Airstream Roll-Over in Idaho Today

[nickclifford]

how did they manage in the 1970's ? V8 sedans with sloppy suspension ? You've seen their ads etc, how did they cope ?!

[Countryboy59]

It was a 19' AS and the tow vehicle is rated 6500lb. If that's not enough to safely pull a Bambi I'd be surprised. If that's the case we all better buy F250s. Personally I don't need to insure, maintain, pay for, park and look at 7000lbs of pickup truck to insure I can drive in a 60 mph cross wind.

Something went really wrong to roll that thing. Hope they get another one and try again. I'm definitely gonna keep my eye out for any early signs of loss of control and always remember to tighten that sway control before I pull onto the highway.

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

how did they manage in the 1970's ? V8 sedans with sloppy suspension ? You've seen their ads etc, how did they cope ?!

In my opinion 60s and 70s were not sloppy suspensions. Had cars from middle 40s up none had sloppy suspensions including some muscle cars. The stock cars that we raced were stock with roll bars insides stripped. Raced small bull rings both dirt and asphalt same cars just dif. tires so I stand on experience of these yrs.

[kfrere]

We have a PP hitch pulling a 31' AS with a Ford Excursion. Should be perfect setup. On interstate we went into a terrible sway. Caravan member behind us said he almost had to change his pants after watching us. Using brake controller my husband got it under control only to experience it a second time a few miles later. To this day I don't know why we didn't flip.

But I do know why we swayed. We pulled off with several other AS friends and as a group they completely took the PP apart and reassembled it. We had assembled it incorrectly. Works beautifully ever since. Lesson? Even the best setup sucks if you don't assemble properly.

[Kilroy]

[QUOTE=Boxite;1848351]Using the trailer brakes might have helped, and we all have those. However, I'm not sure that once sway has surprised a driver that finding that brake-ctrl and applying it will be either easy or the first thing considered.... the first reaction will likely be directional-ctrl using the steering-wheel while simultaneously letting up on the gas.... neither particularly helpful.
I've several times, while underway, imagined the need to quickly apply trailer brakes and even tho' it's conveniently located..... it's not found/applied that quickly, IMO.





What do you feel caused your rollover, featherbedder?[/QUOTE
Professional driver with 5 million accident free miles told me way to stop fishtail is accelerate

[tjdonahoe]

With 50 plus years driving big trucks, and 30 years with trucks pulling pup trailers, the truck will always weigh more than the trailer ,and it will handle very good..truck at 55,5000 lbs with the trailer at 42,500 lbs....my 3/4 ton dodge weighs 8800 lbs with our 31' classic at 7400 lbs...handles like a dream...wind doesn't seem to be a bother...

[TinTikiHut]

So sorry to hear about this! I guess fear of his this happening to us is the main reason we went from a Toyota Tundra to a Ford F250 Diesel, overkill I suppose and no guarentee's that it won't still happen, but I do sleep better.

[cazual6]

From personal experience, from my out of control sway thread, I eased off the gas to control the sway, everyone behind me on the freeway gave me room to slow down and pull off to the next exit. I had plenty of thumbs up, but my sway was from poor setup, lack of understanding loads and tongue weight. Believe me when I say, nothing like an experience like that will teach you a hard lesson. But, being on this thread with the support of positive, non-speculating members, gave me plenty of insight . I don't want to add to the speculation fuel, so I'll end my comment there. I concur with the tooooooooooo many factors statement.

[21Airstream]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

The driver lost control of the TV & AS.



It COULD happen to any of us.



Stream Safe.



Bob

+1 Absolutely right.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[J. Morgan]

I don't have to speculate much to gather that trailer sway was THE major contributor to this accident.

If I remember correctly at least two witnesses including the driver stated this, as did the State Police.

If there was only a sure way to eliminate sway......


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

[PaulnGina]

Or a way to eliminate the effects of sway caused by improper loading, poor hitch setup, etc, etc, etc...
😏

[rostam]

First, I'm glad no one was hurt. Trailers and cars can be replaced, but not human lives.
Second, kudos to Toyota for making such a safe vehicle. Its amazing that no one was seriously hurt in such an awful accident. A lesser vehicle and the outcome may have been different.
I don't believe there are any silver bullets when it comes to sway. Every tool (hitch) has an operating range, go outside that range and it will not function as advertised.

[cazual6]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

The driver lost control of the TV & AS.

It COULD happen to any of us.

Stream Safe.

Bob

I concur.

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

If there was only a sure way to eliminate sway......

There is. Don't tow.

[Silver Hawk]

Been towing trailers all my life - I've had 'fishtailing' happen twice. Both times was due to improper weight distribution in trailer, ie., not enough tongue weight.
Could or could not be the a problem here, but: If it was loaded unevenly inside (stuff in back), weight added to rear bumper (long fulcrum), fresh water tank almost empty up forward thus gray/black tanks full to the rear at end of trip, etc. would cause lighter tongue weight.

Fishtailing is very scary when it happens - better to heavy than too light!

So glad they lived through it! Could have been bad!

[cameront120]

Who here is a forensic crash specialist? Anybody?

[J. Morgan]

FWIW, a typical sleeper truck tractor towing a semi trailer weighs about 20,000 pounds with a typical GCVW of about 80,000 pounds.

While a loaded semi trailer bears a good part of the trailer weight on the back wheels, a TT is not typically heavier than its trailer.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

[AIRHEDS]

I need to rant ... Not due to anything anyone necessarily said in this particular thread, but just due to general observations/patterns.

This is definitely an awesome place for information once you get past the sarcasm and fiercely defended opinions of "mine is bigger than yours" even when "smaller" is regarded as "bigger" ... Or vice versa.

I do wish we can all respect that we're all well-enough informed to make the decisions we make about our set-ups without the need to bash on those who don't share our same opinions. It pains me to see that members get upset because of the uncessary conflict. We're all here because we share a common interest and we should further the goal of what we have in common without inciting the tone of "mine is better than yours," or "your sucks because it's not like mine." I'm frankly more concerned about those who tow (anything) without the interest to research general safety. Case in point: 20 years ago, we had a new 1994(?) Toyota 4-Runner and without doing any research, bought a new 1995(?) Coleman Avalon pop-up camper. It was a big and heavy pop-up and we liked it a lot except when the wind blew and the fabric sounded like a freight train. In Albuquerque at the time, we hitched-up to the bumper without anti-sway or weight distribution (or knowledge of such "unnecessary" products). The back-end sagged somewhat and I hit the highways, regularly interstates and two-lane divided state highways/routes at 75-80mph. I was an immature ass and put my wife and others at risk due to my gross negligence. Routinely, the trailer "violently wiggled" from side-to-side ... (my term because I didn't know any better and because that's what I assumed all trailers did). I knew to hit the brake controller to straighten her out whenever that happened. I never once, in the ~5 years I had her, lubed the axels, or checked the brakes, or checked the tires, or even the tire pressure--not on the camper and not even on the TV. I just hitched and ran after ensuring the cooler had plenty of ice on the beer. I may be exaggerating just a little for effect, but the point is, I wasn't as remotely concerned about safety as I am today.

And we all see many others on the road every single day, that clearly know nothing about weight distribution, loading, TV capacity, or the safety practices so thoroughly covered throughout the many wonderful threads on this forum and other forums. Those are the people that scare me. Those are the people I am most concerned for. As well, I am concerned about our families that share the roads. I'm stepping off of my soapbox... But just hoping to contribute to the discussion and awareness of safety ... And remind everyone to try to be civil ... We all share the same passion...

[Alluminati]

The Lexus GX470 is an excellent vehicle, and very capable of towing a 19’ AS. We were seriously considering getting a GX, and researched it extensively. It is one of the most pleasant driving vehicles in its class. Our main concern was that we would find a trailer exceeding its 6500 lb tow capacity, which ultimately came true.

It’s true that the Lexus LX470/570 is identical to the Toyota Land Cruiser excepting a couple bits of chrome. But contrary to popular belief, the GX470/460 is NOT the same vehicle as the Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner is a Tacoma with rear seats. The GX is a mini Land Cruiser (“Land Cruiser Prado”). They are mostly the same size, but are not the same vehicle. The ride is different, handling is different, the interior is different, seating is different especially the layout of the 3rd row (if you can find a 4Runner with a 3rd row). The GX has always had a V8, while the Toyota only offered it as an option for about 5 years. But if you can find a properly equipped 4Runner, it has a towing capacity of 7300 lbs, which is 800 lbs more than the GX ever offered. But it was so hard to find a 4Runner with V8, 3rd row, and towing package, that we gave up and moved to a Sequoia.

And to quote the immortal words of Desi Arnaz, “TRAILER BRAKES FIRST!!! TRAILER BRAKES FIRST!!!”

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

FWIW, a typical sleeper truck tractor towing a semi trailer weighs about 20,000 pounds with a typical GCVW of about 80,000 pounds.

While a loaded semi trailer bears a good part of the trailer weight on the back wheels, a TT is not typically heavier than its trailer.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

Mr Morgan you should comparing a truck and pup trailer, not the semi (5 th wheel) as they are different, as the truck and pup trailer uses a tongue and pintal hitch...my 4 axle truck empty is 27500 and the 3 axle trailer is 12500, loaded 55500 and 43500 max legal load, drives like a dream...empty truck and loaded trailer ,not good as the trailer is in control, above 45 mph , scarey...