Airstream Roll-Over in Idaho Today

[PaulnGina]

First, I am sooooooo glad that you and your daughter are OK..... "stuff" can be replaced.

Second, thank you for the honest input you've been able to provide.

Third, I really DO hope you get back into camping/traveling with another tow vehicle and trailer. Is your daughter still up for it?

Fourth, and I mean this with NO negativity or bashing......... slow down and enjoy the trip.

[ijustlee]

Hello Mandy, thank you for posting and I hope you stick with Airstreaming and the forum! Glad you and daughter came through this catastrophe so well and I hope your insurance covers your losses. Sometimes bad things just happen and I'd say your TV performed very well by protecting you two from major injury. If you were happy with your rig there is no reason not to replace it with an identical setup but maybe check the loading at a scale to make sure you have the right proportion of tongue weight. I'm sure in my mind that the accident was caused by a combination of speed and air turbulence! I'd bet that the accident report concludes the cause was driving too fast for conditions. Now you know and can avoid those conditions in the future. I set my cruise control at 60 to 62 MPH when towing even though my rig feels OK at 80 because when when it comes down to where the rubber meets the road you are skating on very small patches of rubber that has sizeable gaps in the surface area touching the road called tread! Due to the laws of physics every 5 MPH increase in speed will allow you to skate substantially farther once your tires lose grip for any reason. Also all the flex in suspension and tire sidewalls combine with increased inertia to cause increased unknowns as speed goes up. And then there is always that bastard Murphy with his stupid law! Sure, everything feels great at 80, until it's not! I'd be really interested to see some road testing of the fancy hitches when making harsh sudden maneuvers at high speed to see if they are really any better than just a plain ball! Anybody got any videos? If I was Mandy I'd hang a photo of the wreck in my new Airstream as it is a great campfire story! It could have been a terrible tragedy instead! If you never get out of bed there is a better chance of not having anything go wrong with your day but how much fun would that be? I wish I had some worthwhile advice for Mandy to deal with the PTSD! All I can think of is a couple of Martinis while a purring kitten sits on your lap?

[cactusjk]

Thanks Mandy for posting and really glad you are both okay. We also tow our AS with a 2007 GX470/ Equalizer hitch and it tows and handles great. Lots of opinions but rest assured it is an acceptable TV. I do however drive around 60 mph in the right hand lane and make sure that I am never in a hurry to get anywhere.

[Rpatrick16]

Hi Mandy.....love that name.....I wanted to thank you for putting and "end" to all the "speculation" about your most unfortunate accident. Thank God that you and your daughter came thru it for the most part physically ok....although I'm sure there will be some time before the emotional aspects have eased your mind.

I live in the mountains east of Missoula and travel I 90 just about every day. As I'm sure you are aware living in a tourist destination results in a lot of "seasonal traffic". Thankfully, some of that is showing signs of slowing down although we still have a lot of folks towing trailers of all makes and sizes.

There are a number of reasons that I am "thankful" for your imput.

Next week my wife and I, who care for two of our grandchildren, will be making our first long distance trek in our 22' Sport headed for West Virginia. One of the two will be traveling with us...the youngest...age two. Your accident weighed heavy on my mind as to what might have happened. Your report..of what did occur and how gives all of us towing trailers a lot of insight as to "what we can, can't, should or shouldn't be doing when we are towing our trailers.

My second point perhaps is even more important than the first. You and your daughter "lived through a roll over" while traveling really fast and wtih a trailer hanging off the back of your car. Praise God for that!

The 25 mile section of I 90 that I mentioned above is mostly straight with a few sweeping curves. It's a beautiful drive but a "deadly one".

The speed limit on this section is 80 mph but drops to 75 once you approach Missoula. I don't understand it but "all of the fatal accidents in the past year have been on the straight sections of the highway. Most of them are "roll overs" and most of the fatalities come from people "not wearing a seat belt and being ejected from the vehicle". Just last week there were two such accidents within a twenty-four hour period that resulted in three deaths...again "all ejections" two of which were small children. Oddly enough these accidents occurred at the same mile marker! A straight portion of highway...single vehicle involved.

It is heartbreaking to come upon such an accident and see a "child carrier" lying in the median of the highway....later to find out it was "blown thru" a window by "exploding air bags".

We've only had our trailer since March although we have spent a lot of time in it. Your honest assessment of what happened, passing the trucks, turbulent air, speed, etc. really settled my heart as we've never traveled anywhere near what you were traveling and haven't passed many trucks either. Thank you sincerely!

Like many others have stated I "do hope" you replace your trailer and get back out there.

God Love You Both!

Pat

PS. if I may add an addendum for the rest of you folks reading this...."please wear your seatbelts! I've lived in Montana for nearly four years now and there's been "too many highway deaths". The most common cause..."death by ejection during a "roll over". So...my "airstream family"...please make it a point to "buckle up". If you don't and have the misfortune to roll your vehicle you will "most certainly die or will live in a 'vegetative state' for the remainder of your lives".

[nsbcpa]

Mandy, thank you for sharing information about your accident, and we are so happy to learn the your physical injuries were minor.

Your situation reminds all of us the "stuff" can happen at no fault to anyone.

[Rocinante]

Yes indeed, anything can happen at any time. Again, so thankful you guys are safe.

The one time we've had any trailer wobble was when a double-trailer log truck was just ahead of us, one lane to the left. We had a clear lane on the right, and had decided to hang back a bit so he could get into the right lane if he wanted to (we could always pass him later if needed).

Suddenly, I felt the oddest wobble coming from our trailer. Not super dramatic but quite noticeable since she normally tows so straight and true. When I looked in the side view mirror, I could even see it - very slight, but definitely there. I grabbed the trailer brakes to steady the rig, slowed down and got off the highway to see whether something had changed with our setup. Everything was fine - tires good, hitch properly set, everything in place.

We've never felt it before or since - we get passed by trucks all the time, and she's never been anything but straight and true, but this one time some collection of factors all came together on a clear sunny day with no real crosswinds. Maybe it was the dirty air coming off the log truck in combination with that section of road and a sudden rogue gust of wind. Who knows? Regardless, it was a good cheap lesson in not being complacent about our rig, and in being ready for the unexpected.

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Hi Everyone

If it is helpful I can add a little to this story. Fish tailing happens when the trailer is traveling faster than the tow vehicle so it is going a longer distance than the tow vehicle, a "S" pattern instead of a straight line. Correct weight distribution geometry and sway controls all contribute to absorbing any extra energy in the trailer.

There is a tendency to class tow vehicles by the design of the body SUV, Pick UP Car etc. However that is not the best way to access a the capability of a tow vehicle. In fact these days you can have different styles of vehicles built on the same basic chassis platform.

There are substantial differences in the stability you can achieve with the same type of vehicle. So the worst handling pick up trucks are considerably less stable than the best handling compact SUV's and vise versa. Part of this is due to the priorities necessary for the vehicle to fit its market segment.

The GX470's priority is to be a very capable off road vehicle, which it is. However the design properties that make it a good off road vehicle, high center of gravity, soft suspension with lots of articulation, big mushy tires and a long rear overhang to accommodate a huge full size spare tire make it a rather unstable highway vehicle. Connecting a trailer using a very good hitch system can actually give an unstable tow vehicle more directional stability but more often towing with to an inherently unstable vehicle does not make it more stable.

It is difficult to see in the pictures but certainly the ball is well behind the bumper on this unit likely 10-12" so the long overhang was made that much worse. As well the factory hitch on these vehicles is extremely short which allows the ball mount to swing quite a distance side to side, in effect giving the hitch a double pivot point.

If serious off road use is not a priority and you want to tow with a Lexus the RX models are far superior tow vehicles. They have a shorter over hang, low center of gravity, independent rear suspension, a very nice tire and wheel combination. We have had many customers use this vehicle over the last 18 years with excellent results.

If you want to tow with a GX then there are things you can do to make it more stable. When we set one up we change the huge spare to a lower profile tire so a temporary spare, this gives us room to lengthen the hitch receiver and strengthen it so that it will transfer weight. If the customer is not serious about off road use then we install better handling tires we can then use a welded ball mount hitch set up on the most stable trailers but for anything else we would go to a projection hitch such as a Hensley.

Here is a picture of the first RX we set up in 1999 and the stock hitch receiver on a GX, hard to believe they once rated this hitch for 7200 pounds and still rate it for 5000. Maybe they should drop a zero.

I hope this helps.

Andrew T

I'm surprised that an RX would be powerful enough to tow an airstream, maybe a bamby ? I towed my 2,100lb PopUp camper all over the High Sierra a few year back and have made many trips with it. (Sold now as needed a V8 to tow my 5,000lbs Sovereign.) With two male adults, two young teen boys, food & camping gear in general, boy did it struggle up over the highest of passes ! It was a champ though and really miss that vehicle. At 220,000 miles it drove like new. I'd buy again in a heartbeat.

[rostam]

While its true that a top heavy vehicle is inherently less stable, this particular incident seems to have happened due to excessive speed. IMO its unsafe to tow at 80 MPH (specially with a short wheelbase top heavy SUV towing a single axle trailer). ST trailer tires are rated at 65 MPH. Also, in CA the towing speed is 55 MPH, meaning most trailers are towed at 60-65 MPH, which is much safer.

Glad no one was hurt. We make mistakes and learn from them.

[xrvr]

The speed limit is just that, the max limit. No law says you must go the max limit as long as you are at least going the min speed if there is one.

[xrvr]

We learn from our mistakes. Without discussion and analysis these mistakes may stay hidden. Read your owners manual from your tv and AS. Enlightening, isn't it! Anyone who posts here is fair game, no one is picking on anyone, just trying to put some light on the situation.

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by Mandy76

I was stuck behind a trail of semi trucks, when the time was opportune I went to pass. I was going about 75-80 while passing(speeds I had used while passing the day prior without incidence-- my speed varied between 65-80). I was accelerating slowing because I wanted to baby my car. I started to feel the sway, I let off the gas, the sway became very strong immediately and took control of my car. I am new to towing, so I think my ignorance along with the wind tunnel created by the trucks, going 75-80 mph while passing, created the perfect storm.

After reading through this thread and giving it some thought I think the accident may have been prevented by the operator if they would have stayed steady on the speed and grabbed the trailer brakes. Hindsight is always 20/20. It was a natural reaction to let off the gas.

All of us were new to towing a trailer at some point along the way. I often have to remind myself that I am towing a trailer and I need to drive differently than when solo driving (less aggressive - more defensive). Like Mandy I have exceeded speed limits when passing trucks or to clear myself of other traffic. It takes concentration to safely drive these rigs, you have to pay attention in urban areas or cross wind areas, trucks etc... Look 15 seconds ahead, anticipate what traffic is doing.

I hope it works out for Mandy to get back into Airstreaming, don't be afraid of the tow just learn and go.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by Rpatrick16

Pat

PS. if I may add an addendum for the rest of you folks reading this...."please wear your seatbelts! I've lived in Montana for nearly four years now and there's been "too many highway deaths". The most common cause..."death by ejection during a "roll over". So...my "airstream family"...please make it a point to "buckle up". If you don't and have the misfortune to roll your vehicle you will "most certainly die or will live in a 'vegetative state' for the remainder of your lives".

Wow; nearly four years in MT and you have reached this conclusion about causes for MT highway fatalities ...

What about the issues surrounding alcohol and driving in MT ???

A huge thank you to Mandy for sharing her candid thoughts of the incident.

[Rocinante]

Best wishes to Mandy, here's hoping she plucks up her courage and gives it another try. It's great to see strong independent women taking up their Airstreams and getting out on the road to enjoy this great country.

BTW, gotta say - when we started towing our Airstream, neither dealer (Airstream nor Ram truck) really told us anything about safe towing speeds, following distance, sway (other than to say that Airstreams don't sway), etc. We had to find that info on our own. Thanks to my brother, who already had some experience and warned me about speed maximums with ST tires. I'm not saying it was the dealers' responsibility to teach us these things, but it would have been nice if either or both of them had at least pointed us in the right directions for learning the things we clearly needed to know.

Like many newbies, we didn't find Air Forums until some months after we had started towing Rocinante to various interesting places for camping adventures. Before that we just did our best, trying to be careful and stay out of trouble. Once we found Air Forums and turned the noise filters up high enough, it became a helpful and useful resource for safety ideas and such, and we appreciate what we've found here.

The 8-hour RV driving class we took a couple of months ago from a commercial truck driving school (in our case, this one: http://cdstruckschool.com/) has made an enormous difference in our knowledge, understanding and capability when it comes to towing and parking our trailer. We heartily recommend that investment to anyone new to towing - even if you've been towing for a year or two, you would likely still learn a ton (we sure did). Not saying whether such a course would have prevented this accident, but more education and experience never hurts.

[Hittenstiehl]

Can we leave Mandy alone yet. Maybr the op can call it done.

Mandy came in here and very graciously told her story, took our criticism which we like to refer to as our humble (not) opinions.

Enough!?

[J. Morgan]

It is simple enough, the accident was caused by a sway event. Unfortunately it was Mandy's first experience with a sway event so she was neither looking for it to happen nor was she prepared to deal with it.

Her vehicle had previously not exhibited this condition so she was confident in the rigs stability to the point that she became comfortable too soon.

Not all of us have been towing trailers from a very young age, and not everyone knows to be cautious until they learn the limitations and characteristics of their vehicle.

For sure it has been a hard lesson, it does no one any good to rub salt into the wound.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

[Shiny16]

I think it was obvious from the beginning that it was a sway event. What's more important is what caused the event. Windy conditions, speeds in access of 20 percent over the tire ratings? These are the things I would like shared so it can stop someone else from making the same mistakes.
That's not trying to rub salt in anything.

[OTRA15]

Probably a good time to close this thread in my opinion.

[featherbedder]

My prior car was 2003 Nissan Exterra they are short wheel base high center of gravity, real bear cat in minor cross winds even at slower speeds. They are rated for towing, has 2 inch receiver, I towed 17 ft. bass tracker no prob. but to tow even small AS or SOB I wouldn't even consider of it. As pointed out in prev posts high hcg and short wheel base is disaster. I have a little experience towing [well over 65 yrs.] so use common sense even if tow cap. is higher. I just returned from Joliet Nascar, camper next to me had suv way to small for sob that he had. When I talked to him about this in polite way, he said has plenty power, also he is a relative new towing trailers [first year] also old enough to no that could be disaster with this setup. May be Mandy's posts will help some one that is not aware of things that can happen. I also tow at speeds some others consider to high but when conditions call for slower speeds I imed. slow to safe speed even 35 or 40. Others pass me swaying, no common sense or knowing what could happen. Bill

[Rocinante]

Per group suggestions above, Site Team has elected to close this thread.

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