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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / February 2006Tail-Heavy Trailer Sway
I have seen first hand what a shifting trailer load can do to cause sway. 65MPH, one-ton dually towing a two-axle 20 foot equipment trailer. The trailer load was a light-weight backhoe that was not secured at all with chains/straps. The backhoe worked its way toward the back of the trailer and as soon as the tongue started to lift, the rig started to sway. Rig got turned sideways in the 4 lane highway in about 10 seconds. Driver did not have time to do anything. Luckily, no accident or injuries occured. The other drivers close by saw what was happening and got out of the way. The trailer and truck were probably close to the same weight. >I have seen first hand what a shifting trailer load can do to cause sway. > 65MPH, one-ton dually towing a two-axle 20 foot equipment trailer. The [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > The other drivers close by saw what was happening and got out of the way. > The trailer and truck were probably close to the same weight. What kind of idiot moves a backhoe that isn't secured at all with chains or straps on a trailer on the highway? That guy is astonishingly stupid and extremely unsafe. >What kind of idiot moves a backhoe that isn't secured at all with chains or >straps on a trailer on the highway? That guy is astonishingly stupid and >extremely unsafe. The same kind of idiot that tried to drive his Miata under my truck today on the way to work. He flicks the turn signal on and without even turning to look, heads on over into my lane.. Got nothing for his efforts except giant 35" tire swirls down the left side of his car and he's now shy 1 mirror. The lady behind him was kind enough to stop and let him know he was at fault. Whoever you are, thanks for your contact info. My insurance company will be in touch! Hey, at least he signalled. Did he at least have the consideration to end his cellphone call by the time you stopped to see if he was all right? >>What kind of idiot moves a backhoe that isn't secured at all with chains >>or [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > fault. Whoever you are, thanks for your contact info. My insurance > company will be in touch! >>I have seen first hand what a shifting trailer load can do to cause sway. >> 65MPH, one-ton dually towing a two-axle 20 foot equipment trailer. The [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > or straps on a trailer on the highway? That guy is astonishingly stupid > and extremely unsafe. You're missing the point. The questions that we are pondering is "why?" I have searched all over the 'net and found no evidence that anybody ever studied it adequately to explain it. It doesn't matter how stupid people are who haul backhoes. What matters is that a formerly stable combination crashes itself with a different center of gravity. Do you have any input on that? >> You're missing the point. The questions that we are pondering is "why?" I > have searched all over the 'net and found no evidence that anybody ever [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Do you have any input on that? Why does it matter why it happens? I don't have to know why flesh burns to know not to put my hand in fire. Whitelightning >>>I have seen first hand what a shifting trailer load can do to cause sway. >>> 65MPH, one-ton dually towing a two-axle 20 foot equipment trailer. The [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > >Do you have any input on that? Try throwing a tail-heavy dart. >>> I have seen first hand what a shifting trailer load can do to cause sway. >>> 65MPH, one-ton dually towing a two-axle 20 foot equipment trailer. The [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Do you have any input on that? No mystery here. A trailer will tend to be stable when the foward/leading end of the trailer is carrying a percentage of the weigh on its hitch through proper CG (ie 10 to 15% of the trailers weight being coupled to a stable tow vehicle) this forward mass stabilizes the rest of the trailer to follow it (kind like follow the leader of sorts) When CG shift to rear, the trailer becomes unstable because it is heavier behind the axle CG than in front of it which makes it very unstable plus this shift weight off of tow vehicle as well which gives it even less control on the trailer behind it and with a sudden move or maneuver, oscillation can set in because CG is behind axle in direction of travel and the tall heavy condition influences its control over the lighter front end as to masses (heavy rear light front) react against each other across axle(s) center line and the heavier end will win an since lighter end is guiding direction it can oscillate/whip tell you loose control. The only way to recover from this before it is too late is to apply trailer brakes as hard as possible and no vehicle brakes and the force on trailer trying to brake itself and tow vehicle will restore enough control (pendulum effect of sorts) to stop vehicle safely.  Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com |
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