Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

Too many Kubotas · Mar 8, 2025

WinterDeere said:
Oh! Since all of our trailers in PA have brakes on all axles, I have never actually seen one set up with brakes on only one axle. Surprising to me it's on the rear, thinking that most vehicles transfer their weight onto the front axle when stopping, but I guess this is a unique peculiarity of dual leaf spring setups?

But then it seems it'd be even worse for the break-away scenario, since most trailers are tongue-heavy and lighter in the rear, when properly loaded. If only the rear axle has the brakes, seems it could just be locking up the rear tires without much hope of actually stopping a run-away trailer if it comes un-hooked on the highway.

I think we agree on that for every action there's an opposite and equal reaction.

So when applying the (only) brakes on the rear axle of a leaf sprung trailer it makes the axle itself want to rotate "forward". Since the balance beam allows more axle rotation than a fixed single axle spring does it effectively lowers the rear axle and raises the front one. More weight on the braked axle is a good thing.

The same thing happens with the brakes on the front axle, except now the front axle lifts itself up and puts more weight on the brakeless rear axle. Not good.

Of course, if having goofed up enough to put the break-away to use, then the front of the trailer would become much lower and a braked front axle could be beneficial.

Aside from insisting on all axles having brakes, I would prioritize normal driving/braking performance over what happens if something comes apart in the tow vehicle to trailer connection.

dstig1 · Mar 8, 2025

Saw one last week that reminded me of that photo of the Kubota tractor on a trailer upside down, still stuck to the trailer perfectly. We had a vicious snow storm last Tues into Wed, soi I stayed off the roads Wed. Thurs I see a 3/4-1 ton PU with a gooseneck trailer fully packed and loaded waaaay off in the ditch on 94 by the WI border right at the MN weigh station. They are totally jackknifed but everything on the trailer was still intact. No pic. He gets the towing something RIGHT award!

kenmbz · Mar 9, 2025

California said:
Not really wrong, but where was he going in very urban New Delhi (India)??? I took this in 2004.

Street cows being moved. See them wandering everywhere in India.

Jstpssng · Mar 10, 2025

Not towing wrong, but there's a train hiding behind that bush.

You have to be on the tracks in order to see down them.

I took these last fall, it's actually two different sides of the road but the same crossing.

WinterDeere · Mar 10, 2025

Jstpssng said:
Not towing wrong, but there's a train hiding behind that bush.View attachment 2995965

You have to be on the tracks in order to see down them.View attachment 2995966

I took these last fall, it's actually two different sides of the road but the same crossing.

Looks like half the RR crossings in Bucks County. No sight lines, no drop bar, just an X with a pair of red lights straddling it.. and they don't even work half the time.

I was the passenger in a car that came within about 10 feet of being hit by a train. Blind crossing, in the rain, and the flashy sign was not working. We didn't even know the train was there until we were literally ON the tracks.

Jstpssng · Mar 10, 2025

WinterDeere said:
Looks like half the RR crossings in Bucks County. No sight lines, no drop bar, just an X with a pair of red lights straddling it.. and they don't even work half the time.

I was the passenger in a car that came within about 10 feet of being hit by a train. Blind crossing, in the rain, and the flashy sign was not working. We didn't even know the train was there until we were literally ON the tracks.

This crossing, as well as the one I was at today had no lights, just signs. I knew there was a train coming soon; I could hear the whistle off in the distance. However, they have a pile of ties stacked up in such a manner that I had to get out and stand on the tracks to look down them.

WinterDeere · Mar 11, 2025

Jstpssng said:
This crossing, as well as the one I was at today had no lights, just signs. I knew there was a train coming soon; I could hear the whistle off in the distance. However, they have a pile of ties stacked up in such a manner that I had to get out and stand on the tracks to look down them.

I used to work part of every year in Germany, back in the 1990's, when their high speed rail system was still the latest and greatest thing going. Trouble was, being a country of old villages and older roads, they just had these 350 km/hr (220 mph) trains running right thru villages and through back yards.

I remember being in the parking lot of a friend's apartment building, and the high speed rail tracks ran right along the back edge of the parking lot. By the time you even heard anything coming, half the train had passed. Like a giant 500 ton supersonic jet skidding along the ground, it was downright terrifying to be within 40 feet of the thing, as it whizzed past.

Parents used to always scold kids to stay off the tracks when I was a kid, but our trains move so slow through towns that you could probably out jog them. These Euro trains were so fast, and so silent in their arrival, that I suspect they must need to take much more care in crossing the tracks there.