Super Truckers Take Heed - f350 towing a supposedly 710JD Backhoe Fatality

[joefromga]

The brakes would work with the engine off. They use signal from the brake system. But we don't know if he even had a controller, electric brakes on the trailer, or anything.

People who choose to tow 10k over max on a heavy pickup probably don't check everything. Bad on top of bad.

 

[LD1]

Everyone keeps refering to "he was towing 10k over max"

Truth is....we just dont know.

Too many unknowns and I sure hope we here more detail about this accident.

A 710 can be anywhere from 20k to 26k. Maybe it was an older 20k version? Maybe the trailer was a lighter trailer than we think. Maybe 8k?

Towing 28k on a modern F350 isnt really "overweight".

Or maybe it was a 1992 F350 SRW towing a 26k JD 710 on a 10000# trailer?

We just dont know. Everyone is just assuming he was overweight. Then the difference between "legally" overweight for the rig? or over the MFG "recommendation" which is not a legally enforceable number.

The fact that the articals dont mention that he was overweight, and they didnt detain the driver, leads me to assume that the "rig" was legal as it was. And that it suffered a failure of some kind. At this point, the only indication of fault is not having the proper class of license. And even with a proper class license.....would it have made a difference in the event of failure? Or if the load was 10k lighter...like maybe he was towing a 310 on a 25' rig......(within the legal rating as well as MFG suggested rating), and have the proper license.... would you be able to assure that the accident would not have happened?

Hills cause everything from 2k u-hauls to 80k 18-wheelers that are all within the safe and legal design parameters to run-away.

 

[94BULLITT]

He could have also been an idiot that was driving too fast for the load and road and when he wrecked he lied and said he lost his brakes.

 

[4570Man]

One scenario I can see happening is the alternator/battery/wire/terminal failed. The shutoff solenoid killed fuel to engine and truck was left with no electrical power to run trailer brakes and no hydraulic power to run truck brakes.

Wouldn't he still have battery power?

 

[tjkubota93]

He could have also been an idiot that was driving too fast for the load and road and when he wrecked he lied and said he lost his brakes.

That happens. Seen people drug tested/fired for that.

 

[HHR]

Wouldn't he still have battery power?

I am basically speculating that a loss of battery power would cause the engine to die and therefore he would lose hydraulic brake assist. It would be unlikely to lose electrical power, but it could happen. Especially since the dual battery setups on newer diesel pickups aren't isolated from each other.

 

[4570Man]

The alternator will keep the engine running.

 

[sd455dan]

Wouldn't he still have battery power?

I repaired an older 7.3 that the alt wire had burned open inside the main Bat wires insulation- and everything worked but it did not charge.

This caused the battery to go dead over time and or run out of starter cranking power. Not sure if new(er) Ford diesel trucks are the same.

With an investigation in effect, it won't be long until all of the truck ,trailer ,and backhoe specs are nailed down. Wonder if all of that will be made public?

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I'm well aware of how large truck air brakes and engine brakes work, and none of that applies here.

Just seems like a super rare event of multiple system failure.. or we aren't hearing something...

it certainly applies here. Light duty trucks do not have fail safe brakes. Whats so hard to understand about that? ONE broken wire and you have 0 trailer brakes. A Semi would have to lose 2 airlines AND have the spring brakes fail. I'm just trying to point out the safety factors for towing with a heavier class truck vs a light duty truck pushed to its factory ratings or beyond.

 

[ultrarunner]

Good points and it makes sense...