Proper trailer towing saftey

[RobertN]

I have towed with 1/2 tons, 3/4 tons, and a F450(1-1/4 ton?)

The 3/4 and up "tons" not only have heavier brakes, they have heavier frames, axles ect. They tow soo much nicer.

I had a borrowed trailer, was transporting my little Kubota. Someone cut me off bad on the freeway, and the brakes, well, were useless on the trailer. It was a mild load, maybe 4500lbs total. But it pushed me around pretty good. From my experience towing with 1/2 tons, I'm sure it would have been a wreck/crash.

Needless to say, I have my own trailers now... And the brakes ect work very well.

H I know there are guys that would have put this behind a 1/2ton with weight distribution hitch, but I would say that would be pushing saftey limits big time. If you are going to tow anything on a regular basis get a 3/4 ton or bigger, as they have the brakes to handle the load, not just the HP.

 

[RobertN]

So this thread relates to one of my pet peeves... No factory tiedowns worth a hoot on these expensive trucks. We live close to a couple feed stores. People are always buying hay/alfalfa. And hardly anyone ties it down.

There was a guy today; he had a 1 ton dually Ford loaded with hay. Over the cab. Hanging over the sides. Well stacked, But no rope. One hard stop, one emergency swerve, and a lot of hay/alfalfa would be all over the place.

A wreck like the one in this post, would have bales of hay all over the place; 90+lb bales flyinging thru the air. And a real hazard when they lay in the road.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The new Nissan and Toyotas have a bed utility system that contains 5 tracks. One across the front of the bed, one down the side of each bed rail, and 2 down the floor of the bed. My Titan came with 8 heavy tie downs that can be put anywhere along these tracks to allow for ease of tie down. The trucks also have the standard 4 rings in each bed corner.

2010 Nissan Titan Truck | Nissan USA Official Site

Chris

 

[taborekle]

Now how in the heck can that driver that pulled out have "not seen" this huge truck and trailer barreling down on him? I know! He didn't look.

 

[Ken45101]

Now how in the heck can that driver that pulled out have "not seen" this huge truck and trailer barreling down on him? I know! He didn't look.

There are people who don't see big fire trucks coming with lights and sirens. We even had a police cruiser rear ended on a traffic stop at night, well lit up. The guy claimed he didn't see it

 

[Bird]

Now how in the heck can that driver that pulled out have "not seen" this huge truck and trailer barreling down on him? I know! He didn't look.

I don't think I could explain it with just words, but get something the size of a postcard, draw a stick man a quarter inch tall in the middle, hold it out in front of your nose and eyes and slowly move it toward your eyes while you keep looking at the stick man you drew. Most people never realize there's blind spot which varies in size with the distance from you.

If you just glance quickly to the side, especially if you don't turn your head very far, so you're only seeing down the road with one eye (bridge of your nose blocking the other eye), you can very easily fail to see even a large vehicle coming. The first time I knew of such was demonstrations in the police academy in 1964, but I've seen it on more than one occasion since.

Always look in each direction twice or pause very briefly while looking each direction; only a second or two is required.

 

[radioman]

That is another one of my pet peeves, when I am towing something, no matter what I am towing with, people don't seem to realize about the extra weight I have behind me. Granted, it's my responsiblity to be safe, but a little respect goes a long way. I am glad your freind is ok- these pics is a god reminder of anything that can happen.

Bird- That was interesting description about blind spots. That certainly opened my eyes. I am just sitting here and wondering why don't they teach that in drivers ed and defensive driving courses? (well at least I haven't heard about it here in NYS)

 

[Bird]

[wondering why don't they teach that in drivers ed and defensive driving courses?

I don't know whether any of them teach it or not. I certainly did when I was teaching my grandson to drive.

Another little experiment you can do to prove the blind spot, is only glance quickly left, then right, then back left, and back right. No telling how many times I've done that myself and see a vehicle on the second glance that I did not see at all on the first glance.

 

[WH401]

That's a classic reason as to why you shouldn't drive a small car.

 

[JasG]

I've had people sit at an intersection looking right at me and "thinking" (?) about if they should go or not and then decide yes right when I'm almost on top of them. It really makes my day when nothing is behind me so it's not like they are going to have to wait any more than for me. Usually these people take there sweet time coming up to speed, about 1/2 of them turn left just up the road a little. I've also had people come up to stop sign and not even try to stop or look and pull out. Or just as bad, someone will pass me when I'm driving at least the speed limit or slightly faster. Only to jam on there brakes due to they are turning. Been a few times where I have had to slam on my brakes, and you wonder what are they thinking.