Re: [VAC] Towing, hitches, safety

[JIXIX@xxxxxxx]

We were coming back into NY from a trip to Idaho two years ago.  Chevy 
Suburban towing 22' A/S Safari (1966 dry wt about 3300).  4 lane freeway, we 
were on the right at about 55 mph.  A jeep was passing us quite fast.  
Suddenly he slammed on the brakes.  As we began to pull past him, I saw that 
he had braked for a deer that had jumped out from the median.  The jeep had 
obscured my view of the deer, and now he was bounding right at us.  By that 
time, we had partially passed the deer, and he either couldn't stop, or felt 
he could leap between the car and trailer.  Slammed into the front left panel 
of the trailer.  That impact caused quite a bit of fishtailing, left a 
foot-deep cave in the trailer panel, about 3 feet wide.  I pumped the brakes 
lightly and got the fishtailing under control quickly...although it was 
definitely a white knuckle moment.  We were not going fast for the road...if 
we'd been doing 65 it would have been much worse, I'm sure.  In 
retrospect...I'm glad I had a 6000 lb tow vehicle.  Maybe it's things like 
that that make me a pest on this subject, but I don't think a significantly 
lighter and/or shorter vehicle would have been able to control the sway like 
that.  We might have ended up going down the shoulder embankment.  Also glad 
we had a factory installed heavy duty hitch receiver, top quality Reese hitch 
with load leveling bars, good tires and brakes, and trailer brakes properly 
adjusted.  My nagging advice is, don't plan on what you think towing will be 
like, or where you think you'll be going.  Plans and conditions change 
unexpectedly.  Plan on having plenty of overkill in the tow vehicle and 
hitch.  And, as others have said, take it slow (but not so slow as to cause 
traffic problems).  You'll have more fun if you feel more secure on the road.

BTW, got the panel replaced by Steve Ruth & Co. in Ohio, mentioned in earlier 
posts.  Great work!

John
jixix@aol.com