Wild Towing Video

[wushaw]

Originally Posted by ray66v

Most people who have any sense, chain the vehicle down until the suspension bottoms out, no matter what kind it is. Even the truckers who deliver the new cars do this.

If you happen to know this guy, please tell him to stay home before he kills someone.

Not the ones I see going down the hwy. I see them chained to the hooks provided by the manufacture for transport but not too terribly tight since they are just bouncing away back there.

[Roady]

Originally Posted by Builder

Ah yes, now I remember seeing one of them. I guess I can't use one with my load distributing hitch?

Sure you can. In fact, most people I know use both.

Here is a pic of the setup.

PIC

Roady

[Builder]

Originally Posted by Roady

Sure you can. In fact, most people I know use both.

Here is a pic of the setup.

PIC

Roady

Hey thanks for all the help. I really like that. Little extra stability goes a long way. I'm used to just hooking up to the pintle on my dump and off I go. That will be nice for my smaller truck.

Just don't know how much I like drilling into my trailer frame.

[Diamondpilot]

Originally Posted by Builder

Hey thanks for all the help. I really like that. Little extra stability goes a long way. I'm used to just hooking up to the pintle on my dump and off I go. That will be nice for my smaller truck.

Just don't know how much I like drilling into my trailer frame.

Builder and other just be careful backing up with a anti-sway setup attached. I would recommend removing it for backing up or at least unhook the truck side. I have seen a few trailers bent on the tong from backing up and turning sharp. The sway bar only has so much movement and then something will have to give.

Chris

[Roady]

Originally Posted by Diamondpilot

Builder and other just be careful backing up with a anti-sway setup attached. I would recommend removing it for backing up or at least unhook the truck side. I have seen a few trailers bent on the tong from backing up and turning sharp. The sway bar only has so much movement and then something will have to give.

Chris

I never thought of that. But then of course I don't jack the trailer that hard. Would only be a issue if you turned it to the max.

Builder, If your handy with a welder, no drilling required. I welded my attachment plate on the trailer and the extra ball on the hitch.

Roady

[ray66v]

Originally Posted by wushaw

Not the ones I see going down the hwy. I see them chained to the hooks provided by the manufacture for transport but not too terribly tight since they are just bouncing away back there.

I know some of the guys who deliver new Fords for the Avon Plant, they have told me there is sometimes only a few inches of clearance in some areas of a car hauler, particularly if it is not a compact vehicle. If they don't chain them down well, they can end up with damage on both sides by the time they get to their destination.

[Renze]

Originally Posted by ray66v

Hitting the towing vehicles brakes during the unsafe sway is not only the worst possible choice, it is usually the last thing the driver remembers doing, when he wakes up in the emergency room.

Boosting power to pull straight, worked 1 or 2 times for me.
The 3rd time, i ended up in the ditch.

After that event, i used the trick of pumping the brakes (not gradually braking, just use short stomps on the pedal with 3 to 5 seconds interval) at least a dozen times. I never woke up in the emergency room.

I once wasted a trailer, hitch and bumper, and that was NOT because i hit the brakes, but because i did the opposite.

First thing i think, when noticing sway is: "how do i loose speed ?? "

[ray66v]

Renze, your more than welcome to use what works for you. If you have surge brakes, pumping could be an effective way to activate them. Slamming on the brakes with the trailer trying to pass you is always going to end the same way.

I do have to wonder why you have had so many occasions where you had severe trailer sway , usually once or twice is enough for most people.

[Renze]

Originally Posted by ray66v

Renze, your more than welcome to use what works for you.

I'd say to anyone, to use whatever works for them.. But i do strongly advise people to not make the same mistake as i did: To increase your speed when everything else failed...

Originally Posted by ray66v

Slamming on the brakes with the trailer trying to pass you is always going to end the same way.

Now there you mention something: Full force continuous braking will never do any good, and when the trailer is already trying to pass you, it will sure take you over when you slam the brakes...

Originally Posted by ray66v

I do have to wonder why you have had so many occasions where you had severe trailer sway , usually once or twice is enough for most people.

I didnt have severe trailer sway so many times: As you say, it was 1 or 2 times, of which 1 could have been fatal, if i hadnt decided to brake as hard as i could, to prevent slamming into a tree at 90 km/h (now i rear ended into a tree at 30 km/h, right after loosing the trailer which went upside down in the ditch)

Mostly you notice a little sway which is unpleasant, but not uncontrollable.
Couple of months ago i hauled 2700 kg of concrete masonry blocks behind my 850, on a short wheelbase (3 meter deck) deck over tandem trailer.
This was a 2 ton trailer, so i took twice the load that was rated for this trailer.
I drove it home safe and easy at 60 km/h because at 65 km, the trailer started to sway.

I have taken bigger loads behind smaller cars, but that was with longer wheelbase trailers, and heavier axles with stronger swing arms, that stay better on track.

[ray66v]

Dank, heeft een aardige dag.