Know Watcha Tow June 27, 2018, 05:59:52 pm Why it's always good to know the weight of what you are towing, and the limitations of your tow vehicle:Couple wrecks trailer on Silverdale freeway 20 minutes after buying it | KOMO
Re: Know Watcha Tow Reply #1 – June 28, 2018, 06:29:06 am I wonder what they use to hold the parts together? Scotch tape?
Re: Know Watcha Tow Reply #2 – June 28, 2018, 10:08:15 am Still shouldn't have been towing it, but this is apparently a case where looking at the data tag for weight gave significantly low and incorrect answer, even when running empty. Seems the floor was reinforced from below with pressure-treated 2x6, which can get really heavy when wet -- or just when new. Whether that additional weight eclipsed what a regular load would be, and whether the tow vehicle was rated within spec remains to be seen, but even if the driver checked the data tag, the answer would have been incorrect. Trailer sway is a hard thing to control, especially for an inexperienced driver. Either they didn't have a brake controller at all, or didn't know the technique to straighten things out quickly. In any event, be careful out there.
Re: Know Watcha Tow Reply #3 – June 28, 2018, 01:41:49 pm Although weight of the trailer is a major factor when towing, so is the towing vehicles wheelbase. A Jeep Cherokee wheelbase is only 101.4 inches and in my opinion, too short to safely tow with.I've owned 3 Cherokees over the years and loved each one. When we bought our travel trailer, a 24 footer, I had an eaz-lift and a break controller installed before our first trip. Thinking that was sufficient for towing with a Cherokee, we started out on our first trip. We were barely underway when coming down the 101 Conejo grade. The grade is a moderate 7% but it put the fear of the Almighty in me. At the bottom of the grade is Oxnard, where I had a sway control installed. Tightening down the sway control made things tolerable but i never felt comfortable towing with the Cherokee.Unfortunately for these people, the odds were against them from the start. They're lucky nobody got hurt.- Jack 3 Likes
Re: Know Watcha Tow Reply #4 – June 28, 2018, 03:41:16 pm Quote from: Jack J - June 28, 2018, 01:41:49 pmAlthough weight of the trailer is a major factor when towing, so is the towing vehicles wheelbase. A Jeep Cherokee wheelbase is only 101.4 inches and in my opinion, too short to safely tow with.Unfortunately for these people, the odds were against them from the start. They're lucky nobody got hurt.Bingo!
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