Trailer safety!!!!

jasonjc · Sep 15, 2015

With all the post about what mite happen , killing the min van full of kid's. It seems a lot think those thing can never happen or wont happen to them.

Well I'd bet this guy on the way to the house or lake didn't think he was going to KILL a 21yr girl on a bike. BUT HE DID!!!!!

If you look at the trailer you see no brakes , no chains and the hitch is not the OEM.

I know this is not a MV , BUT ,how many here change the hitches, don't use chains, or think they do not need brakes.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bo...si-cyclist/ar-AAeiF5A?li=BBgzzfc&ocid=DELLDHP

jasonjc · Sep 15, 2015

Bump for the night shift.

m16ty · Sep 15, 2015

I read the article and saw where the mentioned the hitch being modified. The hitch on the truck looks more than substantial (one of those combo pintle/ball hitches) but the hitch on the trailer looks small compared to the trailer tongue.

98G · Sep 16, 2015

Safety chains would have prevented this, obviously.

If you fabricate something yourself, you need to be **** sure that the part you make/modify isn't the weakest point in the system. It isn't possible to build something indestructible, but you can make sure that it isn't the first point of failure.

Gunzy · Sep 16, 2015

In the second pic it appears that they are reattaching it to the truck. Unless they are inspecting the connection, what are they doing?

USAFSS-ColdWarrior · Sep 16, 2015

Gunzy said:
In the second pic it appears that they are reattaching it to the truck. Unless they are inspecting the connection, what are they doing?

Agreed. They have the trailer frame jacked up as though lifting the tongue to re-hitch the trailer to a tow vehicle. From the pic we CANNOT assume that it is the tow vehicle involved in the incident. It may simply be a recovery vehicle.

Although a picture IS worth a thousand words, there simply are not enough authenticated words included in the original post (OP) for any of us to weigh in with valid opinions or analysis.

Carry on.

quickfarms · Sep 16, 2015

USAFSS-ColdWarrior said:
Agreed. They have the trailer frame jacked up as though lifting the tongue to re-hitch the trailer to a tow vehicle. From the pic we CANNOT assume that it is the tow vehicle involved in the incident. It may simply be a recovery vehicle.

Although a picture IS worth a thousand words, there simply are not enough authenticated words included in the original post (OP) for any of us to weigh in with valid opinions or analysis.

Carry on.

If it is not the truck then they found another black Toyota truck

m16ty · Sep 16, 2015

98G said:
Safety chains would have prevented this, obviously.

If you fabricate something yourself, you need to be **** sure that the part you make/modify isn't the weakest point in the system. It isn't possible to build something indestructible, but you can make sure that it isn't the first point of failure.

What part was fabricated? I can't tell for sure in the pic.

Just going by the pic, it looks as if they just forgot to latch the ball or had mismatched ball/hitch size and no safety chains. Maybe they had a fabricated receiver hitch and they replaced it with something else to re-hitch?

dmetalmiki · Sep 16, 2015

That is so sad for all concerned. As mentioned, SAFETY CHAINS, ALWAYS>

jasonjc · Sep 16, 2015

The hitch on the trailer does not look like it came on the trailer. The trailer is galvanized the hitch should be too , at least all the pic's I've seen of those type are. New York law state all trailers over 3000lbs gross weight require brakes. That trailer didn't look too have any.

Squirt-Truck · Sep 16, 2015

This kind of unfortunate accident is what keeps me employed. AND Why I am so vocal about towing, loads, tie-downs and winches.

icecreamman · Sep 17, 2015

I cant see anything wrong other than no safety chains in this pic. Not enough info or pictures....

Looks like a "pintle hook" style truck hitch inserted into a receiver hitch and all appears in place. IMO, a properly locked and pinned receiver pintle hook like this along with a locked and pinned trailer hitch is double redundancy.

Tracer · Sep 17, 2015

I've been to several MV events and seen a number of neglected trailers with poor tires, non op lights, missing safety chains etc. Guys just haul their stuff around and don't think about the condition of their trailer. The attitude is hey it's just a trailer!...........sad.

USAFSS-ColdWarrior · Jan 11, 2016

I'm perpetuating this thread (thanks to its general type title) to another thought on TRAILER SAFETY (and inherently, TOWING SAFETY)

One MUST be very careful in identifying, selecting, and using SAFETY CHAIN ANCHORAGES......

I think I now comprehend just WHY when I was first introduced to those PIN RETAINERS that I was told they were called JESUS CLIPS.

Please take this post as a HOW NOT TO DO IT methodology.

Carry on.

Coffey1 · Jan 11, 2016

I would like to say something about that post but I won't because it would not be nice

m16ty · Jan 12, 2016

John, Surely somebody did that and took the pic as a joke. I can't imagine somebody would be that stupid but in all honesty, I've seen worse.

USAFSS-ColdWarrior · Jan 12, 2016

m16ty said:
John, Surely somebody did that and took the pic as a joke. I can't imagine somebody would be that stupid but in all honesty, I've seen worse.

Maybe so, maybe not.
I have seen some of those "jokes" doing their absolute best, working beyond their God-given capacities. That's why I always check the work of any volunteer Soldier B's the "help" with our MVs.

Still, it's a fun photo with which to stir some safe-thinking.

John S-B · Jan 12, 2016

m16ty said:
John, Surely somebody did that and took the pic as a joke. I can't imagine somebody would be that stupid but in all honesty, I've seen worse.

YES, there ARE people that stupid. Warming up gasoline on the stove because they had fuel line freeze up comes to mind...

zebedee · Jan 12, 2016

Yeah - safety chains!!....

https://www.facebook.com/kanoot/videos/10203705776072411/

pay attention at 26 seconds...

Recovry4x4 · Jan 12, 2016

In reference to the original article and why they would be hooking it back up to the truck, here where I work, any vehicle involved in a traffic homicide incident gets impounded for a "Vehicle Autopsy". It's possible that they were put back together and securing it to a trailer for transport back to an impound facility. That's what I'm guessing. Those type of a frame and lever couplers are adjustsable to compensate for wear and rust. Check yours before the next trip.

Trailer safety!!!!

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