Jack knifed at 50!

[skyhuck]

Wiped out today towing my 16ft Ifor with about 2t of sticks. Coming down the dual carriageway, steep long hill, started snaking, put me foot down to correct, ok for a bit then just lost it. Span round in the road an ended up facing the wrong way staring at a line of cars. Managed to drive it off the road but had to call the cops to run a road block so I could turn around. I can't believe it. I worked for the AA for years towing stuff all over the shop and never had a scare.

Bent one side of the Ifor A frame, cracked the rear wheel arch trim on the Cruiser and blew a tyre. Very, very lucky. Had to share this. Be careful guys.

 

Have you been watching too much Topgear??????????

[Cracker]

Have you been watching too much Topgear??????????

 

What would you have done then?

[twistedhicap]

should have slowed down ! cant drive out of a snake as easily as slowing down least slowing down you will have less energy to send you round and trust me i know i have had the pleasure of snaky loads before and slowing down 99% time brings it back in line ! lucky you got away with it maybe look at the loadings etc can drasticly affect the behavior of a trailer having the weight in the right places ! and yes HATO'S or motorway wombles as we like to call them wanna be traffic fuzz but arent ! so act more analy than the noce Traffic Cops !

[skyhuck]

What would you have done then?

 

If you trailer brakes are good, I find just dabbing the brakes works best, but the most important thing is to hold the steering straight, if you try to counter act the snake it just gets worse.

[Cracker]

should have slowed down ! cant drive out of a snake as easily as slowing down least slowing down you will have less energy to send you round and trust me i know i have had the pleasure of snaky loads before and slowing down 99% time brings it back in line ! lucky you got away with it maybe look at the loadings etc can drasticly affect the behavior of a trailer having the weight in the right places ! and yes HATO'S or motorway wombles as we like to call them wanna be traffic fuzz but arent ! so act more analy than the noce Traffic Cops !

 

The problem started when I was slowing at the top of the hill. I was doing 40 in 4th, dabbed the brake and she started snaking.I was trying to get control for best part of a mile before it let go. I've towed thousands of miles with car transporters at work, and when that's happened before I've always managed to pull out of it with a little right foot. This time something was wrong from the start. The hill in question is notorious for jack knifes. Very lucky I didn't hurt anyone and the load didn't move. I was carrying 5" poles, if one had been thrown into the other side I could have killed a bunch of people.

[twistedhicap]

just unlucky then ! i have had bad loads loaded by others ! i tow more than i dont !

[Cracker]

should have slowed down ! cant drive out of a snake as easily as slowing down least slowing down you will have less energy to send you round and trust me i know i have had the pleasure of snaky loads before and slowing down 99% time brings it back in line ! lucky you got away with it maybe look at the loadings etc can drasticly affect the behavior of a trailer having the weight in the right places ! and yes HATO'S or motorway wombles as we like to call them wanna be traffic fuzz but arent ! so act more analy than the noce Traffic Cops !

 

Yeah, thinking about it there was probably more on the rear of the trailer. I'm usually really careful to load evenly. Like I said, too complacent.

Hopefully anyone reading this will be more diligent than me next time they tow.

I just can't believe what a jammy git I am to not only get away without ruining someones life, but minimal damage to the kit as well. I ain't gonna push me luck from now on.

[armchairarborist]

i only ever get the snakes when the weight is over the rear of the trailer, then just a gentle easing off the loud pedal while checking the speedo, then don't go that speed again

[Cracker]

...tomorrow's another day. Learn and move on.

[skyhuck]

...tomorrow's another day. Learn and move on.

 

No one was hurt, thats the main thing!!!!!!!!!!!