almost lost my boat/trailer on the road !

[rfuerst911sc]

So yesterday I decided to tow my 17 ' center console to a local dealer to have an engine rebuild done, she scored a cylinder. Anyway I'm towing with my 3500 diesel dually about 60 mph on the highway when something doesn't feel right . I look in my rearview mirror and the boat/trailer are swaying and I can tell it is at the tongue !!! So I let off the throttle and that's when I hear the tongue engaging the pavement........oh $hit . Not sure if it was luck or skill but I got the rig to the shoulder without losing it. Got out and yep she rode on the tongue for a bit, enough to grind down that little bump piece that's on the bottom of the tongue. So here I am on the side of the road with the tongue on the ground, it's too close to the ground to flip down the jack. So I got the truck jack and was able to get it high enough in the air to swing down the regular jack. As I looked over what happened I noticed that the hitch ball latch was straight up in the air vs. in the down locked position. Turns out the bolt I was using as a lock pin somehow backed out and allowed the locking mechanism to unlock, a little scary to say the least ! I found a scrap piece of wire to use as a temp lock pin to continue my journey. This was only a 20 minute trip. So make sure your safety chains are in good order and use a good lock pin. I'm going to use a clevis pin with a hitch pin in the future. I got away with one it could have really been ugly.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Would've saved you the cost of the cylinder repair!

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

... So make sure your safety chains are in good order and use a good lock pin. I'm going to use a clevis pin with a hitch pin in the future. I got away with one it could have really been ugly.

Whew, sounds like you really dodged a bullet...you must be living "right" or somethin' . Here's my "tip o' the day"....for you guys using "S" hooks on your safety chains...change them over to "O" ring type connectors that screw together...it's more of a PITA to attach 'em , but worth it. Once you've had a "tongue failure" and see your "pretty beefy" S hooks straighten out like flimsy paper clips, you'll understand....don't ask me how I know this .

[Rick V]

I always cross the chains as well.

[rfuerst911sc]

Yes the threaded chain connectors are a good way to go. Part of my problem is the chains are too short on the trailer to even reach the hitch loops so I cross the chains over the hitch head. After yesterdays incident I'm going to fix that ! And yes I had the chains crossed but with the way I had to have the chains I lost some of the safety factor. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good

[onewhippedpuppy]

That's a definite pucker moment. My mom remembers as a child seeing their boat pass their car on the highway, not good.

[Baz]

Yes - you can use these......


But I prefer these with my trailers...easier to put on and off:


Just make sure you get ones with the proper weight capacity - I always use one size larger than what is required just to be safe.

I also prefer stainless steel.

[pavulon]

When considering boats, the hole into which one throws money should be aqueous, not formerly occupied by concrete or asphalt. However, your creativity is admirable!!

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by Baz

Yes - you can use these......

I just bought two of these. Last time I used my flatbed, one of the "S" hooks was unhooked, with about a quarter of it worn away from dragging on the highway.
I'm sure if the coupler came undone the lone remaining S hook would have been worthless.

[HardDrive]

Old corny joke.

The old fisherman gets pulled over by a sheriffs deputy.

"Sir, the tabs on your truck are expired", said the deputy.

"What? I swear I just got new stickers", said the fisherman.

"Well you're welcome to come look for yourself."

The old fisherman gets out of the truck, walks to the back of the truck and takes a long look at the bumper. Then, much to the deputies surprise, the fisherman starts to cry.

"Sir, no need to get upset, I was just going to give you warning" said the deputy.

"Thats very nice," said the fisherman, "But wheres my boat?!"

[gsxrken]

I've towed enough and for long enough to know that sh_t happens. Straps loosen, pins shear, hitches fail or uncouple, etc. When I see people tailgating or chopping a guy towing a trailer I just shake my head. I point them out all the time to my kids who are getting near driving age. I stay way the hell back from them until it's safe to pass.

[5String43]

One word: Padlock.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by 5String43

One word: Padlock.

^^^this

I use the pin on one side, and a padlock on the other. Chains crossed.

[johnco]

coming home from a job out of town we had a flat on my 16ft trailer about 15-20 miles from home. unhooked the trailer so I could go get tire fixed. got everything back together and told my helper to hook the chains and lock the hitch as I picked up my tools.. almost home we stopped at the dump to empty some trash. I drove to the back and started backing the trailer up to empty it.. well, you can't always see a trailer towed behind a f350 dually but I couldn't see it at all. it wasn't there.. seems we lost it somewhere during the 15-20 mile ride after my idiot completely forgot about the hooking chains/locking hitch part. ohh ***** off we go .. found it about halfway down the 1/4 mile gravel road to the dump.

[URY914]

I would NEVER-EVER use the two types of chain "links" shown above. Sure they are quick to hook/un-hook but they are WEAK! Check the ratings on them. They will not take a shock load like when a slack trailer chain tightens up.

I only use real clevises and wire them so the pin doesn't unscrew. I use cheap rebar tie-wire. I just cut the wire off when I'm ready to unhook.

[Arizona_928]

Had that happen to a buddy of mine last year when we were taking a load of scrap in. dumb a$$ used a 1 7/8 ball on a 2 inch. ha Dented his bumper nicely, but didn't loose any of the scrap. We had like 3,000 lbs of loose metal, and a 600lb lathe on the back. That could've ended bad.

[Hugh R]

Twenty years ago or so a friend was trailering his Aston Martin DB4 Zagato to Pebble Beach for the Concours, hitch came off and the trailer and car passed him but landed safely in the sand on the side of the freeway. I think even back then it was worth a few $million. IIRC one of 18 made. IIRC like above, a mismatched ball and socket size.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I just bought two of these. Last time I used my flatbed, one of the "S" hooks was unhooked, with about a quarter of it worn away from dragging on the highway.
I'm sure if the coupler came undone the lone remaining S hook would have been worthless.

And if you are going to use a carabiner don't get one at the convienence store counter, lowes, etc. Get one from a place that sells rapelling gear - they have the ones actually meant to hold weight, not just look pretty on a keychain.

[speeder]

Since there are some trailer towing people on this thread, does anyone know the simplest/cheapest way to install some basic trailer brakes on a small trailer? It's the little travel trailer on my thread on the first page. It currently has no brakes.

How heavy can a trailer be before it needs its own brakes? I know that many small utility trailers do not have them but any panic braking would send it sideways, no? Can something really simple like surge brakes be installed? I want a little bit more of a safety margin for her. TIA.

[RANDY P]

I did a cam swap on this knucklehead's boat who did the exact same thing-

I get this panicked call from said knucklehead- as he was leaving my neighborhood, the boat became unhitched and PASSED him in the neighborhood. It wound up parked on someone's lawn.

I was dying it was hillarious- I had to help him get it back together- that guy would screw up boiling water tho.