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07-03-2011, 08:39 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,708
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Unexpected Danger on the Road
While returning from a short local trip on Saturday without our Airstream, we observed something that could proven to be quite a danger. We were traveling on Interstate 57 near Goreville, Illinois at about 11:00 PM running at the speed limit (65 MPH) when a semi barrelled by at close to 80 MPH. The semi pulled back into the lane in which we were traveling about 5 car lengths ahead of us (we were separated by a small compact car). Almost as soon as the semi pulled into our lane, six high-powered white lights illuminated on the back of the truck - - the truck slowed slightly being sure that the lights were nearly blinding the driver of the car in front of us (I am not certain, but believe that the car ahead of us had its high beams illuminated, we were running with low beams). The semi finally turned the lights off and sped up after about 3 miles of this treatment.
I am hoping that this isn't an example of new hazards on the highway.
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
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07-03-2011, 09:14 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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Hi Kevin. I've seen this behavior from semi drivers too. My previous highly touted tow vehicle seemed to settle at the rear when hitched up and I never found a good adjustment on my Reese to prevent this. Thus even the low beams aimed higher than they should have. I got flashed with some regularity. A semi pulling a flatbed passed me near Charles City, IA, and flashed me with his very bright rear-facing loading lights. It was quite a shock and I believe he didn't show any concern about the impact of such sudden, blinding light.
My feeling about the 'two second rule' is triple it and still keep a wary eye out. Thanks for bringing this up.
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07-07-2011, 06:11 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
1974 31' Sovereign
Tyler
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 124
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That's why "I wear my sunglasses at night"
__________________
Home again in Tyler, Texas
The Rose City
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07-07-2011, 06:18 PM
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#4
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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"this is MY road and you can't have any!!!"
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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07-07-2011, 06:40 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Corpus Christi
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 869
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One cool feature of the Tundra (ours is a 2010 Crew Cab) with the tow package is a little dial that allows you to adjust headlights up or down from the cab. Thus when the rear end settles a bit, I can spin that dial and point the headlamps back down to a safe zone. Funny thing is I had no idea the truck had that feature when I bought it. Thought at first it was the interior dash dim feature, but noticed I already had one of those...
__________________
Chuck & Skye
Rock and Roll Will Never Die!
WBCCI 3805
AIR 54011 Since July 2011
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07-07-2011, 07:32 PM
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#6
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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Hmm...so do we retaliate with a roll bar loaded up with Baja 500 special off road lights lined up to shine down the sides of 18 wheelers into the truck mirrors? Shouldnt be too hard to set that up. Roll bars are handy for hauling long things like ladders in the bed, anyhow.
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07-07-2011, 07:53 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gringo
Hmm...so do we retaliate with a roll bar loaded up with Baja 500 special off road lights lined up to shine down the sides of 18 wheelers into the truck mirrors? Shouldnt be too hard to set that up. Roll bars are handy for hauling long things like ladders in the bed, anyhow.
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Nahhhh!!! Forward facing BB guns should do the trick on the lights
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
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07-07-2011, 08:04 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Holly Lake Ranch
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,794
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Twin .50s? oh wait, we're supposed to Drive Friendly down here in the Lone Star state.
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07-07-2011, 08:18 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1978 28' Ambassador
Morada
, California
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,584
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I'm sure its illegal to show 'white' lights rearward when moving 'forward' on the road, probably in all states...
If possible, once I got my vision back, I'd record the Lic #, trailer #, location, speed, etc., and file a complaint with the hauler's company and maybe the state's highway patrol...
There's no place for that kind of unprofessional-ism on our highways! Just because truckers earn their living using the highways, doesn't mean they 'own' em' - the rest of us pay a bunch of $'s for the privilege of using em' too!
__________________
Ray & Pat; Morada, CA
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07-07-2011, 08:40 PM
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#10
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1 Rivet Member
Sudbury
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 13
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The truckers drive on all of our $$ too. That's one of the reasons truck freight can compete with rail - we all pay to maintain the highways, but only the railroads pay to maintain the tracks, so the truckers get a bit of a free ride.
The trucker who is blinding the car behind him likely owes his job to the guy who is squinting into his "back-up lights".
Show a bit of courtesy out there, folks!
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07-07-2011, 09:11 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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Most truckers are good guys. If they flash their loading lights they are telling you that your head lights are aimed too high or you have your bright lights on and that your lights in their mirrors are as irritating to them as are their loading lights to you. I've never had a trucker flash me unless I forgot to dim my high beams.
Additionally, whenever a semi passes me, day or night, I will flash my high beams at them when their trailer has cleared the front of my tow vehicle to let them know that it is OK to pull in front of me. This is especially courteous when there is a line of cars behind the semi and the driver wants to pull in front of me ASAP to allow the cars to pass. Most truckers appreciate this and will flash their running lights after they pull in front me to signal “thank you”.
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07-07-2011, 10:02 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1978 28' Ambassador
Morada
, California
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,584
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To 'signal' a trucker that it's safe to merge back into my lane, I use the old method of momentarily switching my headlights OFF - to the parking light position - then back ON, I usually repeat this at least once more...
This method avoids having to flash your high beams into the trucker's mirrors, with the possibility of that 'blinding' beam...
I will use the high beam 'flash' during daylight hours for this same merging 'signal', as the intensity is far less harsh at this time...
Be safe out there...
__________________
Ray & Pat; Morada, CA
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07-08-2011, 04:57 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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What withidi said. As a retired truck driver with almost 3,000,000 miles, thanks. Sal.
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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07-08-2011, 06:36 AM
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#14
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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"If they flash their loading lights they are telling you ..."
sorry, but I don't agree. If they flash their loading lights they are momentarily blinding you. I don't listen very well to whatever someone who is trying to blind me is trying to tell me, I guess. I really wouldn't much appreciate having to try to hold on to the steering wheel and hope I stay on the pavement until my night vision returns.
All the trucker has to do to avoid the bright lights is lean forward until his eyes are not in the beams reflected from the side mirrors. The guy who just got a faceful of bright loading lights has no recourse. he's blinded, and all he can do is close his eyes.
I have an issue with being forced to travel down the highway at 60 or 70 mph while blinded. Any trucker who tries to tell me something by optically assaulting me should be prosecuted and not get to be a trucker anymore.
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07-08-2011, 06:59 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by withidl
Additionally, whenever a semi passes me, day or night, I will flash my high beams at them when their trailer has cleared the front of my tow vehicle to let them know that it is OK to pull in front of me. This is especially courteous when there is a line of cars behind the semi and the driver wants to pull in front of me ASAP to allow the cars to pass. Most truckers appreciate this and will flash their running lights after they pull in front me to signal “thank you”.
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I used to do this. I know how to watch so that I can signal the driver when he's checking his mirror. I can even do it with a hand-wave instead of using the lights. But then I realized that many truckers will pull in front of you when they please, whether it's safe or not. Since I can't stop the ones that are going to pull in too soon, I decided to stop signaling (actually I still do it in very limited circumstances, but not like I used to).
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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07-08-2011, 07:22 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Northwestern Ontario
, - on the backside of the map and just above the big green spot
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 819
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A quick flash of the lights from oncoming traffic is a universal and friendly message telling you there is something going on that you might want to pay attention to: could mean you've got your high beams on, could be an accident up ahead, or maybe a radar trap is set-up ahead.
Same flash from trailing traffic also tells the passing trucker its safe to pull in. Another friendly message.
Turning on blinding lights, and leaving them on, in the fashion described here is a heck of a different story - that guy was having a temper tantrum - sending a vindictive message that endangered the lives of others - unfortunately he is one trucker not up to the professional driving standards possessed by most of the industry.
Jay
__________________
Bambi - 2002 (The Toaster)
Pathfinder - 2009 (The Buggy)
"I'm not young enough to know everything ....."
(Oscar Wilde)
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07-08-2011, 07:33 AM
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#17
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RangerJay
A quick flash of the lights from oncoming traffic is a universal and friendly message telling you there is something going on that you might want to pay attention to: could mean you've got your high beams on, could be an accident up ahead, or maybe a radar trap is set-up ahead.
Same flash from trailing traffic also tells the passing trucker its safe to pull in. Another friendly message.
Turning on blinding lights, and leaving them on, in the fashion described here is a heck of a different story - that guy was having a temper tantrum - sending a vindictive message that endangered the lives of others - unfortunately he is one trucker not up to the professional driving standards possessed by most of the industry.
Jay
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well said.
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07-08-2011, 08:24 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Currently Looking...
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,112
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Quote:
Originally Posted by casa3805
One cool feature of the Tundra (ours is a 2010 Crew Cab) with the tow package is a little dial that allows you to adjust headlights up or down from the cab. Thus when the rear end settles a bit, I can spin that dial and point the headlamps back down to a safe zone. Funny thing is I had no idea the truck had that feature when I bought it. Thought at first it was the interior dash dim feature, but noticed I already had one of those...
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There isn't a car or truck made that doesn't have provisions to adjust the headlight beams. Nice that you can do it from the cab, I use a phillips head screwdriver. Too bad other TV owners aren't aware that it only takes a minute to adjust the beams when towing and return them to the stock settings when driving solo.
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07-08-2011, 08:29 AM
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#19
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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You shouldn't have to do anything with the headlamps if the WD is adjusted properly.
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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07-08-2011, 08:39 AM
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#20
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS
You shouldn't have to do anything with the headlamps if the WD is adjusted properly.
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I was thinking the same thing. The tow vehicle should end up basically level, same as when it's unhitched, correct?
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