Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[Renze]

Personally I think there should be "required" training or testing before anyone is allowed on the road with a trailer.

Agree or disagree, this is my opinion your entitled to yours.

My European perspective:

Here in Europe we have a rule that the total combination of tow vehicle and trailer may not exceed 3500kg (roughly 7500 pounds) AND the trailer weight may not exceed the tow vehicles weight. Beyond that and you need a trailer license.

And still, you see horse girls struggling to back up a small horse trailer behind a Mondeo and you wonder how they have ever gotten their trailer license. (Mind you, automobile manufacturers in Europe allow fairly decent tow ratings behind passenger vehicles, they dont want to push people towards pickup trucks which due to market protection through the chicken tax, represents a higher profit margin than passenger vehicles. My V70 is rated 1800kg or 4000 pounds, though more often i tow 8k)

Vans are allowed 3500kg too which is dumb: Too many self employed couriers trashing around in a Sprinter 2500 size on twin leaf springs, while they load to 3500 (5 ton) triple leaf loads.

It would be safer to allow these hot shots to drive 5 ton so they can buy the vehicle that will safely handle their loads in suspension and brakes.

So, to make American roads safer, you guys could use the same rule as here: Trailer GVW may not exceed truck GVW without a trailer license. And to make European roads safer, we need to get these high school dropout hotshots out of their 3.5 ton vehicles, into the very same physical size of van, yet with the technical capacity that meets the actual loads they carry (illegally) anyways.

 

[jjeff]

I often wonder why some folks don't practice backing a trailer on there free time in a desolate non spectator areas when I worked at boat yards and owned an overly obnoxious prop walking full keeled sailboat I always told folks who appeared to be masters at backing trailers and docking boats by "brail" to practice on there own with no spectators. I was fortunate growing up I had some veteran trailer knowledgeable, load securing folks in my life that would take the time to show me stuff you can't read about and think that makes you a expert imho.

 

[alexpops]

I'm torn on the CDL question. I've towed boats, utility & equipment trailers most of my life. My current rig if ever loaded to capacity with a gooseneck would definitely put me into CDL territory weight wise, but I don't haul for commercial purposes anymore. I did as a kid of 16 in the 70's, I ran a wrecker out of the gas station I worked at (when I wasn't fixing cars) & maybe since we towed for the local cops, no one ever questioned me doing it with a regular class c. Boss would call me at night & was like ... "hey, I'm about to get lucky with the Mrs., but cops just called about a drunk wrapped around a phone pole at Broadview & 81. Can you run over to the station, get the wrecker, & do the tow so we don't lose our contract to Filthy Phil?" (Phil owned the Shell station across the street from us.) Off I'd go.

My view is more along the lines of so long as I have the insurance to cover damages caused by me, I should be able to run as much or as big as my vehicle/comfort level will permit. Yes I get that commercial Insurance is more expensive, but I carry it anyway since I consult with State & local governments who treat any rental car driven by a contractor the same as if it was a Semi hauling girders or cranes to a construction site on their property. The main downside to getting a Class A (as I see it) is paying (3-5k?) for Truck Driver School "training" & job placement services I won't use, then finding a big rig to take the test in. Annual Medical cert? ... meh, PITA but I'd put up with it & frankly would think that older drivers should be required to do that at "some age" anyway.

By the same token, I would think that after a certain number of "at fault" accidents, dui's, etc. ANYONE ... Regardless of Class should lose their license for 5 years (longer if it involves a death or serious injury) & be required to pass basic safety training before permitted to re-apply. Driving Time (and speed) should be left up to the driver with the same caveats. I've seen more "Stupid 4 Wheeler" moves than "Stupid Big Rig" moves, but the quality of Big Rig drivers also ain't what it was -- despite the additional "Schooling".

 

[jjeff]

I'm curious, if older folks can remember years ago if pull-thru campsites were always marketed highlights on campground brochures, and websites? When I was a kid and went camping didn't seem like that was an overly important thing.

 

[alexpops]

As I remember, "Clean showers", picnic tables/grills & convenience store/maybe restaurant were the draws.

 

[jjeff]

As I remember, "Clean showers", picnic tables/grills & convenience store/maybe restaurant were the draws.

These days it's pull-thru campsites in my experiences. Lol

 

[California]

The RV lobby must spend a huge amount of money in 're-election campaigns'. No way should Gramps be driving a Greyhound size, and weight, weekend home without additional license (and health) testing.

A elderly distant relative met a similar RV nearly head on, each driver got crushed, other guy died, relative lost his legs and died several weeks later. He should haven't been driving anything bigger than a medium-size SUV if that.

And a guy near my orchard - age 84, had a CDL since he was a kid - fell asleep from fatigue driving a 3-axle farm flatbed and smeared an oncoming pickup into a guardrail. No injuries but the pickup was totaled.

Each of them, simply exercising their rights, and their insurance.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm curious, if older folks can remember years ago if pull-thru campsites were always marketed highlights on campground brochures, and websites? When I was a kid and went camping didn't seem like that was an overly important thing.

The campers themselves were considerably smaller. Very few people pulled a 32 foot gooseneck with slide outs, and you never heard of a truck breaking in two because the slide-in was too heavy.

 

[alexpops]

OK, Add "Comon Sense" to my post above. Driving Privileges aren't Rights -- maybe necessities to most of us, but kids today don't seem to think so as they are waiting longer & longer to get a license, whereas I'm betting most folks on here had their license as close to their 16th birthday as they could arrange & most were driving well before that anyway.

 

[jjeff]

The campers themselves were considerably smaller. Very few people pulled a 32 foot gooseneck with slide outs, and you never heard of a truck breaking in two because the slide-in was too heavy.

I think there lyes part of the problem, why or how could you safely, comfortably drive these gigantic "glampers" if you aren't comfortable/competent backing It up, maybe if you had some training or certifications? Imho.

 

[California]

I think there lyes part of the problem, why or how could you safely, comfortably drive these gigantic "glampers" if you aren't comfortable/competent backing It up, maybe if you had some training or certifications? Imho.

Worst case we've experienced was with our little tent trailer behind the 4 cyl Trooper, visiting Yellowstone. Great camping rig but no match for what we found there.

Ranger said no more spaces available but ok to park in the pullout near the rest room. 7am we got boxed in by two huge motorhomes trying to turn around, one driver bellowing on his loud PA system and the other driver on the ground trying to show him where he could back up. Both shouting in excited Italian, obviously tourists with rental RV's who had no experience with anything large. Took them a long time to get both rigs turned around. Loudly.

Then later in the day we encountered them again, at two different scenic points blocking anyone from turning off the 2-lane road into pullouts, their rigs were too big to get off the pavement. Just wow.

 

[Tinhack]

I was in Yellowstone NP in 1987--The summer before the big fire in 88. We had a brand-new Toyota Truck-based motorhome. We went to the RV show in Indiana and ordered it there. That thing was small enough to go just about anywhere and we did. My only complaints with it were the small gas tank and low mileage. (We ran the generator for the AC.) And I kept hitting my head on the Cab-over part which was the adult sleeping area. It would still do 70 downhill though. Me the then wife and three kids traveled out west for three weeks. The entire third week was spent at Yellowstone. That was a great place.

 

[Hoot Owl]

Alexpops
I had a 49 Dodge pickup And a 48 Willes the day I turned 16. I was the first one in line for my test and I took it in a 16 passenger Ford van. I did the 3 point turn first with no problem and that was the end of my test. The officer asked my mom how long have I been driving and she said tractors around 10 years, cars around 5. I was gifted at backing a hay wagon. Up the barn bridge and around the grain bin to the hay mow in one shot most of the time.

 

[bmaverick]

Alexpops
I had a 49 Dodge pickup And a 48 Willes the day I turned 16. I was the first one in line for my test and I took it in a 16 passenger Ford van. I did the 3 point turn first with no problem and that was the end of my test. The officer asked my mom how long have I been driving and she said tractors around 10 years, cars around 5. I was gifted at backing a hay wagon. Up the barn bridge and around the grain bin to the hay mow in one shot most of the time.

My son did it with a RamVan 15Maxi. Today he drives a semi with class-A.

There are not many people like yourself today. Most kids can drive games on their phones at best.

 

[check]

There are tire chocks stored in the chain box on my trailer. I chock the tires every time.

I put jackstands at the back of the trailer underneath where the ramps are. And I always park on the level when loading the tractor

 

[Hoot Owl]

I made sure my sons knew how to back up a trailer when they were little. Got them started with a lawn mower and trailer. I had semi's before they came up with CDL's. all I had to do was apply for the change in license back then.

On the trailer theme. I don't have a trailer to hall my L2501 w FEL & hoe yet. I do some trapping for a local trailer builder and they gave me a price at cost. I just have a few other things I need for my bee business' first.
Just spent a lot on this hive lifter.

This will save my back a lot. Each full box is around 80lb.

 

[John0829]

I had semi's before they came up with CDL's. all I had to do was apply for the change in license back then.

A lot has changed since the CDL's first came out, I also applied and was "grandfathered" in when I got mine.

OK, Add "Comon Sense" to my post above. Driving Privileges aren't Rights -- maybe necessities to most of us

I agree but there is a country full of people who claim it's their Right.

Annual Medical cert? ... meh, PITA but I'd put up with it & frankly would think that older drivers should be required to do that at "some age" anyway.

Actually I think it should go a step further, instead of showing up at the DMV and putting your money down get your license renewed, everyone should have to take a driving test. PITA, yes, but think of what it could weed out.

 

[duramaxsky]

A lot has changed since the CDL's first came out, I also applied and was "grandfathered" in when I got mine.



I agree but there is a country full of people who claim it's their Right.



Actually I think it should go a step further, instead of showing up at the DMV and putting your money down get your license renewed, everyone should have to take a driving test. PITA, yes, but think of what it could weed out.

Yeah I also was grandfathered in. But the schools are not very good. I am the trainer at our place and fail most of them on the drive test. The ones we do hire I find a lot of what they were taught only works in optimal conditions. Get them somewhere tight and they are lost.

 

[4570Man]

A lot has changed since the CDL's first came out, I also applied and was "grandfathered" in when I got mine.



I agree but there is a country full of people who claim it's their Right.



Actually I think it should go a step further, instead of showing up at the DMV and putting your money down get your license renewed, everyone should have to take a driving test. PITA, yes, but think of what it could weed out.

They should have a considerably harder driving test to pass to begin with. All you have to do here is drive around the block without wreaking and you pass.

 

[4570Man]

Yeah I also was grandfathered in. But the schools are not very good. I am the trainer at our place and fail most of them on the drive test. The ones we do hire I find a lot of what they were taught only works in optimal conditions. Get them somewhere tight and they are lost.

I failed the pre trip twice and not because I didn’t know my way around the truck. The test is extremely detail oriented. I lost points for not describing in detail how to check the oil apposed to just showing them where the dipstick was, I lost points for telling them my fire extinguisher and safety reflectors were behind the seat vs telling them I had a minimum size 10bc fire extinguisher with an in date inspection stamp and at minimum 3 whatever size they’re supposed to be reflectors. I lost points for just turning on the defroster to check it vs feeling for the air to come out. I lost points for not putting my seatbelt on immediately after getting in the truck. I did put it on before the truck ever moved. And probably the leading reason I failed is I listed the wrong air leak down rates for the brakes. I actually listed the correct rate for a combination vehicle but since my trailer was electric brakes they said the rate for a straight truck applied. They weren’t technically wrong but it’s only 1 psi difference and the air gauge in my truck has like 10 psi graduate marks that aren’t precise enough to read 1 psi. The instructor also got mad that I was driving too fast in the parking lot. I never shifted out of 1st gear for the entire parking lot section of the test. I also lost points for changing gears while going across intersections. They weren’t technically wrong on that either but driving the entire length of the intersection in 1st gear isn’t feasible. Once I made it to the driving section on the 3rd trip I passed it the first try.