We continued on with our vacation and had a wonderful time.

Enjoy yourselves out there and stay safe. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!

Thank goodness you and yours are alive and well. Good job holding her together.
crunchman

[Sean Woodruff]

Paul W.

Sorry to hear about your experience.

To make this a learning experience for others maybe you could comment on what you have experienced towing up to this point.

Any problems before this? Has the trailer "misbehaved?" What have you felt towing up until this?

I only ask because I contend that many people "believe" they have a solid combination because they never encounter the combination of circumstance that proves they were close to the edge.

[outback loft]

Thankfully everyone is all right. I have been in a few situations, and I know that if you slam the brakes or veer off quickly the trailer will get "stupid" Therefore, as much as it may sound just as bad, I will not slam on the brakes, or veer off. More often I have been cut off by cars, and a 4000 lb car is no match for 12000 pounds of vehicle. I have only hit one car, and lets just say, there were witnesses, They stopped to let then cops know I was cut off. Lets just say that the car that I hit did not drive away under its own power.( they went off the road over the guard rail and rolled over.) I on the other hand had a dented bumper, ripped off the plastic trim on top of the bumper and kept on driving.

[Nathan]

Wow!!! What a nightmare scenario!
I'm so glad to hear that you are ok!

There's never a way to run every scenario, especially as it happens, but the most important thing is that everyone was ok.

Like Sean said, if you can give details of the setup, it would be interesting, but any setup can bite back with hard handling. It sounds like you did a great job of regaining control!

[Paul W.]

Sean Woodruff, on Aug 6 2009, 06:16 PM, said:

Paul W.

Sorry to hear about your experience.

To make this a learning experience for others maybe you could comment on what you have experienced towing up to this point.

Any problems before this? Has the trailer "misbehaved?" What have you felt towing up until this?

I only ask because I contend that many people "believe" they have a solid combination because they never encounter the combination of circumstance that proves they were close to the edge.

Interesting question Sean. I figured it out that this is my 26th year towing campers. I've had three different pop ups , one 20 foot hybrid, and now my 26 foot O.B. The closest I've ever flirted with disaster is the occasional "lock up" in traffic. Never a serious incident up until now. My Dad also towed a wide array of travel trailers as I was a kid and I can't ever remember him having a problem. I can remember him always telling me "You can't ever do anything quickly when you are towing a trailer." I couldn't agree more and I was positive I practiced what he preached. I'm guessing even the old man would have flinched if he'd had to deal with the canon ball that was fired in front of our bow that afternoon.

I have to admit to having believed in our "solid combination". I am equipped with a heavy, powerful T.V. and an "Equal-I-zer" four point sway control hitch. Would we have tipped without the sway control? I can't say. But I can say that if what we had was sway control, it was NEVER designed to handle an emergency. It works great in gusty winds and passing trucks but don't be lulled into a false sense of security. That 8000 pound tail behind you is going to wag the dog but good if it gets help from a good swerve at high speed.

Stay away from the edge.

[Sean Woodruff]

Paul W., on Aug 6 2009, 10:20 PM, said:

Interesting question Sean. I figured it out that this is my 26th year towing campers. I've had three different pop ups , one 20 foot hybrid, and now my 26 foot O.B. The closest I've ever flirted with disaster is the occasional "lock up" in traffic. Never a serious incident up until now. My Dad also towed a wide array of travel trailers as I was a kid and I can't ever remember him having a problem. I can remember him always telling me "You can't ever do anything quickly when you are towing a trailer." I couldn't agree more and I was positive I practiced what he preached. I'm guessing even the old man would have flinched if he'd had to deal with the canon ball that was fired in front of our bow that afternoon.

I have to admit to having believed in our "solid combination". I am equipped with a heavy, powerful T.V. and an "Equal-I-zer" four point sway control hitch. Would we have tipped without the sway control? I can't say. But I can say that if what we had was sway control, it was NEVER designed to handle an emergency. It works great in gusty winds and passing trucks but don't be lulled into a false sense of security. That 8000 pound tail behind you is going to wag the dog but good if it gets help from a good swerve at high speed.

Stay away from the edge.

Just so you don't feel alone in this experience... this is exactly what I have heard from MANY people through my years in the "trailer sway" business.

Two points from your story to people to learn from...

1. Years of experience towing under "normal" conditions DO NOT equate to you will never have a problem. Also, the years of no problems do not train you for a problem.

2. There is not a friction force that can be applied by ANY hitch that is great enough to overcome sway of a large trailer. Friction works against sway forces only up to the point that the friction force is GREATER THAN the sway force.

[Doxie-Doglover-Too]

So glad you had your wits about you!

[battalionchief3]

Had a similar incident a few years ago. I suppose I was a little too close to the guy in front of me to be honest. Their was a gap between him and the car in front of him so someone jumped in it and caused the guy he cut off to lock it up and since I was behind him, I was next. As I slammed the brakes the camper broke to the right. 2 lane road, we were all in the left lane. So the people who were next to the camper were now in the gravel shoulder. So I cut a hard right to get back in front of the camper and floored it, snatching the camper back behind me. Luckily the right land was empty so I could floor it and the people in the gravel came right in behind me.

Moral #1 : keep your distance
Moral #2 : don't hang out next to campers, they may lock up and slide into your lane.
Moral #3 : carry a bigger gun for extended range with greater accuracy.

Glad everything worked out for you.

[vtxbud]

outback loft, on Aug 6 2009, 06:20 PM, said:

Thankfully everyone is all right. I have been in a few situations, and I know that if you slam the brakes or veer off quickly the trailer will get "stupid" Therefore, as much as it may sound just as bad, I will not slam on the brakes, or veer off. More often I have been cut off by cars, and a 4000 lb car is no match for 12000 pounds of vehicle. I have only hit one car, and lets just say, there were witnesses, They stopped to let then cops know I was cut off. Lets just say that the car that I hit did not drive away under its own power.( they went off the road over the guard rail and rolled over.) I on the other hand had a dented bumper, ripped off the plastic trim on top of the bumper and kept on driving.

Paul, happy to hear you and your family are safe, that is the main thing, equipment is replaceable !! Just curious, did you happen to get a plate number to report to Law Enforcement??

Outback loft, know exactly what you are saying. I operate the same way. I will not endanger myself or other innocents on the highway to avoid Mr Stupid. Will use all safe techniques to avoid a collision, however if it is unavoidable the guilty party will have 17,500 lbs coming up his trunk.

[clarkely]

Happy to hear your safe!!!

When we are in bad traffic or Known idiot locations............i often drive with my right hand on my knee and ready to hit the Trailer brake controller.....as hard as it is to leave only one hand on the wheel....practice reaching for it.........It may be your savior!!........I have encountered similar we had one two years ago............same thing flying across 3 lanes........and in front of us as we exited!!!!!

had to shoulder it quick and trailer brake controller to not loose everything.................DW woldn't let me ..........I begged and begged for her not to get out and walk if i did what i wanted to............never before had i weanted to purposely run into another car as i did that day!!

Be Safe........summer is almost over..............people are getting Dumber!!

[Dave_CDN]

Thankfully you and your family are safe.

It never ceases to amaze me how much disregard a few people have for their own safety and that of others. It sounds like it was certainly your quick thinking and attention to your circumstances that avoided a much worse outcome.

[psychodad]

Glad evrything worked out well in that crazy situation Paul. Never having experienced the TT wiping back and forth, what is the best way to get out of this. From reading it sounds like the use the TT barkes to straighten it out. Can you accelerate the rig out of this TT sway?

[Nathan]

Paul W., on Aug 6 2009, 10:20 PM, said:

...
Interesting question Sean. I figured it out that this is my 26th year towing campers. I've had three different pop ups , one 20 foot hybrid, and now my 26 foot O.B. The closest I've ever flirted with disaster is the occasional "lock up" in traffic. Never a serious incident up until now. My Dad also towed a wide array of travel trailers as I was a kid and I can't ever remember him having a problem. I can remember him always telling me "You can't ever do anything quickly when you are towing a trailer." I couldn't agree more and I was positive I practiced what he preached. I'm guessing even the old man would have flinched if he'd had to deal with the canon ball that was fired in front of our bow that afternoon.

I have to admit to having believed in our "solid combination". I am equipped with a heavy, powerful T.V. and an "Equal-I-zer" four point sway control hitch. Would we have tipped without the sway control? I can't say. But I can say that if what we had was sway control, it was NEVER designed to handle an emergency. It works great in gusty winds and passing trucks but don't be lulled into a false sense of security. That 8000 pound tail behind you is going to wag the dog but good if it gets help from a good swerve at high speed.

Stay away from the edge.

Paul, I think your explination is right on. You can have all the experience and a stable setup, but in the end given bad conditions, the tail can always wag the dog. That's why regardless of everything else, make sure everyone is buckled up just in case the absolute worst case happens.

[clarkely]

psychodad, on Aug 7 2009, 08:10 AM, said:

From reading it sounds like the use the TT barkes to straighten it out. Can you accelerate the rig out of this TT sway?

Yes Smashing the pedal down is the easiest quickest reactionary way to get out of it as you can keep your hands on the wheel.............but unfortunately it is often not the best way...........pulling the trailer brake switch is best as it fits more situations better.........

Lot of factors on accelerating........ does the truck TV enough power......... how fast are you traveling already........trafic conditions, wind, road conditions, grade.........

That's why pulling the brake controller E Stop is best if you can......... IMHO

Like the driver said though........he was not able to pull 1 hand off the wheel..........

Be safe ..............there are idiots out on the road....Safe Travels to all