WDH probably help much to prevent this but the sway control definitely will, still use the WDH since I have it and couldn't hurt anything.

http://gasmonkey.speedsociety.com/fo...ent&source=gmg

 

And the dashcammer keeps on driving LOL

 

He could have stopped and alteast seen if everyone was ok

 

I had a car flip in front of me on the interstate last week about the same distance as this truck/trailer was. I was towing my 14,000 lb 5th wheel. Stuff was flying all over the place. I was lucky that I wasn't part of the accident. I did slow down but didn't stop. In my rear view mirror I saw that several cars and trucks pulled over that were well behind the accident.

 

I hauled my Styker toy hauler bumper pull on a windy day a couple weeks ago. I have a Husky WDH (similar as the Equilizer) where the bars are the sway control. I loosened them up a notch with the new truck. After I got to my destination I tightened them right back down. I wont haul without it now!

 

Great post!
As provacative as the vid is, what would you do to prevent this or stop it once it started?

Slow down
Apply the trailer breaks

 

That video has been around for a while. The right thing to do is apply moderate throttle and the trailer brakes at the same time. Pull on both ends of the string and it will straighten out...

 

I wonder why there are that many (enough on youtube) that do not think to hit the brake controller..... always thought that's why the slider was there.
Shame.
Thinking the hitch was a bit light with the carrier behind the trailer. Contributed to the issue, when he hit the air wave at the front of the semi he passed.

 

Agreed. A properly loaded trailer won't sway. Tongue weight is important. Measure it!

 

Thanks Rodney,

Great metaphor for stopping the sway.

When I said slow down, I meant - don't blow the doors off of the semi when towing. Be aware of the dynamic factors surrounding you.

Makes me think that an unannounced drill would be a good thing to do from time to time.

 

 

 

Anyone who figures that this will never happen to them if they have a WDH and an anti-sway setup is operating with a very false sense of security.

 

It's tough to judge speed in a video, but I'm guessing he was doing well over 80 MPH when that happened. It always surprises me how fast people are willing to tow.

WDH, sway control, and proper tongue weight would have helped quite a bit. Really impressive that the truck stayed upright through all of that. I wonder what part failed when the trailer separated?

 

I watched a Ford Explorer towing a big travel trailer do this right in front of me several years ago. The Ford ended up on its side. The driver (Dad) was pinned at the neck with his head on the ground by the a-pillar. By the time we had enough people to lift the car of his neck, he was dead.

At the time I was driving a Toyota Tundra and only hauled our boat. It always felt like the boat was controlling the truck. After witnessing this accident, I went directly to the GM dealer and picked up a 2500HD