Women Killed By Lawn Equipment Trailer
- Thread starter CompactTractorFan
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radioman
Super Member
its sad to hear someone get killed, but seriously, how did the trailer breakaway like that?
careless coupling of ball? safety chains not attached? poorly attached safety chains? breakaway brakes not working or not on the trailer......
careless coupling of ball? safety chains not attached? poorly attached safety chains? breakaway brakes not working or not on the trailer......
RandyT
Elite Member
I don't understand how they can build a trailer with a gvwr of 7000 pounds and then not install trailer brakes. at least in Illinois that trailer cannot be licenced for over 3000 pound. By the DOT website trailers less than 3000 pounds don't require trailer brakes. 3001 to 5000 require brakes on one axle. 5001 pounds and over require trailer brake on all axles and a breakaway brake system.
Don87
Elite Member
I saw no mention of 'trailer brakes' or lack thereof in the article that was posted.
Do you have additional info that wasn't provided by the OP?
indianaEPH
Silver Member
radioman said:
unfourtuatly, all of the above
new trailers require brakes but old trailers without break away brakes are still on the road.
RobertN
Super Member
Ya, that "article" was more of a short blurb. Our local news station's website is like that too. It is more of just a headline, with no real reporting. No real journalism there. The web is a nice way to get news, but that is all you'll get most times; headlines.
The local station here has good reporting on the TV; but that web site is mostly headlines.
The local station here has good reporting on the TV; but that web site is mostly headlines.
timswi
Elite Member
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I can pretty much guarantee the safety chains wern't attached...Seen it happen more than I care to say and never with good results.
I lost a small trailer I had owned for many years once.
The coupler was attached; I had unloaded it and driven 25 miles.
The safety chains were attached.
What I did not do, was put a bolt, or a lock in the coupler. Which was something I always do, because I had heard of couplers coming loose from that.
I had crossed some rough railroad tracks about a minute before, which apparently managed to get the coupler to come partially off.
When I started up a hill, I felt the trailer jerk, and head a bang. When I tried to brake, the trailer repeatedly smashed into the back of the tow vehicle, and then bounced back to the limit of the safety chains. The "S" hooks on the safety chains gave out after about 6 of these jolts, and the trailer thankfully hit the curb on the right side of the road, and exited the road.
Since then, I never tow with a bolt, or a lock on the coupler, and I use screw closing quick links on the safety chains, so they cannot come off.
The coupler was attached; I had unloaded it and driven 25 miles.
The safety chains were attached.
What I did not do, was put a bolt, or a lock in the coupler. Which was something I always do, because I had heard of couplers coming loose from that.
I had crossed some rough railroad tracks about a minute before, which apparently managed to get the coupler to come partially off.
When I started up a hill, I felt the trailer jerk, and head a bang. When I tried to brake, the trailer repeatedly smashed into the back of the tow vehicle, and then bounced back to the limit of the safety chains. The "S" hooks on the safety chains gave out after about 6 of these jolts, and the trailer thankfully hit the curb on the right side of the road, and exited the road.
Since then, I never tow with a bolt, or a lock on the coupler, and I use screw closing quick links on the safety chains, so they cannot come off.