Knobs and Towing

FNQracing · 12-07-2005, 12:36 PM

There I was, minding my own business driving northbound on Pennant Hills Road late last night. Rounded a bend and see something a little wierd. I had to look twice. A very large enclosed trailer was travelling at about 70km/h in the opposite direction. Nothing unusual about that, only except for the fact that this particular trailer appeared to be self propelled - ie, there was no car attached!

It mounted the median, crossing 3 lanes on oncomming traffic and eventually came to a very exciting and abrupt end as a brick wall put a halt to its momentum. It had missed me by a few meters. Lucky. It could have been very nasty had that tralier colllected me, or worse, and innocent pedestrian who wold have almost certainly been killed instantly. The trailer was fully loaded with general household items and was completely obliterated. The huge brick wall did not fare too well either.

I can only hope that the pilot of this particular 4WD thanks his lucky stars and learns how to hitch a trailer safely, and, to discover the many valuable uses of a safety chain and D shackle. I also hope he has a good excuse for the kind people at Kennards Hire! ("I hit a dog") He was one lucky fool.

LTDHO · 12-07-2005, 12:43 PM

It doesn't take a 'rocket scientist' to connect a trailer.

Unfortunally some people a dips**ts and have no common sence.

Firstly always connect chain. It should attach to the main braket or to your vehicle, not to the tongue!
Secondly, always make sure it is on the ball properly and the latch (or auto latch) is in the right position.

This person was very lucky that no one was hurt or killed as the driver will be charged for it!

EA2BA · 12-07-2005, 12:52 PM

Nothing to say, some bright spark thought they could just un-hitch a full trailer and then just manouvre it up the driveway to unload it, when hey presto it took off down the road.

either way you have to wonder.

Shonky · 12-07-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Firstly always connect chain.

Even better use two chains and cross them over, so that if your trailer decides to unhitch itself, it will create a cradle that will catch the hitch before it hits the road at whatever speed.

Paris Hilton · 12-07-2005, 01:33 PM

New Zealand last year, we were going on a scene drive through (Alberts Pass or something? Pretty much directly west from Christchurch) and we got held up by this guy pulling a boat, going about 30km/h. It wasn't a little dinghy either, it was a fully fledged yacht. It was being pulled by a 1.8 litre Pulsar.

Heeno · 12-07-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Selekta

it was a fully fledged yacht. It was being pulled by a 1.8 litre Pulsar.

ROTFLMAO

:

: what a tool

cogdoc · 12-07-2005, 06:48 PM

Makes you wonder what damage a fool like this could do with his Canyonaro 4x4.

MO · 12-07-2005, 09:11 PM

was'nt near the brickyard was it?

ZH_302 · 12-07-2005, 09:12 PM

haha

Reminds me of a time around 6 months ago, saw a guy in a Commodore ute approaching a roundabout, his trailer must have come unhitched and it careered over the island in the middle and was heading towards a group of cars stopped at the other side.

He must have realised what was about to happen and he steered the ute into the path of the errant trailer to stop it.

Poor bloke - caused a fair bit of damage to his car, but it was bloody funny let me tell ya

LUXO_8 · 12-07-2005, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young 'un

Even better use two chains and cross them over, so that if your trailer decides to unhitch itself, it will create a cradle that will catch the hitch before it hits the road at whatever speed.

yep, exactly what i was going to say..
im sick to death of the amount of d!ckheads that i see towing, leaving the chains off to drag along the road!!!! :lookedat:

i wish people would actually learn how to tow, all the safety aspects of towing etc, and not just hook up (or think they've hooked up) a trailer and go..
there is a lot more to it than that

OzJavelin · 13-07-2005, 08:10 AM

When I first got my license I was driving my Dad's old Dodge ute out on a country road and came behind someone towing a wooden boat on a trailer. At a 100km/h, suddenly the boat lifted up into the air and flipped over. I hit the brakes, but the Dodge was drums allround and I thought I was dead. When the boat hit the ground, it smashed into a hundred pieces in front of me, and the old Dodge just smashed through the wreckage that was left. I think the guy had it "tied" on the trailer by one rope at the front ..

My wife lost an empty horse float at about 10km/h ONCE. Came off the ball and dragged along the ground on the chains (nice idea about crossing the chains .. I've never seen that?). She has NEVER make that mistake again.

aquahead2001 · 13-07-2005, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

yep, exactly what i was going to say..

i wish people would actually learn how to tow, all the safety aspects of towing etc, and not just hook up (or think they've hooked up) a trailer and go..
there is a lot more to it than that

I totally agree with this statement.

After many years of towing everything from boats, horse floats, car trailers, caravans, farm implements and the common 6 X 4 trailer, I believe it was only when I did my heavy articulated licence that I fully understood the mechanics trailer towing.

Towing any trailer should require special training, it’s not as simple as making sure you have fitted the coupling & chains properly, there is so much more to consider.

Whilst I’m on my soap box, I just want to say a few words about the brain surgeon who decided that the 5 & 7 pins round plugs should be wired differently…..

:

Sorry, I think I’ll go and have BEX and a nice little rest…

:

13-07-2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young 'un

Even better use two chains and cross them over, so that if your trailer decides to unhitch itself, it will create a cradle that will catch the hitch before it hits the road at whatever speed.

the chain should never be left long enough for the hitch to hit the road....

megsy · 13-07-2005, 07:20 PM

IMHO the chain should only be long enough so when you turn it doesnt pull tight, any longer and it's a hazzard.

and while were on stories...

ive heard of one of the bosses at our local john deere dealership towing a new header front (without chains) and it coming undone, at 100KMH i might add. luckly it only veered accross the wrong side of the road and ended up safly through someones fence, when it could of jack-knifed and the new $50,000 front would have been distroyed. not to mentioj the huge mess on the road
BTW the front generally weighs about 2 ton

tickford2001 · 14-07-2005, 01:01 PM

yep many people just dont think twice about towing trailers.

not only do you need to hook them up correctly, and tow them correctly, but they also need to be LOADED correctly as well. A poorly loaded trailer can be lethal. Some people dont put any thought at all into the balance of the trailer when theyre loading.

A trailer should almost never be heavier tail heavy...for many reasons!

Shonky · 14-07-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devil cv8

the chain should never be left long enough for the hitch to hit the road....

Indeed.

- - -

People should be required to demonstrate that they know how to hitch a trailer before they are allowed to tow anything. If they can't, they should be put through a training session to teach them.