Double Farts!!! The trailer came off!

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mywaynow

mywaynow

Minister of Fire
Dec 13, 2010
1,369
Northeast
After breaking the first chain ever today, I proceeded down the road with 6 large logs and some smaller stuff in the trailer. Maybe 1500lbs worth, my guess. Heard a metalic clank, then another a bit sharper, and then the distinctive sound of metal dragging on asphalt. I know I am pushing the ability of my trailer with the wieght, however the trip does not exceed 7 miles, nor the speed exceed 40. Most of the time I don't go over 30. The noises all came just after I crossed a bridge that has a lipped entry. I always slow down to a 10 mph creep there anyway. So when all the poop hit the fan, it was not so sensational; just slowed to a stop with the trailer directly behind me, almost at normal distance.

The coupling apparently just let go. I always padlock the lever in position, so it did not unlatch. The first noise was the coupling, the second was the sound of a safety chain hook being straightened. There was not an identifiable sound to associate with the new wire harness being sheared. I re-coupled the trailer, bent the hook to some reasonalbe figure with a hammer and crept home. Funny thing was I had just let a 7 series BMW pass me to avoid dropping a log in front of him. Just a lucky move I guess. Well it's off the the trailer supply for a new coupling. I don't know for sure if that will solve the problem, but it is a logical move given what happened.
 
I was driving back from the store (a year ago) when I saw a brand new red Mercdees on the side of the highway which had been impailed by the toung of a trailer with a stump grinder in it. The rental place had not connected the trailer or the chain correctly and when the truck/trailer hit a bump, the trailer came off, skipped into the opposite side of the Hiway when it hit the lady's car.

First on the scene, I was able to see that the driver was ok but spot where the tough entered the car was 4 inches from the front of her driver seat. Had it entered 6 inches closer to the front, she would have been torn in half. The tear in the left side of the car was easily 18 inches and looked like the type of tear you get if you stick a flat head screw driver into some styrofoam and lever it forward.

The driver of the truck, a youngish guy of about 32 years old was completly freaked out. Evidently he had never realized how easy it is to get killed doing his regular work.

The police started an investigation and had their "Evidence collection technicians" scouring the highway on both sides of the highway looking for the tie pin which the rental agency said they put on the connection chain but was not present on the crashed trailer.
 
friend of mine from church was stuck in his car for almost 1/2 hr after getting nailed with a trailer going the other way on rt16, took the jaws of life to get him out, he was glad he got the worst injuries as he had his family in the car, two broken fingers, very lucky, they had to cut the whole side off his car to get him out
 
Whoa! These are some scary stories! Check and double check.
 
Better get a bigger trailer! Not worth dinking around with a toy...your saving money on wood, figure your savings and check out Craigslist to find one reasonable...
 
I once had a car trailer which I had used dozens of times without an incident hauling cars. It had electric brakes and everything. One fine day I was traveling along with it EMPTY at about 50 MPH on a 2 lane highway and it came loose. The safety cables held but it was awful scary. I had an F250 4X4 Diesel and it was getting yanked all over the road by that trailer. I'll never forget the image in my mirrors of that trailer slapping back & forth 90° on both sides. Very lucky there was nobody in the other lane.

I had the whole coupler assembly replaced and there was never another problem but any time I haul a trailer for the rest of my life I'll sure be on high alert.
 
Where did the OP provide the info for his trailer and hitch for you all to know its and undersized toy being pulled with a damaged ball???

OP: Thanks for taking the time to connect your safety chains. You may have saved someones life! Is it possible the coupler wasn't down all the way on the ball when you locked it? I always yank up hard or use the wheel jack to make sure its locked on good.
 
These types of hooks will not straighten out:

http://www.worktruck-outfitters.com...p-3991.html?osCsid=ja0476o0k0133ujgsr0k8fh5n6



The clips help them stay hooked up also when SHTF. Those S hooks that come on many safety chains are nearly worthless and most chains are not strong enough to secure a loaded trailer if it comes off. When selecting a chain and hooks to use for safety chains, figure out which one you think should do the job and then get one stronger....
 
I dunno. But lacking all other evidence, the first thing I would check is whether the coupler was adjusted tight enough to begin with.

If you look underneath you'll see a 3/4" nut that can be tightened. I tighten it just enough for the ball to rotate freely but with absolutely no rattle.

Or am I missing something????

I'm also a little confused over the story. The OP stated "after breaking the first chain ever" is he talking safety chains? Or chainsaw chains?

Also, the guy who was hauling the rented wood chipper - what's the "tie pin". I'm not versed in the lingo of trailering I guess.l
 
My reference to the chain, was the cutting chain on the saw. That was strike one. The trailer was 2, and I completed the show by crushing my hand between a 500lb log and a 200lb log I was rolling out of the way. Fortunately, no breaks, just very sore today.

I will check the coupling tomorrow for any adjustments available. It is a nicely made trailer. The coupling is welding to the trailer rail through openings in the coupler body. Removal wouild be a little time comsuming, but I can do it.
 
never had one come off, luckily
did have a tire blow out this past week
talk about getting your attention
10,000 pound capacity, newer tires
had about 80 2x4x8's on it
wasnt overloaded, thats for sure
came apart, cars behind me swerving
it was an experience
 
That coupler can wear to a point where it can jump off the ball. Better double check that...

I had the lock end come off the pin for the coupler a few weeks back. It was just a ride to Lowes and back but left me puzzled. I lock it every time and give it a yank to make sure. Using the simple on e these days til i get a new locking set.
 
Black Jaque Janaviac said:
I dunno. But lacking all other evidence, the first thing I would check is whether the coupler was adjusted tight enough to begin with.

If you look underneath you'll see a 3/4" nut that can be tightened. I tighten it just enough for the ball to rotate freely but with absolutely no rattle.

Or am I missing something????

I'm also a little confused over the story. The OP stated "after breaking the first chain ever" is he talking safety chains? Or chainsaw chains?

Also, the guy who was hauling the rented wood chipper - what's the "tie pin". I'm not versed in the lingo of trailering I guess.l
Click to expand...

Sometimes they are not adjusted right new. I changed from a pin hitch to a ball hitch on my yard trailer. I was taking a 100 gal water tank w/ water to my horse and it poped off in the front yard. After I bailed out enough water to put the trailer back on I found I could lift the tongue up over 1/2 inch and it was just barely catching the ball. After that I checked my other trailers and found another one I had to tighten up.

I also always use a lock or something to lock the tongue closed. Wether a lock or double nutted bolt. And when I am hooking up I do it all before walking off.
Billy
 
Some are adjustable and others are not. The one I replaced had no adjustment. I had it torched off & had a new one welded on at the local RV / camper sales place.
 
I had a pop up camper come off. I am surprized you didn't get any damage to the rear of your truck when you stopped.

It's like the bumper sticker says " ** it happens"
 
Ok, another day another lesson learned. Thanks to those who educated me on the adjustment within the coupling. I needed about 4 turns on the nut to snug the coupling properly. The ball is relatively new and in fine condition. Took the last 2 loads out of the woods this morning with no hitches (pun intended)!!
 
And when I am hooking up I do it all before walking off.
Billy
Click to expand...


Thats good advice, and is my rule also. I will not hook up a trailer without hooking it all up at once... latch, lock bolt or clip, safety chains, tail light wires, and tongue jack raised. Any distractions or conversations will have to wait. The same goes for unhooking it all. Also a good point about checking the nut to be sure the latch is tight. As mentioned, there should be no movement on the ball.
 
I did not know about the adjustable nut. I will be checking the trailer over after i up bury it from the 12=18" of snow we are supposed to get
 
I tow a 24' trailer delivering wood pellets some times a 5 ton load 6.5 ton total weight. One time the hitch did not latch properly and I heard a thud noise so I stopped and check and yup the trailer was on but the latch was not properly seated. The pellet yard is on a back road so after hooking up I stop and the end of the road and give every thing a good second look before hitting the major roads. Make sure your emergency brake switch is working also after a year of salt mine no longer worked I only figured it out when my father came home and it was dragging on the road. I figured the brakes would be cooked but they were not so the switch had failed salt had eaten the wire in half. Another thing to check before heading out.
 
This may be a little off topic, but it kind of fits. Those of us who haul trailers and load up our trucks have the resposibility to do so in a safe manner - not just for ourselves, but for everyone else on the road. It seems that it is the average "Joe Homeowner" who does the most unsafe things with their vehicles, and whom the DOT seems to ignore. One thing that was driven home to me when I was learning to drive a semi was that is was not myself I would kill for driving dangerously, but the family of 6 in a minivan.
I don't mean this as an attack on anyone - just a friendly reminder to be safe with heavy loads. They can be more dangerous than many give them credit for.
 
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