Rv crash | Towing Mistakes | Jack-knifed Camper | Travel Trailer Fishtailed | Totaled the Camper
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- ✅ RV Resources
✉️ Sign up for our newsletter: lizamazing.com/
Click Show More ⬇️⬇️ ⬇️For More Info
👍Subscribe for more entertaining and informative Rv Travel Tips: ua-cam.com/users/liz...
🛒 Liz Amazing (and Paul)’s Amazon Store: www.amazon.com...
🚲 Our other UA-cam Channel, virtual bike rides all over the US: http:/ / amazingbikerides
🚴 Our #1 video, shopping for an e-bike: • Shopping for an Ebike ...
🚲 🚴 SAVE $$$ on any JUICED E-BIKE. Use this link to get the LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE: alnk.to/58jAjud Use LIZ100 to save $100. Use LIZ250 to save $250 on two. See our 1000 mile review on Paul’s Juiced e-bike: • Electric Bike Review |...
🚌 Is fulltime RVing for you? Our video about the pros and cons of RV life: • Fulltime Rv Living: Ti...
📫 Get $10 in your postage account by signing up for Americas Mailbox and mentioning Liz Amazing on the application: americasmailbo...
🌲 Resale Thousand Trails Membership: Kim 1-800-272-0401 or kimberly@membershipoutlet.com (Plz mention Liz Amazing)
🌲 Thousand Trails: Eric Benson call: 541.527.0140 or email: eric_benson@equitylifestyle.com (Plz mention Liz Amazing)
💰How I went from zero to 10,000 subscribers in ten months: tinyurl.com/Gr...
😉Using the above links doesn't cost you any extra. These proceeds help us offset the costs associated with the many hours of work, camera and computer equipment, and help us continue to bring you valuable helpful and informative RV videos. Thank You!
✅ In This Video
Liz' wrecked her camper and made some embarrassing mistakes. She learned a lot of painful lessons, which she shares in this video.
****🚲 Our other UA-cam Channel, virtual bike rides all over the US: http:/ / amazingbikerides
✅Favorite Playlists & Videos
RV Tours: tinyurl.com/y6...
RV Tips & Tricks: tinyurl.com/y4...
Travel trailer? Fifth Wheel? Class A? Class C? How to pick the right camper for you: tinyurl.com/y3...
Watch Liz hitch up the fifth wheel by herself: tinyurl.com/y2...
✅ Who We Are
Liz and Paul are fulltimer RVers who met on the road after solo traveling for one year. They share RV tips, tricks and lessons learned from life on the road.
🛒 Liz Amazing (and Paul)’s Amazon Store: www.amazon.com...
✅ All Rights Reserved Our videos are for entertainment purposes only. We are not travel or RV experts. It is important to do your own research to find what works best for you. We share our RV tips and tricks that work for us. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
#RvLife #FulltimeRVLiving #CamperCrash
Liz I want to say, at first I thought to myself what a story this is going to be and how I was going to look down my nose at you for being so ridiculous as to have this accident.
But then I watched your video and paid attention and realized this could happen to anyone, no matter how much you think you know or how much experience you have. Just simple little details add up to create something catastrophic and terrifying. Very happy you both came out of it alive and that I can benefit from it by understanding that you need to always know your equipment, know your limits and pay attention to details.
Thanks for having the humility to tell this story and constitution to relive it so others can benefit. Good job.
Thank you so much for this Jim! I am so grateful that this video is helping others. Be safe out there!
pro tip : you can watch series at kaldrostream. I've been using them for watching lots of of movies recently.
@Kaiden Walter Yup, been watching on kaldrostream for since december myself :D
They're always telling tales of woe.
Great job Liz! You're willingness to talk frankly about your mistakes and what you learned is really important. Thanks for having the courage to call yourself on these things. :)
Hey Ray! Thanks so much! I am definitely a much safer driver after my camper crash!
Liz - Thank you for sharing your story. After towing a travel trailer for 42+ years, your comments are spot on. Here is what we have learned (after making every mistake in the book short of wrecking the trailer - though we came really close to that a couple of times):
1) make sure your trailer (TT) and tow vehicle (TV) are properly matched. The TV must have the tow and payload capacity to handle the trailer.
2) Make sure the weight is properly distributed in the trailer. The weight should be over or a bit in front of the axles. Weight behind the axles causes instability from insufficient weight on the tongue and hitch, and
3) if you are towing with a pickup truck, put light truck tires (LT) on the TV and get rid of the P-Metric radials. LT tires are stiffer and help stabilize the TV-TT package.
We're glad y'all are OK and "back in the saddle, again".
Great tips!!! Especially about the tires, a lot of people don't realize you can upgrade your tires! Thanks so much and yes it is indeed great to be back in the saddle! Be safe out there!
Thank God you and your friend walked away from that wreck. I HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR 30 YEARS AND INVESTIGATED MANY, MANY WRECKS WHERE THE OCCUPANTS WERE TAKEN AWAY IN A BODY BAG. LOOK AT IT AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND STAY BE SAFE. GOD BLESS
Oh my. That puts it into perspective for sure!! Yes, super grateful that my learning experience did not cost any lives.
Thank you for the work you do, it must tough sometimes with so many awful memories of lost lives.
You’re clearly not really a cop. The shouting gives it away.
“Loose the agenda,” my character flaw. My wife totally agrees with you. As usual, another great video. Thanks for posting.
I’ve just started watching these and I have to say you really are amazing! To put yourself out here in UA-cam with such honesty and with such Grace is truly appreciated. I can imagine how difficult this was to make, but I believe this video will be helpful for us all. Bless you. Loving your videos. 🙏❤️❤️❤️
Subscribing to your channel and watching your videos has made me a better camper. It's been like learning from your best friend. Thanks Liz!
Hey Susan! Thanks so much!!! Welcome to the channel and I am so happy to have you here. Looking forward to seeing you on the road. Till then, see you in the next video.
This video just popped up in my recommended videos, and I'm so glad it did. I rarely see women talking about towing on UA-cam. It's almost always a husband giving the advice. Women can (and absolutely should) take ownership over the towing process, too! I can't wait to watch more of your videos! I am the primary driver in our family (husband hates backing & I hate navigating so it works out well).
Hi Allison! I meet so many couples on the road where the wife does not know how to drive the rig. I always encourage the wife to learn and give specific recommendations.
Last week I met a couple where the husband has a history of heart trouble. I told the wife she needs to know how to drive it in case he needs to be rushed to the hospital. There may not be time to unhitch or wait for an ambulance. She could call 911 and start driving towards the hospital with plans to meet EMS on the way. Sadly, the next day her husband told me she still is unwilling to learn.
Another couple I met I asked the wife what would she do if her husband got bit by a bee and had an allergic reaction? The husband and wife looked at me stunned-- turned out he actually does have a bee allergy! The wife then assured me she would start driving their motorhome the next day.
Good for you for knowing how to drive and tow your trailer- and being the primary driver! I think it's empowering to know how to drive and back the rig. Every woman needs to know this for her own peace of mind and safety.
We need more people like us!
Women should put other people's lives at risk pulling a trailer with no experience, that could easily get away from them, just go practice on the road where the rest of us driving, and when it gets squirrely and you loose control and it kills you and the people behind you, it was good that a women took control!
Terry Fuschak Betya there are far more men who do this then woman! Gee maybe a guy could learn from a woman’s mistake hmmm.
@@LizAmazing A few years back I was attending a national camping conference. While there I had a medical emergency which put me in the hospital for almost a week. I was about 700 miles from home which meant my wife needed to come up to retrieve my truck with camper and take me home. One of my brothers lived near where my truck was located so he was able to retrieve it from the campground. My wife took a bus since going to the airport to take a plane would not have worked out. After I was released, we took our time returning home and hoped it would never happen again. My camper is mounted on my truck so it is not as difficult to take with you.
Liz, I am glad you made it through the accident. Towing a trailer is not same as driving a motorhome. Your trailer with electric brakes, they can be applied without stepping on the brake pedal. The controller has monetary slide switch that will only apply the trailer brake to help you slow down. But most of all worst thing about your accident is that trailer weight was heavier than recommenced for that truck, that along will cause your trailer to start swaying/fishtail as you increase the speed. Heavy trailer will make your front of the vehicle to go up and it affect the steering to be light. I would never have let you drive the truck with trailer, and that was your first time and at night. No never. You did give excellent advice about driving at night and with trailer, as we get older it's difficult to see at nights. I am happy for you and please stay safe.
You brought up some great tips. Especially relying on someone else's judgement on what to do. We all live and learn. Thanks for this.
Chest Crystal You are so welcome! I hope my tips and learning help others avoid a camper crash.
I am really late to this party but I will add my two cents in anyway.
First off, thank God you were able to walk away from this accident. What happened to you is not unusual and the outcomes are sometimes much worse.
Second, I am glad you have been able to diagnose the problem because some folks just don’t ever get it and remain an accident waiting to happen.
I have been a driving instructor for most of the last 40-years teaching everything from beginning drivers to CDL drivers to RV drivers. When it comes time to talk about sway I always say that as a driver you will at some point experience the tail wagging the dog. It doesn’t matter if you are towing a bumper pull trailer, a 5th wheel, or a moho. If you are out on the road long enough you will experience sway. Knowing you will experience sway the best thing to do is to prepare to deal with it before it gets bad.
The first thing to do when the tail starts wagging the dog is to do what I call pulling the string straight. To do that you need the front to pull forward and the rear to pull backwards. You do that by staying steady on the throttle awhile manually applying the trailer brakes. Once the string is straight and the tail is no longer trying to wag the dog you can then get off the throttle and slow down. Slowing down is probably the easiest thing to do to reduce sway.
I once saw a Toyota pickup towing a very large toy hauler at a very high rate of speed. I was traveling at 72 MPH and the Toyota was catching up to me very quickly.
My first thought was he was going way to fast. Any situation on the road becomes progressively worse the faster you go.
My second thought was the truck looked like it was pretty puny for the task at hand. The net payload determines how much trailer you can tow and not the trailer tow rating.
My third thought was he was an accident waiting to happen. And it happened right before my eyes.
He hit a tough patch of highway. Because of the speed he was traveling it upset the trailer and got it rocking. The driver did the absolute worst thing he could have done, he slammed on his brakes. The trailer swayed back and forth twice, each time the trailer almost hit the corners of the truck. On the third sway the trailer went top over tea kettle taking the Toyota for quite a ride. He ended up in the median with the trailer on its side with the roof facing me and the Toyota wax on its side eith the bottom facing me.
From the time the trailer took the first swing to when it was in the ditch took about 10-seconds.
As you so clearly articulated, knowing how to manually apply the trailer brakes should be a priority for every person who tows a trailer.
Again, I am glad you were able to walk away with very few injuries.
God Luck and Happy Trsils to you.
The best part of this video was the bit toward the end where you were in the truck bed, hunkered down with gloves on checking the chains and smiling at the camera. Inspiring!
Awww, thanks so much. Sure learned a lot from my camper crash!
Glad you are both OK. All your points are spot on. In my 30 year LE career I investigated many bumper hitch trailer crashes. By far one of the biggest contributing factors was the tow vehicle was marginal at best for the task. Followed by driver inexperience/unfamiliarity with the trailer/tow configuration and poor cargo/weight distribution. The dynamic of towing is completely different from driving without a trailer. Your point of "practice" is important. Every spring I take my motorcycle to the local school and practice, just to brush up on skills I haven't used all winter.
So thankful you walked away without any major injuries. I know this had to be such a traumatic incident, but you have recovered, gotten back out there and are wiser for the wear. You're doing a great service sharing this with all of us. Safety is so important and not all dealers do a good job of making sure people leave the lot educated!
Older and Wiser Thank you so much! Yes I feel so lucky to walk away from the crash with only a broken wrist. The towing mistakes made with that camper were truly epic! I hope my little PSA helps keep others safe on the road. Have you had any wrecks or near misses?
@@LizAmazing First trip out we nearly sideswiped a tree pulling out of the campground! Several workers watched as I took 30 minutes to back it up enough to go out the exit intended for RVs. Was humiliating. That was a frustrating trip all around and we'd started wondering "Did we make a mistake?" LOL
Towing wise, I did a ton of reasearch..for about 2 years prior to buying the rig because I have never towed anything and was terrified at the prospect of doing so. But..I really wanted to get out there RV'ing! A video like this one would have made my list to watch a few times!
Yes, that's the most stressful thing about driving my fifth wheel- I always have "witnesses" each time I back it into a new campsite! Not many people have seen a solo woman backing up such a big rig-- some people want to step in and "help". What kind of camper did you end up with?
@@LizAmazing I can imagine you get lots of "help". We ended up with a 32' TT pulled by a 3/4 ton diesel. We'd like to move to a 5th wheel when we go fulltime though!
Older and Wiser Sounds like a good plan! When will you go full time? Perhaps I’ll meet up with you on the road someday. I also have a 3/4 ton. Love the power! I have way more truck than I need- makes towing my fifth wheel over mountains super easy! What part of the country are you now? Any mountains in your area? Be careful with your travel trailer going down hills.
Hey LIz, I just wanted to thank you for this video. My wife and I will be driving from California to Texas to pick up our new travel trailer in a month and this video made me realize that my wife and I both need to know everything about proper towing.
So glad to hear this. I truly didn’t know when I didn’t know. And that’s the same for most people. Congrats on your new camper!
So glad you’re both okay Liz, a truly terrifying experience!! Towing safety is the first reason I started my UA-cam channel, hoping to educate others getting into RVing, and even those already there. Upgrading to a high quality anti-sway hitch was the best investment we made, as it made a world of difference. Sway control, proper loading within the trailer, and not overloading the tow vehicle’s abilities are all critical elements for bumper-pull trailers.
Oh I am so glad you are dedicated to safety. You just have to be SO careful when towing a travel trailer. Sadly, my crash was not the only one on that mountain. EMS said jacknife accidents with bumper trailers are a pretty regular thing.
@@LizAmazing You need 10 PERCENT of the trailer weight on the ball of the hitch! So if the trailer is 3500 lbs loaded, you would need 350 lbs on the hitch.
If you ever manage to read this, just want to let you know that you are a really brave person to share these mistakes and brave for continuing to RV after such an accident! Thank you!
Thanks Lee, that means a lot.
Wow you are so awesome for doing this video. I have personally witnessed exactly what happened to you twice. Both times the vehicles were going down hill too fast with a big trailer. I'm so glad you are ok and didn't get killed. Also the fact that you were humble enough to realize your mistakes. Too many people have too much pride and make excuses for what happens. You owned what happened and now others can learn from your mistakes. I'm on my 3rd RV this time it's a huge diesel pusher. No more getting pushed around when the big rigs pass...
Yep-- and no more travel trailers for me. I am actually thinking of getting a Class A next, a diesel pusher. Happy travels to you!
I hope everyone ever planning on towing watches this !!!
There is so much more to towing than just hooking up and heading out, don’t let the idea of all the fun overshadow the need for safety and education of you tow vehicle and trailer. The neglect can cause deadly mistakes for yourself and others ! Thank God you both are ok and no others on the road were involved.
Thanks for sharing your humbling experience with such honesty, I sure hope people will watch and learn !
Safe travels
Thank you so much! I sure learned a lot from my camper crash. Happy and safe travels to you, too!
First of all glad you’re OK from your learning experience that I’m sure you would rather not have learned. I would just like to say thank you for sharing your mistakes as I’m sure you will be help someone who’s never or is their first few times of pulling a trailer. Great job!
THanks so much-- learned so much from crashing the camper!
@@LizAmazing Making lemonade out of lemons. Very challenging way to learn something you needed. Another thing, know your weights! Was the truck rated to tow the trailer? How much weight was on the tongue? Did you properly load the trailer ?-- Many accidents are caused by the trailer being loaded improperly. Glad you learned enough AND you are still using a camper.
Liz, just found your channel and wanted to say glad you’re ok! Fish tailing is usually caused by too little or too much tongue weight. Most folks load the back of the trailer too heavy and as a result the tongue is now too light. The Toyota Tundra you were using to tow with also has a light rear end, as most half ton trucks do, compounding the problem. A couple observations for everyone to consider. First if you’re bumper pulling a travel trailer use a weight equalizing or weight distributing hitch. Follow directions carefully because they are adjustable and if not correctly adjusted you’re still in danger. ALSO, use a Sway Control device and again they are adjustable, so pay close attention to instructions. There are times you’ll need 2 sway control devices. Also, electronic brake controllers are adjustable and you need to set the amount of braking you need given the weight your pulling. Tire pressures are critical on both truck and trailer!! Underinflated tires cause more crashes than stick can be shaken at. I realize this is lengthy, but I implore all that read this to please heed. One last thing, Install mirrors on the tow vehicle that allow you to see down both sides of the vehicle you’re towing. I spent 30 years in 2 service departments and the last 8 years as an over the road truck driver and unfortunately your experience is all too common. God bless!
Wow-- such great advice and info! Thanks so much!!!
These are all very good points to consider, thank you for sharing! I am glad you guys "walked away" from what could have been far worse! As I agree that at fifth wheel can be more stable, a pull behind mated to the properly sized tow vehicle with load distribution and sway control can be a very safe rig to drive. I am a firm believer that the tow vehicle needs to have payload headroom...that is to say if your tow-able weighs in at 5,000 lbs for example, then your tow vehicle should be rated 20-30% higher in capacity. If your loaded tongue weight is 550lbs then your tow vehicle should be able to handle 715 or better. I see too many rigs on the road where the tow vehicle is obviously maxed out or at capacity and the driver is trying to make it all better by putting in massive weight distribution hitch system. I am sure in windy conditions or panic stops at best it is a white knuckle drive!
In my case I have a travel trailer that has a GVWR of 9845lbs and a tongue weight of 580lbs. My current tow vehicle is a Ford SD F250 with a tow rating of 15,000lbs and a Class 5 hitch rated for 1600lbs....I have plenty of headroom. I have a weight distribution hitch that is really not needed but I still use it since it adds control of the trailer load under undulating conditions.
Here is the big number though...look at your tow vehicles GCWR rating....This is your maximum Gross Combined Vehicle Rating. You want to make sure your tow vehicle weight, towed vehicle weight, passengers, pets, cargo, water, full tank of fuel and anything else you are hauling does not exceed that number. Best advice is load for a normal trip and make for your first stop, go get your rig weighed at the local truck scales. You may be surprised to find that you are overloaded!
Of course having a trailer that is recalled for going into an uncontrollable sway falls into.....damned if you do and damned if you don't! Your best advice...know your rig...understand how your systems work...know your towing capacity, tongue weight, trailer CVWR, and your CCWR....and then as you stated...take your time!
Wise words for sure! Thank you. You sound like you know what you are doing! Yep, I am now comfortably well within tow rating & payload with my current setup. I learned a lot for sure!
I'm glad you're okay and thank you for sharing with others what you experienced because I believe it will save lives.
Yes. It was a tough video to make but my goal is to help others. Always. Thanks for being here.
How brave and straightforward you are to admit when you and your friend made mistakes. I have towed 2 trailers, a 17 foot Casita (a dream to tow) and a slightly larger boxier Lance trailer (still lightweight but more wind resistance). Thankfully I didn't make the mistakes you two did, but we need women like you to teach by experience the hard way. Thank you for making this video!
Cynthia Ray awww, thanks! I like Casitas- nice floorplans! Yes a lot of mistakes hope this video helps prevent trailer accidents.
Sounds promising. As a potential RV owner I worry about potential problems.
I know a lot of RVs but I have never seen one like that one. It looks old.
I have just about ruled out TTs. I wish they were more aerodynamic. That’s why I would consider a rounded one or a tall teardrop shape.
I'm a subject matter expert on towing, hitch set-ups and configuration and have been towing various types of trailers for decades. Honestly I had very low expectations for your advice when I started the video. I see tons and tons of bad advice on the internet for towing all the time. BUT.... A HUGE kudos to you for getting this right. Very well done and excellent advice.
A couple of additional things to consider as a factor... Make sure you have the proper tongue weight when loading your trailer. More tongue weight (moving more of the cargo load inside the trailer to the front) gives you more stability against sway. Too much cargo weight to the back of the trailer is a HUGE factor in sway. Obviously your hitch has capacity limits as does the tow vehicle's suspension. You have to work with those parameters.
Second - Sway control installed on the hitch. Proper sway control configured correctly!
Last - when the trailer starts to sway, use the hand lever on the brake controller to apply braking just to the trailer. Don't hit the brakes on your tow vehicle. Your issue was different because you were going downhill. Normally you'd actually accelerate gently on the TV while braking the trailer. Counter-intuitive to an inexperienced driver towing trailers.
Wow, thanks so much for the kudos! Sure appreciate your helpful tips, too. I would have thought of applying brakes and accelerating- makes perfect sense! Thank you!
My new boyfriend Paul was a subject matter expert in the automotive industry. He is curious if you also work in automotive field?
@@LizAmazing - I'm an engineer by degree. I work in the heavy haul and specialized rail industry moving dimensional and super loads. But I've been towing trailers for a long time, and being the engineer that I am, I have learned the minutia of all the different types of causes and effects with hitch configurations, vehicle types, axle spacings, load balance. My current RV is a bumper pull toy hauler which I sometimes tow with no toys, sometimes to capacity and even tow tandem trailers. You have to pay a lot of attention to load balance and hitch weight every time you load the trailer. I've towed with short wheel base F150, shortbed F250 diesel and longbed F350. People so often underestimate what a significant difference longer wheelbase TV's make keeping control of towed trailers. That's why I'm not much of a fan of mid-size or short wheelbase SUVs to tow travel trailers. Regardless of what the factory tells you it will pull.
You, young lady, have an incredibly good attitude! What a breath of fresh air. I just discovered your videos, and have been enjoying getting to know you. I hope we cross paths some day, as I will be starting my full-time RV adventure in the next 6 to 8 weeks. One Continuous Adventure!
So glad my camper crash wasn't any worse! Happy travels to you.
Congratulations 🎉 So a year has gone by. Give us a update. Did you do it and how are you liking it?
Two years later and you are still amazing!
Aww, thanks so much!
So glad it wasn't worse! Glad you're able to share your wisdom!
Thanks! You never forget traumatic events such as an RV crash! But looking back I can see I learned a lot!!!
Wow! You described a wreck that I had back in 2005 as if you were driving mine as well. Our rig was smaller. My girlfriend was driving, and she had only driven it a time or two on that trip alone. But we had already driven more than 1200 miles in that trip. So she'd had some practice to that point. The tow vehicle was a wheelchair conversion Ford Windstar, and the camper was a 16' single axle hardshell camper. As with your equipment, our camper was heavier than the van. I made some of the same mistakes as you, but the biggest problem as that after the previous night's stop, we had reloaded too much weight to the rear of the camper. The load distribution was very uneven back to front. Once the tail began wagging the dog, there was no recovery. The driver had no idea how to correct with the same type of trailer brakes that you had. We even had the downhill grade and the extremely steep dropoff in the medium between the north and south lanes of I-55 in southern Mississippi. Thank the heavens for that strong Mississippi guardrail system! In the past, before I bought this camper, I had always driven some kind of motored RV. First a Cab-over slip in camper that rode in the long bed pickup truck back in the late '70's, and then a 22' Champion motorhome. I resolved to never again tow an RV. I have to drive it or leave it on the lot. Today I have a 34' Winnebago Itasca Suncruiser. Easier to drive than any of the others. This time, I pull the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan BraunAbility conversion wheelchair van on a tow dolly behind. That tail is not going to wag the dog!
Oh my gosh-- thanks for sharing. Yourcamper crash does sound eerily similar to mine. I, too am so grateful for the guardrail on I-75 in Tennessee! I swore I'd never tow again-- but I did get over that. And learned a lot! Wishing you safe travels.
Wow! What a sobering story. Glad you weren’t badly hurt. Took some guts to share your story. Hope it saves someone else. Sent here by the RV Odd Couple. Subscribed to your channel. Looking forward to more.
Hi welcome to my channel! Yes, it took some courage to share my video, sure hope it helps others. Thanks for watching and I look forward to getting to know you.
Glad everyone is ok . We have all been to the school of hard knocks . Live n learn . Thanx for yr honesty an story . Very much luck to you
Thanks. I sure learned a lot from my Camper Craft! Wishing you safe travels out there
Wow, how terrifying. So glad you were okay, Liz. You got some great advice. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dean! It really was a traumatic crash. I hope my video helps prevent travel trailer accidents. So scary to think how little I knew when I was towing. Feeling SO lucky to have survived!
Thank you for your fine, honest explanation of the mistakes you made leading up to your crash. We are all human and capable of screwing up. You learned a lot and perhaps your story might inspire many others to learn and pay attention to what they are getting into owning an rv. Appreciate you!
Awww, thanks so much. I sure hope this video helps others. I for sure did not know what I didn't know. I learned the hard way for sure and am all about safety these days!
Thanks Liz- Your 10 or so video I’ve watched are wonderful- such a nice speaking voice you have, with a friendly “organized” communications. It shows your brain and heart are into this. “Be good to Yourself”!
Thanks so much! I hope my camper crash video helps keep safe other Rvers on the road. Do you own a camper?
I've been towing heavy equipment for nearly 40 years but just towed a camper for the first time a few weeks ago. It's a 22 footer and only weighs 3800lbs. I thought; This will be a breeze. Wake up call!! That high profile "wall" behind me reacted much differently than a skid loader which weighs 2.5 times more. Just a large SUV gave the camper a slight shake as it passed. Initially I thought something was wrong with my rig. But after a few times I realized what was happening.
Sorry you had to learn the hard way but grateful that you're willing to share your experience and tips for those that are new to towing. Safe travels.
Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for sharing. Sure appreciate your comment and glad to have you on our team. See you in the next video.
Wow, I am planning to go Fulltime in the future and this was so helpful. Looking at the "Recall List" is not something I would have thought of. I am glad you are ok.
Thanks so much-- I'm glad it was helpful. I was really embarrassed to admit all my mistakes! But then I thought, if I drove a travel trailer being this clueless, then others might be doing the same thing. So are you camper shopping now? I have owned seven campers and have a video about picking the right type of camper to be the perfect fit for you. Do you know when you'll be fulltime? Maybe I can meet up with you on the road someday.
@@LizAmazing I am camper shopping and this video has definitely changed my thought process. I was looking for bumper pull Grand Design Imagine travel trailer. After watching this video I am going to focus on a gently used 5th wheel infinity or Reflection. If you see any for sale please let me know. Thank you for the tips.
There are things to help, like sway bars and weight distribution bars. Towing is not a joke. Driving a vehicle bigger and heavier than your car isn't a joke. I wish more people would take a minute to educate themselves. I'm glad you were saved from inflicting more harm to yourself or others. This is a tremendously helpful video.
Thanks so much! We did have that. The sway bars flew off in the crash. We truly did not know what we didn't know. Sure learned a lot from my camper crash. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tips. I have a travel trailer and have experienced the winds in California moving the trailer during towing. However, don't worry if your rig outweighs your truck. Almost everybody's rig outweighs their truck. Even a Ford F-350 only weighs about 6,000 pounds (and can tow up to 3x that weight).
You know that’s a good point. And yes the winds in California are really something aren’t they? I have a weather alert radio and there is an alert right now for Ventura county. Stay safe out there! Are you a fulltime Rver?
@@LizAmazing Hi. Yes, I have a 2018 Lance 2285 that I've been living in for over two years. I got one of the last Lance travel trailers built before they switched to a cheaper roofing material and now the company has been sold to REV Group. I tow with just a Tacoma V6. I subscribed to you today and plan to watch a bunch of your videos.
Thank you so much- and welcome! Enjoy your Lance- sounds nice!!
Yes, her making a rule to “know your trailer weight” doesn’t mean much. So it is heavier, so what. You just must be aware of the physics of towing.
That looks scary! It's amazing you continue to RV after that accident. Good for you for persevering and adjusting (multiple times) with something you clearly enjoy.
Thanks for sharing your hard learned lessons so honestly. I'm really really enjoying your channel.
This is a great video Liz! I have no camper "crash" stories. Did sideswipe a dumpster once.
It’s so easy for that to happen, right? I still drive the trailer tires up over curbs!
Gave me goosebumps. So glad you all walked away. I can understand why you would say travel trailers are most likely to get into accidents. We have overkill- towing a 26' TT with an F350 and install special towing equipment. Thanks for sharing this - an eye opener for sure on knowing your rig's.
Absolutely! Sounds like you have a good understanding of safe towing for your rig.
Great advise. Its a shame you had to learn the hard way. I'm happy you came out of it ok, besides the broken wrist, ouch. And you got right back on the horse. May your channel grow by the 1000's. Lots of good advise in them. Tks again and be safe out there...
Thanks so much! Yep, i learned a BUNCH from that camper crash! Safety is now my #1!
WOW!!! You DID luck out. I’ve responded to trailer accidents where the trailer flipped the car with it. Wow..... glad your both OK. Again gr8 advise. Thanks.....Jeff
Thanks again, Jeff! Yep, it was a super close call!!! Be safe out there when you get your camper-- and happy travels to you!
Wow! I'm so glad you walked away with only a broken wrist.
Knock wood, I haven't had any issues pulling my trailer but on my first time out I had what could have been a major disaster.
I was setting up at Rancho Oso near Santa Barbara where many of the sites are on a terraced hillside. I didn't get it as level as it needed to be and since I'd already unhitched I decided that rather than reconnecting and pulling it up onto the levelers I'd just jack up one side and slide some under the wheels. Simple, right? What I forgot about were the wheel chocks so as soon as the wheels came off the ground the trailer started rolling and had it gone another foot it would have gone down the slope I was backed up to and taken out at least one other camper. Luckily the tongue jack bit into the dirt and saved the day 😵All's well that ends well I suppose but it taught me a valuable lesson, which is to CHOCK THE WHEELS FIRST!
What a close call! That's how we learn to be better campers, right? I just hope my rv accident prevents someone else from experiencing a crash. Towing one of these, whether a travel trailer or fifth wheel is a lot of responsibility-- especially for us solo travelers! How is your fifth wheel search going?
@@LizAmazing You made some excellent points on the vid so I'm sure that it will get people thinking.
No movement on the 5er front...
Same thing happened to my boyfriend and myself on a motorcycle trip to Sturgis SD! All your tips are absolutely true! We are lucky to be alive. We were ON the motorcycle pulling a motorcycle camper. It pushed us while going down an exit ramp. It was the first time we had speakers in our helmets, so we could hear each other, and all of a sudden he hollered hang on, we’re going down! I was trying to process what he just said when we both flew off the bike and I landed in the middle of the road. I remember I kept rolling and rolling down the road and I kept thinking how long can a person roll? Someone on the highway must have called an ambulance because they were there very quickly. Being the penny pincher I was, bleeding and in a daze I ran around picking up all of our belongings. His brother drove the hour and a half to pick us up and we bonded over the next two weeks bandaging each other up twice a day. Not the way to begin a relationship but it sure told me what kind of a person he was. He could’ve just dropped me off at my door and said sorry and left. That would’ve been the end of that , but he stayed and we’re still together 2 1/2 years later We went back later and realized it was right after a curve and if a semi etc. had been taking that exit they would have not seen me around the corner until it was too late and would have ran over me. It was a miracle we did not even break any bones. Cuts and scrapes but we had our gear on so we were mostly protected, but road rash and skin torn off in exposed areas and through jeans was not fun. He admitted he should’ve practiced much more pulling that camper. He feels really bad, but it happens often and I should have went with him practicing so we would know how my weight etc. affected everything. So thankful you both survived, and hard lessons were learned by all.. two years later, and I still have PTSD on motorcycles. I just keep getting on them because I love them so much. He knows when my legs squeeze his rear he needs to slow down and he takes curves very cautiously which I definitely appreciate. I think I will probably end up with a three wheeler and that may help. Hard lesson learned but this video may save newbies.
Wow, thanks so much for sharing your story! This is, unfortunately, an all too common accident when towing. My ambulance driver said it happened on that hill every week! Glad you got through that and thanks for watching.
Don't worry. I was towing a 28 foot 5th wheel and "Ran OVER" two cars making a turn in the parking lot of Timber Line Lodge, Oregon. No worries. 5th wheel trailers are much more stable.
Oh my goodness. That sounds rough. I am loving my fifth wheel-- it does great in the wind, too.
@@LizAmazing 5th wheels so much safer. I've towed horse trailers and will never do a bumper pull again.
I don’t have any near miss stories because I have just purchased my first rv and have not yet taken delivery. I must say you are one brave lady to acknowledge and share all the mistakes you made in order to help others. I am taking all you have said to heart.
Hi John, Thank so much! Yes, I truly did not know what I didn't know. It sounds like you are doing your research. Congratulations on your Rv! Happy travels to you.
I also own a 2012 18' Travel Trailer as opposed to my 2012 Class A 38'. They trailer is paid off, but my class A isn't. I notice when I used my travel trailer, yes the wind does seem to catch easy. But I just simply slow down. If I drop down to say 55 or less, then I use my hazardous lights till my speed picks up. # 1 I seldom drive a night. Maybe just before the sun is up, but 'maybe' 30 minutes of dark otherwise; driving in the dark is not cool. You can't see much. And if I can avoid the wind, I'll make my day trip short for the day. It took my 8 days from PHX to Tampa. I had planned on it taking me 9. So. Being in a hurry is another major fall back. Pulling over for the day, start planning that before you even take off from your last stop. Or push comes to shove start thinking of your next destination stay by no later than 11am or 1pm, that way you have time to pick & choose the best campground & time to set up while you have day light, especially during the winter time.
Wow- that is amazingly quick-- are you also a solo traveler? Yep, you gotta be careful with travel trailers for sure! I hope this video prevents a crash.
Yes I have always traveled alone. I've been doing it during the spring/summer/early fall months. I am in my mid 40's. Everyone I know is either under a doctor's care, married, have grand kids they are looking after or just don't want to travel this way. So I said screw it, I'm doing it. And I get ready to every April/May and I hit the wrote 2 weeks at a time.
Thank you so much for this video and responding to my comment on your other video. Doing research to tow a 5th wheel has definitely opened my eyes to the fun and the dangers of 5th Wheel RVing. I'll be using a 2001 F-350 4x4 Lariat Crew Cab with the short bed and the 7.3L. Doing my research I found it has a total GCWR of 20,000 Lbs and a Towing weight of 13,000 and a tongue weight on the 5th is dependent on the Hitch, we're looking at a Curt or Reese 16K/4K. We'll have new brake pads & rotors, new wheel hub bearings and I'll be going over every inch of the engine and drive train as well as suspension. It will be my 1st towing anything large so video's like this are a must for a beginner like me. That's why appreciate anyone who has gone through through an accident and has shared the heartache and lessons learned. I'll be taking all advice to heart. Again thank you so much for sharing. I'll be subscribing to your channel. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
Hello Keith! Thanks so much for subscribing!!! Glad you are taking the time to do your research and that safety is a priority and focus. Paul and I look forward to meeting you on the road!
Wow you are right a perfect storm, a chain of events boiled down to the single cause off the accident. Scary but glad you shared this story. Thanks!
Yes it sure was a perfect storm, glad to have survived!
So sorry that happened to you! Took guts to make this video and admit your mistakes! Thanks for sharing! I live I my 36ft GULF Stream. While traveling in Texas I unfamiliar areas at night I took an exit ramp. Thinking that it was like other exit ramps I expected to have plenty of room before I met with cross traffic. I was traveling what I thought was a reasonable speed only to find the exit ramp made a very sharp right turn and there was a stop at a T to cross traffic. Slamming on the brakes running the stop sign, thankfully nobody was there. As I was turning I felt the coach beginning to roll over onto it's side. Finally after holding the brakes as hard as I could I felt the coach roll back and land hard on it's rear axle. After I stopped I pulled the coach over the to the side of the road and sat there chain smoking cigarettes for the next 15-20 minutes. Anyone that's seen a coach roll over it looks like a pile of scrap fiberglass mixed with furniture and twisted scrap aluminum and toothpicks! I got really lucky and landed wheels down. Since then I limit my driving to daylight hours and I'm much more cautious of exit ramps I've never known before.
Oh my gosh!!! That had to have been SO scary. Those exit ramps can get ya for sure. It's things like that that stick with you. Glad everything was ok. Safe travels to you and thanks for your comment!
Thanks for sharing, this is extremely useful information! I'm getting on a 1000 mile journey with a cargo trailer in a few days and your video definitely gave me some points to consider!
Oh good. I am so glad. I am hoping my camper crash story prevents another accident. Be safe on your 1000 mile journey.
www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a6791/the-right-way-to-tow-a-trailer/
Thank you so much for being vulnerable and telling your story. I am so glad you are okay!
Thank you- this accident made me a far better driver for sure!
Many years ago I worked for a large RV dealership. We planned on spending an hour with each customer going over every aspect of their camper, including a test drive. I have seen customers who refused to listen. Usually it's those who buy a 1/2 ton truck and think it's a semi. Travel trailers are more difficult to set up, but can be setup safely. The classic trailer being heavier then your truck is what we called the tail wagging the dog. When selecting a tow vehicle the towing capicity is affected by the weight of passengers, fuel, water, food items and gear. That SUV with a 6K tow rating will be more like 3K once everyone and everything is loaded. I'm glad that you lived to share your story...
Thank you so much. Sounds like you worked at a good dealership and helped a lot of people. I bought this years from an individual and so did not get as much help as I needed. But I sure learned a lot and now I am super safety conscious.
We bought our 25' Lance Camp Trailer from a guy that tried to pull it with a Jeep Cherokee. He did not wreck the trailer, but the weight of the trailer blew up the Jeep. The dealership that he bought the trailer from told him that the Jeep would be fine for a tow vehicle. So little common sense!
All I will say to you is this. I thank you for the courage to share your bad experience despite the many mistakes you made. I would never criticize you about any of this because we all make mistakes. Your woman enough to admit your mistakes. That says a lot about you. Yes life is about learning from our mistakes and moving forward in a positive way. Thanks for sharing your story young lady.
Thank you so much! Sure appreciate your support and kind words. Be safe!
Thanks for sharing those life lessons, very courageous to keep towing an RV after the accident. Myself, I was not particularly skilled at towing when I had a boat, bent the trailer tongue 2 separate times backing it, not paying enough attention and jack knifing it. New subscriber.
Hi and welcome! Yeah, I still struggle with backing up. Just got to keep trying until I a handle on it. Actually, I think towing a boat can be harder as they are shorter typically and therefore can be squirrely!
Thank you for your honesty. You likely saved lives if even one person heads your advice
The RV Odd Couple sent me here. Liked & subbed. So glad you’re OK. Great tips.
Thank you so much-- and I love the RV Odd Couple! Yes, I learned a lot from my camper crash. Hope this video helps others avoid the same fate. And welcome to my channel!!!
I applaud your honesty in sharing this horrendous experience.
Thank you- it was a tough video to make, for sure!
Yes... you are Amazing! wonderful video. I learned plenty. and subscribing. Thankful you are okay! Can't wait to watch more and learn more!
Hi! Thank you so much for subscribing. I learned plenty from that camper crash too! I know I am a much safer RV traveler now. Yes, me too, I am so grateful that I was able to walk away from the crash with only a broken wrist.
Sent by the Odd Couple. Thanks for sharing.
In school we have lessons then get tested. In life we get tested to see if we learned a lesson.
I have driven Class A, B, and C motor homes. Dragged my father's travel trailer with his truck after he died. Now I have a 5th wheel. While I knew the general principles of towing, I knew I did not know the specifics of 5th wheel mechanics. I drove 10 miles from the dealer to where I was going to park. As I backed up very slowly I let off the accelerator. The unit kept going and disconnected from the hitch. This destroyed the hitch but other damage was minimal. The pin box was faulty. I had to buy a new hitch AND a new pin box. $1500 each.
I got into a long downhill run as you described. I had both sets of brakes warm when I got to the bottom. Cars behind me were flashing lights to get me to pull over so they could pass. There was no safe way to do so.
I aim for 300 miles a day in a travel day with a stay over day whenever possible. I plan for a "short" stop for the days that start slowly and a " long" for the good days. These are 50 miles from the planned stop.
You are so right. Life is always teaching us! I also do the 300 mile a day cut-off. That's a good limit so that I don't get overtired. Wow, I hope the dealer/manufacturer reimbursed you for the faulty pin box. Scary stuff. And thanks for writing and welcome to my channel.
Glad your ok! I live in the mountains of western NC and have learned to be careful here . Now I have a truck camper and take it easy.
Yep, those mountains can get ya! Be safe out there!
I had a similar experience in New Zealand towing a 26' Swift 640 behind an old Range Rover, although I managed to regain control, it was pure luck, not skill that saved us from the same fate. Everything was going just great until it wasn't!! Great video, best wishes.
Yes, happy travels to you! I sure learned a lot from my camper crash and feel lucky to have escaped with only minor injuries.
Thanks for all the great tips that was hard to look at I'm glad you came out of that alive and it didn't deter you from doing something you love
Thank you! I for sure learned a lot from that camper crash!
Thanks for posting this. It's easy to talk about the great times and one's amazing feats. It's another to talk about your mistakes. That took a great amount of courage. I like how you reconstructed the specific things that all lead up to the accident. It was not just helpful, but critical to know. Finally, you'll never know how many lives you saved by talking about your experience. Well, done, Liz, and thank you again.
Hi again! I just knew I'd see you in the next video and here you are! Thanks for your words of encouragement. It was not easy making this video and I sure took some heat for it in the comments. But all in all if my mistakes help others than all is good.
Thank you, for sharing your story. Glad you're ok!!
Thanks so much, feeling very lucky and grateful for sure!
Liz.. you are a wonderful storyteller. 🤜💥🤛
Thanks for sharing this experience. 🥂
Thanks so much Stephen, that is so kind of you.
I seen you in my recommendation. The shorter the tow camper the easier it will fish tail..Me and my husband tows a 28 foot rehabbed vintage tin can. When we first decided to tow it my retired semi driver husband went through every aspect of safty. Even tho he never towed a camper before. He said to research everything then di local trips baby stepping up because he said some people think they can just jump into towing and not know how dangerous it is if your not experienced. We did 1600 miles on our vintage safely and we went around the mountain terrain. He wont trust heavy inclines while towing.. Be safe yall🛣☀️🚛
That sounds like a good plan-- research and then take it slow. No cross country trips until you're comfortable for sure!
I also am a semi -retired driver. I say that only because your husband will know what I am talking about. This ladies camper has tandem axles, not just one axle. Any trailer, even a semi trailer, with one axle will be more likely to encounter sway especially in windy conditions and if the the driver of the pull vehicle does not know how to maintain the steering wheel which can cause it to sway to much they loose control. However, a tandem axle trailer is more likely to stay in straight line because of the way the axles work with with each other, in that they create a brace for each other which in most cases prevents it from swaying. Now any RV trailer, with tandem axles can have sway but that is manly due to driver going to fast, high winds or no anti-sway bar or distribution hitch. This is also true with single axles. My best guess, due to what she said, they both really did not know how to set up anything, nor even driving pulling a trailer thus causing the accident. They are surely fortunate. I'm sure your husband as seen his share of people being careless, resulting in RV,'s as well as semi's, crashing. Mountain terrain is fine. You just got to do it right. Some of the best scenery is in the mountains. I only go around if can't get through or I want to take a different route.In fact this past November I drove out to southern California, I live in Ohio, 5000 miles round trip. I took my truck and truck camper out there and bought a 17ft. single axle HI-LO pull trailer to haul back along with the truck camper. 2500 miles no problem except it was cold all the way back. I took the I-40 to OC and then turned north to St. Louis then east on l-70 to Ohio. I thought taking the southern route would be better because of the bad weather in the Colorado Rockies but like I said, it was cold all the way........Happy Trails..stay safe out there....
@@dannyixoye262 thats awesome. I will show him your reply when he gets up in the morning.. what an exciting trip. Very neat!
Thank You for the video...Im a very seasoned trailer puller, but it never hurts to be reminded of things. You probably have saved some lives with Your video. Im glad that You and Your BF were Ok!
Aww, thank you so much, Randy. I am so glad my video helped others avoid some classic mistakes. Safe travels to you!
Oh! That must have been so scary! When I travel over the summer I'm only driving during the day for sure.
That's a good idea. No more night driving with the rig for me either!
Lots of very important information.
So glad that you pulled through this like a 🏆 🙏🙏
So glad you lived to tell the story. I learned a lot from it.
Oh good. Thank you so much! Super hard-- and embarrassing to make this video. Glad it helped!
Greetings .
Hi Liz Lawrence Cavens here up here in Canada - Wow!! - You're greatly blessed with only a injured wrist.
I can understand how feeling insecure when towing a trailer and I quite agree in practicing in a parking lot to get the feel of how it handles. From what picture you showed in after the wreck a few things come to mind.
1 Toyota tundra - soft suspension in the rear - a equalizer hitch system should of been used.
2 being That that trailer was more in weight than the truck a tow vehicle that has leaf springs in the rear axle should have been used and the proper tires.
3 A sway controller that attaches to the tow hitch called a { slug } and the trailer A frame should have been installed before towing - that would have prevented the trailer from fish tailing
a company called REESE Hitches make a good set up that you can get at an RV Store.
I tow a big 30ft Prowler weighing about 6000lbs and must use a 3/4 tonne truck to tow safely with a equalizer hitch and a friction sway control.
getting back to your issue of the towing weight capabilities Rule of thumb here know what the max limit of the tow vehicle can do and limit it further by 20% safety margin.
That trailer should of been towed with a 3/4 tonne truck not a half tonne. reason why is it's not the going forward thats the problem it's the stopping.
Before I tow a trailer I make sure that I hear the buzz in each wheel on the trailer to make sure that all four electro magnets are working and I set the controller to engage the trailer brakes up to 30 to 50% force that i can feel them as I'm moving the trailer around the block before I hit the road.
you want to do this so that the wheels of the trailer don't lock but keep rolling during hard braking with the controller - you do this in a area with no traffic or like I said around the block.
If swaying starts then get on that controller as the brakes of the trailer will stop that swaying action and bring the trailer under control.
Wow! Great video and so glad you walked away (almost) physically unscathed! We do tow a bumper-pull (30 ft Airstream). We use a Hensley hitch which eliminates sway, tow at or below the speed limit, know how to use our trailer brakes, and know the loaded weight of the trailer and importantly, where that weight is relative to the axle. So far (6500 miles and counting) not a hint of trailer sway from trucks or weather -- but as you know you can never let you guard down when towing! Stay safe!!
I have heard those Hensley hitches are great but I don't know anything about them. Do they have anti-sway bars and/or is it a weight distribution hitch? I honestly am still pretty clueless to the systems-- that accident scared me off of pulling travel trailers! But I do know some of those anti-sway bars can weigh 40 pounds each! I'm so glad you are being very responsible with your towing!
I have heard those Hensley hitches are great but I don't know anything about them. Do they have anti-sway bars and/or is it a weight distribution hitch? I honestly am still pretty clueless to the systems-- that accident scared me off of pulling travel trailers! But I do know some of those anti-sway bars can weigh 40 pounds each! I'm so glad you are being very responsible with your towing!
@@LizAmazing Hi Liz. As I understand it, the Hensley hitch basically moves the pivot point forward so the towing characteristics much more closely resemble a 5th wheel vice traditional bumper-pull. 'Believe 'ProPride' has a very similar hitch (guy who founded ProPride used to work at Hensley). Here's a video showing how it tows. Just FYI, I have no affiliation or endorsements with Hensley or ProPride -- but I really am grateful for this hitch! www.hensleymfg.com/hensley-hitch-video/
Awesome. I will check out the video. I've heard good things about Hensley!
@@davidtitley6822 I just watched the video. Ha, ha, the narrator put me right back to grade school! Oh my goodness! Well that does seem to be an impressive hitch! So there are no sway bars or anything heavy to lift? Good to know!
I really appreciate your honesty and willingness to share these experiences. Very helpful tips, #1 is spot on because by doing that we also take care of others. Knowing the weight of your camper is essential, HOWEVER/AND, even more important is knowing the gross combined weight capacity of your truck/tow vehicle. Most of us take too much stuff and overweight not only our trailer, but also our tow vehicle which creates really unsafe conditions. All your advice is very important, thank you. "Taking responsibility and lose the agenda"--spot on! I wish you all the best and and safe travels in your many travel years ahead.
Yes- that agenda one was a biggie! So many of us make those same newbie mistakes I did. And I got lucky to walk away. Be safe out there!
All great information one thing to add is know your tongue weight. It should be 10 to 15% of the trailer weight. To light of tongue = fish tale. Better to load the trailer tongue heavy then light and fish tale.
Good info-- thanks!
Actually that was the #1 causal consideration in this accident and I was looking for a comment to that effect. That was the basis of the recall she referred to. There was no defect in the trailer manufacturing per se, but Bigfoot did not design it for dry / empty towing let alone with any stuff loaded aft of CG (center of gravity). Professional hot-shot drivers run huge bumper-pull cargo trailers all day with very heavy weights and few accidents--a bumper-pull design is not the main reason for the accident statistic--but those who pull them all the time know loading and braking. Any dealer who does not discuss this with a buyer is not doing their job. Fifth wheels are _not_ immune to this, either, as inexperienced RV drivers can sadly discover. They are just more likely to be within safety tolerance on weight distribution and with the hitch weight centered over the tow-vehicle rear axle without the driver having to know much. All it takes is excessive aft loading and getting it up to speed, though, especially with a little wind or passing by a semi, and it'll be off to the which-ditch-wins races.
Thanks for being honest about your mistakes that impacted a bunch of other people (shut down highway for 3hrs). Most people would have lied and blamed someone else
You are so welcome. I learned all this stuff the hard way and am now a way safer driver! Safe travels to you!!
Thank you for this video . I think this information is so helpful . Scary but helpful , thank you .
Thank you. It was a hard video to make-- and embarrassing-- but I kept reminding myself that this may help others. Do you have a towable? What kind?
@@LizAmazing I have been looking at small towables that I could handle myself when I retire but I do worry about them flipping and everything goes. I have camped in an extra long cargo van but I was blown from one lane clear into another , I did not even know that was a thing .Thank goodness no one was in the next lane and there was a next lane .( It was not loaded at the time so it was kinda light )
Yes, when I had a camper van, I got blown about, too. A trailer can also fishtail in the wind. Just be careful and be sure it is loaded right, when you get it.
Interesting and informative no matter how many miles a person has driven pulling a camper of any length. We all make mistakes and the most important take away is get some training if you haven't pulled a trailer and make sure the weights are within manufacturers recommendations. That is pin weight against tow vehicle capacity and hitch weight to tow vehicle to recommendations. Develop a systematic method of preparing to set up and as to leave, it's really easy to forget a very important step. Thanks Liz.
Thanks Robert. Good tips. Yep, a checklist is SO important! You'll see me using it here as I hitch up by myself in this video: ua-cam.com/video/LB5Z8IPXtug/v-deo.html
I'm so happy tat ou came out of it ok. Thank you, this was really good info.
Thank you! So grateful- and I learned a lot from that camper crash!
It takes a very courageous person to admit their mistake and then make it public. Good job.
Thanks so much. I hope my video helps a lot of people avoid making the same mistakes.
Glad everyone survived that 'perfect storm' of newbie mistakes. Looking at the picture of the A frame, I don't recognize any type of anti-sway / weight equalizing hitch mounting hardware. Did you have one? Those make a tremendous difference in the towing control in windy or downhill driving.
Yes that camper crash certainly was a perfect storm of newbie mistakes! I am a better person for having survived that. I am now super safety conscious. Yes it did have anti-sway bars but they actually flew off during the crash so they may not have been in the pictures.
I believe the most important tip should be know your weights. Too many people buy TTs that's too much for their tow vehicle. This is not only true for bumper hitches but 5th wheels as well. They will buy a TT that weighs 5000 lbs assuming they can tow 8500- but fail to realize that Gross Combined Vehicle Weight is an issue.
Especially first timers. They but the TT then load it with EVERYTHING they own, add passengers and hit the road hundreds of not thousands of pounds over weights.
Even if the vehicle tows it and they know how to use the brakes- they are not designed to stop 10%-15% more than what's recommended.
So tip #1 know your weights.
Tip #2 use a weight scale. Ensure you are not over weight before you get going.
Great advice! I didn’t know anything at all about towing when I got this camper. The scary part is: that is not unusual. Like you said, a lot of people just buy a trailer and off they go. I learned a lot from that accident and hope this video helps other newbies.
Great information, thanks for sharing these tips and your experience.
Nature Lover Canada Thank you so much! Sure hope this video prevents Rv accidents and travel trailer crashes. So embarrassed how little I knew! Do you have a camper? Towable?
@@LizAmazing we have a 21 foot travel travel, MicroLite.
Ok, be careful-- especially when going downhill! Towing a camper is definitely something you can't learn overnight.
We are so glad to see that you came out this basically unhurt...you are very wise in realizing your mistakes...thank God it has made you a better and safer person...thank you for your wisdom and insight...you and Paul be safe and have fun in your trips....J&A
I appreciate that. Thanks so much. Also...this happened with a different boyfriend-- not Paul! I think you probably knew that but I just wanted you to know. Paul is so knowledgeable about all things automotive that he would have not allowed this to happen! Thanks for watching, J & A, we are looking forward to meeting you on the road someday!
@@LizAmazing yea...we knew it wasn't paul...you are right ...he is more knowledgeable...looking forward to seeing you guys out on the road some time...take care..J&A
GLAD your ok
Thank you-- got lucky for sure. Thanks to that guardrail.
Came here after watching your current video. I've broken the rules several times and usually paid for them, though not as seriously as you did, but I learned something each time. Isn't that what it's all about? I appreciate your sharing your mistakes despite your embarrassment so that others may learn from them. (You were great by not taking the bait on the negative comments.) And it has helped me get over to some extent my beating myself up over the ones that I have made.
Love your bike ride videos! It would be nice to have some narration along the rides, maybe explaining where you are or thoughts you're having as you ride. I know it is a lot of work putting these videos together, so I totally understand why you would not want to do this.
Hi Jim! Thanks so much for your kind words. I am glad I put out my camper crash video because I know it has helped others. But, yes, I've grown a thicker skin because of it, too. If you've learned then all you can do is be grateful, right?
Glad you are liking our bike videos, too. There is probably more we could do but they really are just for fun. We like sharing where we have been as so many of our viewers are stuck inside surrounded by snow right now. Wishing you a very happy weekend!
@@LizAmazing Thanks, Liz. I'd like to share one of my incidents that shows that it is sometimes better to be lucky than smart. On my way East, up the gradual hill into Flagstaff at dusk, I became gradually aware of two large javalina, jutting into the right-hand lane that I occupied. I was slow to choose whether to run into them or go around them, so when, at the last second, I swerved to avoid them, it set up a huge, very scary, sway. Here's where the luck came in: I looked down at my dash and it was telling me to apply my trailer brakes. But before I could process that, my truck (Ford Expedition SUV) made the correction itself. I didn't know at the time that my SUV had this capability, but I will always be grateful that it does and that there were no vehicles, humans, or javalinas harmed in the process. I have since upgraded to a Hensley hitch to prevent sway, but I did not learn from that the lesson that I should not travel at night, although after several other incidents, I hope that I have learned it now.
@@jimfrazee Good story! Thanks for sharing. Glad there was no harm to any and all!
Tip #9 read every sign you pass on the road, then you'll KNOW you're going down hill
I wonder how I missed that. It was a long slow down grade, five miles.
Exactly why I want to get rid of our little trailer and get a Class B. It’s small but it wind loads and we are towing with a four-cylinder Subaru Outback. Trailer is 2200 pounds, rating for Outback is 2700 pounds, but it doesn’t feel adequate. The car was OK for a 1900# folding trailer, but buying a heavier full height one was nuts.
Years ago driving our car through Montana, we came across an accident like yours. The guy was grossly overloaded - it look like he was moving and the trailer was apparently stuffed to the gills. There were personal belongings strewn all over the highway and it was a mess.
Thank you for sharing your traumatic experience and glad you got out with only a minor injury.
Yep! I am done with trailer towing. I bought a Class B and fulltimed in it for six months. It was awesome!
Liz Amazing Coincidentally, the accident we saw in Montana was also a red pickup truck - whipped around with the trailer wrenched on its side - wagging the dog, so to speak. The trailer had split open (or the door had opened. I forget - it was 20 years ago). But it disgorged most of the contents - full of household stuff strewn across the highway embankment and spilling over the side.
That was the first video of yours that I had came across. I clicked on it because it sounded like déjà vu.The next one I looked at showed you with a new partner - congratulations! He looks like a keeper. :)
Thank you very much for this very important info! :-o So glad you all survived.
Thank you so much-- yes so grateful we got through this camper crash, sure made me a safer driver.
[Sent by 'RV Odd Couple']
I've had a few close calls since the 70's, but nothing that led to a major problem. Guess I've been lucky. Was so glad to see someone actually mention 'recalls'. A lot of problems can be avoided with just a few minutes of due diligence.
(There's a fairly new channel called 'RV Aware' that puts out a weekly video of latest RV recalls. It's nice to know if the one you own has a new recall.)
There sure are, and so many things that can go wrong in general. Welcome to my channel- be safe out there!
What a story Liz ... it's a good reminder to keep safety first!
I know! It's a little embarrassing how little prepared I was. It's no wonder I crashed the camper! Sure hope this video prevents others from making the same mistakes!
A big thankyou Liz.
I'm in the process of buying a Caravan, here in Australia.
Well trailer or whatever they are called and it's a big responsibility just driving a car let alone a towing a trailer.
I once towed a very small trailer with garden soil and it did the same as your did I slowed down and it came good so drove home extra slowly.
Everything you mentioned makes perfect sense and to not listen to what you said would be foolish.
One thing you didn't mention is how the trailer is loaded and balanced, I do know that having the correct amount of towball mass or downward weight on the hitch is also a major contributor to sway.
The other thing as you mentioned is what to do if it does happen.
Well on lived to tell and t could have gone so absolutely horribly wrong if other vehicles were involved.
One thing I don't plan to do is travel to far in any one day and no travelling at night nor dawn and dusk.
Here in Australia these we the worst times for hitting kangaroos which can be dangerous.
A big thumbs up for your admissions on this video as I'm sure everyone who watched this will sit up and listen.
the accelerator pedal is your friend when the tail wags the dog
Hi peewee! I did not know that, but makes perfect sense! Thanks-- hope I'm never in this situation again. Be careful out there and watch out for newbie towers!
That's partially correct. If you start to fish-tail, manually apply your trailer brakes and accelerate at the same time. The trailer brakes stop the swing while the acceleration straightens it up. Once trailer is under control, slow down and pull over to change your underwear.
Diasagree. Your trailer brake controller is your friend. Accelerating can make things substantially worse.
@@1980seta Great advice, especially the last sentence! lol
Thanks for sharing your experience. My wife and I have been traveling with "bumper pull" travel trailers for 30 years and are now on our 5th Travel Trailer. We were very lucky that the Dealership where we bought our first camper gave a RV101 class that taught us a lot about towing, and is the reason why we have enjoyed our experiences. The main lesson I learned was to know the towing and payload capacities of the tow vehicle, and to stay below those limits.
That's so great. We recently went to RV Driving School and highly recommend it. So glad you got the training. Truly, every dealership should offer it. Here's our video about it. Thanks for commenting and stay safe: ua-cam.com/video/AcPIxCGixCg/v-deo.html
You have to know how to set your trailer brake. You set your brake by letting your foot off the truck brake not applying any gas. As the truck creeps forward set your trailer brakes, when the truck stops without applying the brake on the truck brake this is where you set it. I see you have a GM 2500 HD, your truck should always be in tow haul while towing. This way when you hit the brakes the truck will down shift on it's own to reduce speed. My new truck is a GM 2500 HD with a duramax diesel and is equipped with a Jake brake which is nice descending a hill. with the truck in tow haul and the jake brake you hardly ever touch the brake. I blame some of this on your salesman that sold you the trailer for not educating you especially with a light Toyota truck.
Thank you! All good points. I learned so much from that camper crash. Unfortunately my then-boyfriend and I bought the camper from a private seller so we did not get any lessons. But the gift in that crash is that I am now super safety conscious. Thanks so much for your comments- Be careful out there!
@@emiliojacaman690 Yes I'm aware she told me it was a private sale a month ago in a upper post. Have no idea where this recall stuff is coming from, not in any of my post.
@@emiliojacaman690 Okay must be missed that.
Hey, dont feel bad. I bought a small 17ft camper and attempted to tow it with a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. At about 50mph it would start fish tailing. I new the trailer brakes could stabilize it, and I recovered. But once again as soon as I hit 50 it would go back into oscillation. we had a long trip ahead of us into some mountains and it just wasn't going to work. I turned around and called my friends telling them what was going on and we wouldn't be making it to the lake property. Well, one of my buddies had anti sway bars and gave them to me, we hooked it all up and it was a totally different experience, it saved the vacation. Just learn to say no and never force yourself through something you know isnt good.
Yes, anti-sway bars do you make a big difference. We actually had them on this trailer but they flew off in the crash. As you saw in the video the trailer was recalled because it had the axles too far forward. And that contributed so much to trailer sway. Thanks for watching and safe travels.
The ITBC (integrated trailer brake controller) in your Chevy truck is a far better brake controller than the add-ons from Tekonsha, etc. The trailer brakes and truck brakes operate seamlessly with the ITBC.
I have the same system in my truck (2009 Silverado) and love it compared to any other add-on brake controller I've used.
I prefer not to drive at dark as well.
Delta Bravo Yes! The truck I totaled had an add-on brake system that we got when we bought the camper. Not knowing how to use it definitely contributed to the camper crash. I could have just reached down and moved the slider to apply the trailer brakes. Silverado makes an AWESOME brake system/ didn’t know it was called that. Love it, and I feel so much safer towing my camper.
You weren't lucky, God saved you all! I appreciate your ability to analyze the situation and take responsibility and come up with correction steps. I am sorry you had to experience this and so grateful the injuries were not more. You have helped me tremendously in keeping to a certain style and size of camper. Thankful for your healing.
Thank you so much for your kind words of support! We love having you with us. So grateful for all the lessons learned in life. See you in the next video.
There’s nothing inherently more dangerous about a bumper tow trailer than a 5th wheel. Whatever is under tow, the key is understanding the physics involved. The critical part of the equation is the tow vehicle, and that was the fundamental error that caused your accident. That Toyota wasn’t capable of towing that camper. The same mistake is made with 5th wheels all the time. UA-cam is a great resource for understanding this stuff.
Yes! I learned so much since that camper accident.
A fifth wheel is much more stable than a travel trailer due to weight being over the tow vehicles axle.
toledojeeper Of course, but a bumper pull trailer can be towed just as safely as a 5th wheel.
@@tracyc2695 ...up to a point...I dont care what equipment you use to pull a travel trailer in the over 30 foot range...you cant pull it as safely as a fifth wheel . I tried it all..Hensley hitch with a dually on a 32 foot travel trailer...went to a 36 foot fifth wheel ...the difference is night and day .
@@tracyc2695 Yes it can-- as long as you know what you are doing for sure. When towing on windy days or when the big truckers pass, the travel trailer is going to sway a lot more than a fifth wheel. In fact, the difference is pretty significant.