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ROBERTSUNRUS · 10-28-2011, 08:49 PM

Hi, my Dad drove his own car, [he did not tow] without incidents or accidents until he was 96 years old. [when he stopped driving] On the other hand, I have three generations of next door neighbors/drivers that should have never been given a license to drive; All three of them are constantly parking their cars on my brick planter boxes. It's not an age thing. I also believe that not all Airstreamers have the same driving abilities [most important safety item] and although many of the items people have bought will help them mechanically or mentally, they are not the answer or necesssary for all.

In the seven years that I have owned my trailer, with the same tow vehicle, in many thousands of miles, in all kinds of weather conditions, in all of the Western States, plus Canada and Alaska, my trailer has only swayed once, violently out of control. And there is not a hitch or device made that would have prevented it from happening. My trailer was parked in my driveway during a 5.0 Earthquake.

dkottum · 10-29-2011, 12:14 AM

REDNAX, do you plan to give your license up and stop driving at 65 years of age, yes or no?

doug k

slowmover · 10-29-2011, 01:22 AM

No, why?

mojo · 10-29-2011, 06:22 AM

My hitch was made in China.

So how do I deal with the fung shway?

perryg114 · 10-29-2011, 06:30 AM

Something made in China is not necessarily bad. If there is proper quality control it is as good as anything else. When you get something that is off brand from China you need to worry. Politics is another issue entirely.

Perry

jmtandem · 10-29-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

In the seven years that I have owned my trailer, with the same tow vehicle, in many thousands of miles, in all kinds of weather conditions, in all of the Western States, plus Canada and Alaska, my trailer has only swayed once, violently out of control. And there is not a hitch or device made that would have prevented it from happening. My trailer was parked in my driveway during a 5.0 Earthquake.

A 5.0 earthquake in northern Nevada is one nobody gets out of bed for. How could it possibly cause your trailer to sway violently and out of control?

ROBERTSUNRUS · 10-29-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmtandem

A 5.0 earthquake in northern Nevada is one nobody gets out of bed for. [we don't either] how could it possibly cause your trailer to sway violently and out of control?

Hi, my Fantastic Vent was acting up. I determined that it needed the plunger switch replaced. I pulled my trailer forward to be able to gain access. [open door] I leaned my ladder on the side of my Safari and I was on my roof removing the plunger switch. I came down my ladder, laid my ladder in my driveway behind my trailer, went into my garage for about one minute. As I was coming out of my garage, through my gate, and right behind my trailer by about ten feet, I heard a bang [tongue jack bounce off of my concrete driveway] and my trailer swayed from side to side. Had it been still parked in it's normal location, it might have been bouncing off of the side of my house. I was on top of my trailer within about five minutes of the Earthquake.

jmtandem · 10-30-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, my Fantastic Vent was acting up. I determined that it needed the plunger switch replaced. I pulled my trailer forward to be able to gain access. [open door] I leaned my ladder on the side of my Safari and I was on my roof removing the plunger switch. I came down my ladder, laid my ladder in my driveway behind my trailer, went into my garage for about one minute. As I was coming out of my garage, through my gate, and right behind my trailer by about ten feet, I heard a bang [tongue jack bounce off of my concrete driveway] and my trailer swayed from side to side. Had it been still parked in it's normal location, it might have been bouncing off of the side of my house. I was on top of my trailer within about five minutes of the Earthquake.

Fascinating and interesting from the standpoint of having an RV (of any kind) as a backup place to live in for a time should there be an earthquake that damages the home. I could see a motorcycle on a center stand rocking back and forth gently and maybe some rattling in the home's kitchen but an RV rocking out of control. And your house probably came through it perfectly fine............

Diesel1 · 10-30-2011, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDNAX

Just cause Im 73 dont mean Im a bad driver. I still have the skills I developed with the 45 yrs of drivin a big truck.

But most never develop any skills worthy of note. Following the front wheels around isn't a skill. And, once old, these old bad habits come to bite them (and the rest of us) as there was never a principle involved in how to make driving decisions.

If I called MiketheFixit a steerin' wheel holder I can guarantee you it would be from well beyond the reach of arm or leg: that's truck driver shorthand for a clueless, skill-less driver.

Yet it may be a majority of drivers on the road.

Then we add to that the problem of age: medications, failing eyesight and hearing, lack of energy and a sad situation thus emerges.

This is not unrelated to the desirability for WDH: these arguments become silly when the claim is made by some that "they" never have a problem without it. One could bet that SAE and the OEM's would never bother in requiring it under some circumstances, well laid out, were the above statistically valid. It isn't.

The relation between old & bad is the further assumption that all roads are smoothly new, beautifully-lit, with mile long sight lines. All roads are limited access. All other drivers are young, highly-trained and their vehicles in perfect mechanical shape. All RV drivers are never tired, ill, injured or distracted. Their vehicles also never suffer malfunctions, as well as being designed from the ground up as TV's.

Etc.

Skill is great. And yet it's never quite enough.

.

????? I am confused?

DMT · 10-30-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

I can't remember. Let me ask my nurse. I'll text her while I drive through this cloverleaf and get the damn cap off my beer.

Gene

Man, you guys are funny! Sarcasm, wit and well written too. Keep it coming!

slowmover · 10-30-2011, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel1

????? I am confused?

Lack of driving skill is bad enough at a younger age, but a danger for some when old (and/or ill, etc).

WDH hitches keep "the performance envelope" of a tow rig closer to a solo vehicle.

As age is statistically valid for seeing accident rates increase, so also is towing a predictor for higher rates of accidents per mile traveled.

Older drivers need to be more careful (avoid night-time, check medication problems). Tow rigs need WDH set up according to formula; to be careful of how both vehicles are loaded, connected, etc.

SteveH · 10-31-2011, 07:09 AM

We were at a rally this weekend, and I noticed a couple of things about peoples hitches. First, there were mostly Reese Dual Cam hitches there...five of them. Second, three of the five used in addition to the cams, a friction sway control.

You can draw your own conclusions from that, as I have.

perryg114 · 10-31-2011, 07:11 AM

The dual cam is not very effective at eliminating sway?

Perry

dznf0g · 10-31-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

We were at a rally this weekend, and I noticed a couple of things about peoples hitches. First, there were mostly Reese Dual Cam hitches there...five of them. Second, three of the five used in addition to the cams, a friction sway control.

You can draw your own conclusions from that, as I have.

I'm just scratching my head????!!!!!! Having used both (independently from one another) it makes NO sense.

perryg114 · 10-31-2011, 07:40 AM

It looks like I can add this dual cam thing to my existing older type Reese hitch. I can't find a factory sight for Reese. I get sales info but not much else.

Here is their websight. Not much more info on there.

http://www.reeseprod.com/

Perry

dznf0g · 10-31-2011, 07:43 AM

Here ya go. Factory site.

Reese

dznf0g · 10-31-2011, 07:44 AM

However, this is where I bought.

Draw tite Trailer Hitches And Hitch Accessories. Drawtite, Reese Trailer Towing Products.

SteveH · 10-31-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perryg114

It looks like I can add this dual cam thing to my existing older type Reese hitch. I can't find a factory sight for Reese. I get sales info but not much else.

Perry

If you do, I would suggest you try to get the older type that uses "U" bolts to attach to the trailer tongue as it is much easier to adjust.

dznf0g · 10-31-2011, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

If you do, I would suggest you try to get the older type that uses "U" bolts to attach to the trailer tongue as it is much easier to adjust.

Don't think these are available NEW anymore. Used????

perryg114 · 10-31-2011, 07:51 AM

I did a little reading and I am not convinced so far. If I read it right the cam pops out in turns. What if it pops out when you really need it or causes you to not be able to gain control. It looks a little Rube Goldberg.

Perry