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09-24-2011, 05:43 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Check EVERYTHING On Your Hitch
While on their way to our September rally, our members had an accident the driver reported started as an uncontrollable sway and ended in this. The trailer was a 90's 31' towed by a new Nissan 1/2 ton truck using a Hensley hitch.
The only fortunate this is, no one was seriously hurt.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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09-24-2011, 05:57 AM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
2015 27' FB International
2011 25' FB International
Lafayette
, Louisiana
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 218
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Not Good..... good to hear everyone is fine.....
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09-24-2011, 06:00 AM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
1984 27' Sovereign
Central
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 108
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Hitch
Do you know the cause yet?
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09-24-2011, 06:35 AM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
Commercial Member
2011 19' Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 57
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Wow. So glad everyone's OK. I'd be flippin' out!
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09-24-2011, 06:59 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,017
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Holy Moly! That looks ugly! I'm glad everybody was ok, but would sure like to know what caused it.
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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09-24-2011, 07:12 AM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
1985 34' Limited
1960 24' Tradewind
Summerville
, South Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 382
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Glad everyone is allright but these type of accidents always fascinate me. That Airstream is banged up but in ONE piece. The solar panel, the AC unit, the propane tanks--all still attached. I have seen similar accidents with box/SOB trailers and they basically shatter and spread themselves about the highway in thousands of chunks of pressboard and wood. Much to be said about the construction techniques of Airstreams that after this incident, although banged up, it looks as though the trailer could be righted and towed away from the scene.
__________________
Bill Cantrell
AIR 24338
TAC SC-1
__________________________________________________
Easily distracted by shiny objects.
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09-24-2011, 08:05 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
1953 32' Liner
1955 22' Safari
Valley View
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,971
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size does matter
Back to the eternal argument. I don't care what kind of hitch you use....if you try to tow a long heavy trailer with a short, light tow vehicle....regardless of the suspension and horsepower, that heavy trailer will want to take the lead somewhere along the line.....and it will!
I am so glad that no one was hurt by this accident.
__________________
"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted
then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production."
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09-24-2011, 08:29 AM
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#8
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Lost in America
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
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Kind of a presumptive opinion before the facts, Melody. But does look like the hitch and/or the Hensley became separated from the TV. Will be interested to know what failed to cause the sway and loss of control.
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison
2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel
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09-24-2011, 08:31 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2006 30' Classic
Milton
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 256
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Actual Cause of Accident?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
While on their way to our September rally, our members had an accident the driver reported started as an uncontrollable sway and ended in this. The trailer was a 90's 31' towed by a new Nissan 1/2 ton truck using a Hensley hitch.
The only fortunate this is, no one was seriously hurt.
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The title of the original post seems to imply that a hitch failure caused the accident. Is this true? Has an accident investigation pinpointed the actual cause of the accident?
__________________
F. A. Meloy
2006 30' Classic
Dexter hydraulic disc brake system
Centramatics wheel balancing & Dill TPMS
Hensley hitch & Maxim skylights
Voyager Camera System WVOS713
2010 FORD F-250, ITBC, 6.8 liter V-10 gas, with VIAIR on-board air system
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09-24-2011, 08:57 AM
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#10
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,493
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@Melody Ranch: Nissan half-ton would be a Titan, which starts above 4800 with a 140-inch wheelbase for the smallest 2wd and both figures go up from there depending on configuration. I've no idea if the truck had anything to do with it, but it doesn't seem like a small TV.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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09-24-2011, 09:19 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
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Yes, a premature assumption Melody. 1st the facts, then the conclusions.
It would be nice to view the accident report.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
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09-24-2011, 09:38 AM
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#12
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX
@Melody Ranch: Nissan half-ton would be a Titan, which starts above 4800 with a 140-inch wheelbase for the smallest 2wd and both figures go up from there depending on configuration. I've no idea if the truck had anything to do with it, but it doesn't seem like a small TV.
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This vehicle is hardly outside the choices of a good TV. A "tripping hazard" accident would have upset even a "big" TV given proper factors. Solo vehicle stability graph curve flattens out after 4k-lbs and 120" wheelbase.
The tail wags the dog, and TV size isn't a determinant by itself given thorough analysis (in which that TV might or might not be found a good choice). I've seen a 6k-lb portable generator overturn a 1T dually pickemup. At 45-mph.
I'm quite sorry for the owners. Glad for them, though, it wasn't cold, raining, lonely and far from services . . best of all was the presence of concerned acquaintances & friends.
.
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09-24-2011, 09:44 AM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
2000 27' Safari
Berkeley
, California
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 135
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mojo
Kind of a presumptive opinion before the facts, Melody. But does look like the hitch and/or the Hensley became separated from the TV. Will be interested to know what failed to cause the sway and loss of control.
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I reviewed the image for a while and noted the following:
-WD bars still connected to A frame
-Hensley head disconnected from trailer ball socket
-Gentleman in safety vest seems to be wrestling with what seems to be the truck's hitch receiver
-There is no hitch receiver seen on the bottom of the truck
-trailer/truck are 180 degrees rotated
It would be interesting to see what component(s) failed.
It the hitch receiver failed, losing the rigid connection to the TV would create a nightmare.
Good thing no one was seriously hurt.
__________________
'00 Safari 27' Rear Twin
'03 Ford F-250 7.3TD/CC/LB 4x2 Bio-Diesel
"Hmmm... Smells like French Fries!"
Prodigy/Enkay/Hensley/Solar/LED lighting
AIR 4598 / WBCCI FCU 8579/
EAA 872814
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09-24-2011, 09:54 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Accident reports are and can be a very valuable tool.
Some believe in them, some don't.
Usually, how a setup was rigged, with all the component specs, is adequate.
Then, usually, Physics jumps out.
Most, but not all, loss of control accidents, when towing an Airstream, is related to improper rigging.
Andy
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09-24-2011, 10:37 AM
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#15
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,253
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REDNAX
The tail wags the dog, and TV size isn't a determinant by itself given thorough analysis (in which that TV might or might not be found a good choice).
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But Hensley's claim to fame is that sway is impossible with their hitch, no matter what the tow vehicle is. I'd really like to know how this happened with what is supposed to be the safest hitch on the market connecting the two.
__________________
Stephanie
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09-24-2011, 11:17 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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At this time, we only know this:
1. The driver pulled to the Right side of the road to let traffic pass, and then the sway started.
2. The driver stated the trailer came loose from the TV.
3. The trailer turned over on the curb side only. ( 1/4 roll)
4. The TV went over the guard rail, and turned over to the driver, road side. (3/4 roll)
5. The receiver was ripped out from under the truck, and the center section was still attached to the drawbar.
6. The Hensley center section of the hitch was loose from the trailer ball hitch.
7. The Hensley bars that keep the head straight were also ripped loose from the trailer tongue.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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09-24-2011, 11:20 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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More:
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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09-24-2011, 11:45 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Load equalizing hitch platforms and/or receivers are bolted to the tow vehicle.
Welding went out many years ago.
I would suggest that the loss of control was possibly due to the platform coming loose from the tow vehicles frame.
Andy
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09-24-2011, 12:05 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2009 23' FB Flying Cloud
The Woodlands
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 131
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Well that scares the beans out of me! We tow our 23' with a 2010 Titan HP and WB never felt like its been an issue and all of the towing parameters are well within spec. We also tow with a Propride 3P.
Seeing these pics jarred my memory to a post I'd seen a while back on the Titan
http://www.clubtitan.org/forums/show...ght=2010+hitch
Wonder if something like that happened in this case? spooks me since we're getting ready to head over to ABQ next week.....
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09-24-2011, 12:06 PM
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#20
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65th Anniversary CLIPPER
1996 36' Clipper Bus
Tub City
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,309
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Blow up the picture and you will see that the lateral support welds on the truck hitch have been ripped. Was this the cause or result, it will have to be determined.
Dave
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Load equalizing hitch platforms and/or receivers are bolted to the tow vehicle.
Welding went out many years ago.
I would suggest that the loss of control was possibly due to the platform coming loose from the tow vehicles frame.
Andy
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