Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Unstable travel trailer test results in jack-knife

If you tow a travel trailer, then watch this 16-second video. In an experiment, watch as a car pulling a trailer with too much rear weight results in pendulum motions, instability and ultimately in the RV and car in a jack-knife position.

Posted by Chuck Woodbury at 9/24/2008 08:42:00 AM

5 comments:

CoachPotato said...

What a hoax! The driver made five attempts to jack knife, and on the fifth essentially made a u-turn to create the "accident". The trailer wasn't so unstable, the whole idea was!

September 27, 2008 6:38 AM
Anonymous said...

Looks good to me. Small, front wheel drive tow vehicle, pulling a trailer that probably weighs more. Hit the brakes and physics takes over. In a panic stop, what you are watching, happens. The trailer pushes the tow vehicle, fish tailing until the jack knife occurs.

September 27, 2008 8:49 AM
Anonymous said...

My first time towing I almost did this in an attempt to stop for a changing signal light. Fortunately my passenger stayed calm and said go through the light. Remember you are sharing the road with both experienced and inexperienced RV drivers.

September 27, 2008 9:20 AM
Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if I saw brake lights or not, but any RVer would know to use an appropriate vehicle to tow a trailer. It did look as if the driver did do some manual manipulation of the "test" to achieve a jack knife.

September 27, 2008 10:45 AM
Bruce and Jenna said...

"but any RVer would know to use an appropriate vehicle to tow a trailer."

Not from what I've seen on the road.

Looks to me like a driver talking on a cell phone.....

September 27, 2008 10:56 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)