You know after reading several hundred posts in this forum. I've come to the conclusion that there are many more people who either don't know the dangers and responsibilities of towing trailers or who just don't care. I am not a proponent of the government getting involved and mandating a "trailer license", but sometimes I wonder if it is necessary.

Think about how many times have you read in this forum that people are wanting to pull way too much trailer with way too little truck? If it happens in this forum, think about the vast majority of society that doesn't even post here. Even scarier is the thought of those who are looking at pulling a large trailer who have admittedly never pulled any type of trailer before, ever.

When I go down the road and I see a 25 year old F150 pulling a 30ft flatbed loaded with scrap iron and metal, from the bumper, knowing full well the truck is tired and way over the safety limits, it makes me look for the furthest lane away from them. I know someone here will take this example and say "only a Ford could do that". Well, it's not about the Ford, it's about the person behind the wheel possibly endangering others on the road around them.

Like I said, I'm not promoting any type of licensing. I do have a thought though. With the advent of SUV's and trucks become more and more prominent on the roads, would it be that hard to devote one small chapter to trailer pulling and safety during the initial driver education courses? I mean only classroom, I'm not suggesting that every 16 year old must back a trailer for 100 ft or anything like that. Just a little background info to let people understand that vehicles have limits and what is safe under non-towing conditions does not necessarily apply when towing a trailer of any size.

I hope this does not offend anyone, it is just perspective. All discussion is welcome.

 

The other thing that scares me is that the majority of trailers I see going down the road are not hooked up properly, i.e. chains not crossed, trailer not level, rear end sag on tow vehicle,... It makes me wonder what people are thinking.

 

I do work for a marina close to where I live. We sit on his deck and take refreshments and are well entertained by people trying to back there boat trailers down a public ramp across the bay. If you want to get the crap scared out of you come to farm country and see what they pull behind there Pickups. No brakes no chains so overloaded that the axles bend. But they are farmers so they can getaway with it. We don't need more rules just enforce the ones that are already there. I am a Electrical and Refrigeration Contractor and you can bet I get checked every time they get a chance.

 

I don't think a chapter on trailer safety is a bad idea at all not that it'll ever happen, I'd also like to see new licensee's go thru a simulated wreck with an 18 wheeler or better yet let them drive the simulator and try to stop a 80,000lb vehicle on a dime!

John

 

Sounds like I'm not alone in being scared by some of the combos on the road.

Some of the funniest times were watching people try to back the boat trailers down the ramp at Canyon lake in the hill country. I swear that some people got the boat and the brain on the same day. Here are two of my funniest remembrances:

1. A guy in an older pickup was trying to back his jetski trailer down the ramp that was at least 2.5 vehicles wide, probably closer to 3 actually. He could not get it straight. After 10 minutes of trying, a buddy and I picked up the trailer, straightened it out and told him, "just let off the brake and DON't turn the wheel). Well, the first thing he did was turn the wheel and hit the gas. I didn't know you could jacknife a jetski trailer in less than 8 feet. We just laughed. He came over and asked one of us to back the trailer finally and we both refused. Neither one of us wanted to contribute the the hazard that was about to be on the road. He did find someone else though.

The second was when a couple had their new 20+ft ski boat at the same ramp. It comes time to take it out and they get the boat on the trailer, no tie downs except the bow winch. Well, they start to pull the boat out and guess what, the 175hp outboard was still in the lowered position. After dragging it for about 10 feet, the wife realizes what had happened. They put the trim tabs up from the boat, not bothering to lift the actual motor. Here comes the bad part. Rather than asking for help, they decide to back the boat in to the water! Talk about a sick sound. I don't know how the boat didn't rip itself apart. the motor was bucking and the trailer lurching all without the boat being properly secured. They finally asked us what they should do--Not very nice, but we told them to sell the boat to a responsible owner.

 

lol tkd, my cousin in Lake Havasue (sp) has some good stories to.
One of the best is the guy who tried to power his boat onto the trailer with a little to much power. boat went into the air, front landed on the back of the truck towing the trailer. The center of the boat landed on the winch pole thing and had a nice hole punched in it. people are so funny at times.
I go wake boarding 2 to 3 times a month and everytime we are at the boat launch ramp, someone will forget to pull the out drive up. grind grind, scrape scrape.

 

My all time favorite towing disaster: Guy with a brand new Porsche 944 and ski boat, backs it in OK and unloads boat. Parks trailer, goes off skiing for a while, comes back to load up. First mistake, didn't have any clue how far to back in, got the rear tires into the slippery green stuff. Got the boat loaded OK, went to pull up and couldn't move. Unloaded boat, got some help and pulled ahead about 10'. Now can't get the front of the boat on the trailer. Backs up about 5', now trailer is OK for boat. While winching boat on, discovers that he forgot to block wheels/set parking brake, whole mess rolls in the water to the front of the door. Unhook boat from winch and let it float away, rescue car from water. Helpful bystander wades and and retrieves boat, got trailer backed in (as water runs out the hatchback). Gets back in boat, drives on to trailer, tells buddy to pull it out. Oops, forgot to attach winch rope, hit bump in ramp and boat slides off trailer onto concrete, putting nice hole in hull. Funny thing, never saw this particular outfit back on the water. Awful expensive learning experience tho.

 

I know what you all mean, I can't even begin to count the number of trailers I've seen hooked up un level, or the number of people who insist their not over the tow limit when their bumper is about 2" off the ground and the ruck looks like a plane taking off. if people would just use common sense we'd all be safer. the best I've seen is an 99ish F-150 extanded cab with a 26ft TT bed half full of gear, and 4 passangers the rear of the truck looked like it was touch the road, when I asked the guy if he thought he had too much weight for the truck he said, nope done this trip many times with no problems, he then told me that the down side was that we was getting like 4-5 MPG and that he had a hard time seeing the road in fornt of him, pure stupidity

 

Another that I remember is a guy pulling a 39' travel trailer with no sway control. This guy was all over the road and the rear of his trailer was swinging into both lanes on either side of him (3 lanes). It just goes to show that while you can pull a long, heavy trailer with only a weight carrying hitch, it's not the best plan.

 

to go with what I said before, I have towed once with being over wieght, however my truck was still level, and it was very marginally over weight, for a one way trip (no one would know I was over weight by looking at the truck). also I'll admit to once towing a trailer where I had a leaf spring pack break on me. that one I had no choice I had to tow it back, but I was with a group so there was someone behind me and a stayed in the slow speed lane going about 50 mph. I think it experiance, should be a factor in it if the truck trailer combo is stable I ussally say go for it if you know what your doing, but many people don't anymore. and that's the biggest problem. they think just cause the book says it's ok then it is, and they don't concern themshelfs with how the actual truck looks, acts and behaves and those are the people that get the rest of us killed

 

Some of these people are the same ones who brag about how many people they pass when towing. Anytime I see someone flying down the road at 80 MPH with a trailer I just shake my head and get out of the way.

 

Watching people at the boat ramp is always fun! I don't remember any doozies like the ones you guys saw though. Pretty funny stuff!!

I agree about there being a need for some kind of instruction available for setting up and pulling trailers.