Towing Mishap

[paulsharvey]

So, given what the OP stated, taken at face value, he should have been ticketed. Regardless if the other guy merged, the OP should have slowed down, and increased follow distance from the car now in front of him. The old 3 second rule, but they say to add an additional second follow distance for heavy loads and or bad weather. No offense, but I highly doubt the OP had 4 second follow distance.

With sight distance requirements and all, and following the posted speed limit (design speed or regulation speed either one), there should be plenty if distance to stop from the apex of the hill to the off ramp traffic. I'm not saying he was driving crazy or anyhting; let's say he had 2 second follow distance, a heavy load, and maybe 10 mph over limit, and yep, stacking tolerances. Sorry to hear about the truck, but I also don't buy that it's totaled, unless maybe airbags deployed. That's a $5k repair on a $25k truck; should be 100% repairable.

 

[potomska]

The tacoma was rated for 5000+, the 16’ trailer was 1200, the tlb was 3600. the electronic brake controller was dialed in, boosted to 3. (i don’t boost for an empty trailer.) tongue weight was not an issue - i check the leaf springs on the truck. Everything worked as expected, and nothing behind me changed places.

I wondered if anyone would say that they turn abs off when using electric brakes.

 

[airbiscuit]

I was wondering about that, but it takes some doing for ABS to kick in on dry pavement.

 

[CliffordK]

Truck looks totaled to me. Time to deal with your insurance company, pay your deductible and move on.

Sorry to hear about the truck, but I also don't buy that it's totaled, unless maybe airbags deployed. That's a $5k repair on a $25k truck; should be 100% repairable.

Assuming the vehicle has collision insurance on it, the insurance companies are a bit odd to deal with.

The owner often wants the vehicle post accident to be back "as good as new".

That accident looks like it is a fairly straight on accident. Taking out bumper, grill, hood, radiator core supports, perhaps the radiator, side core supports, fenders, headlights, perhaps the bumper mounts. It all adds up. Then the whole front end will need to be repaired and repainted. My guess is that a mainstream shop will charge well over $10K for the repair. Perhaps over $15K. And they seem to get a bit squeamish if the frame is bent or the bumper mounts are bent and part of the frame.

If the pickup gets sold at Copart/IAAI, then it will go for around $10K if newer than 2020.

So, the insurance company will factor a number of things in including customer satisfaction, and it is a good chance it will be "totaled" if they think the repair + expected auction sale price will exceed the replacement value.

Then there is a good chance that a small shop will purchase it and rebuild it and resell it.

I wondered if anyone would say that they turn abs off when using electric brakes.

You've mentioned the Emergency Brake and ABS a couple of times. The theory is that a full skid is always worse than ABS. And, it is impossible for a human driver to brake at a point beyond the tolerance of an ABS system, keeping the vehicle just below the skid threshold (remember, you've already mashed the pedal hard enough to the floor that the ABS was engaged). And, with the ABS engaged you don't lose steering unless the trailer puts you into a spin.

I don't know how ABS on a tow vehicle impacts the trailer. Perhaps it depends on the brake controller.

I haven't seen a normal option to disable ABS. Some notes indicate that on some vehicles you can remove the ABS fuse to disable the ABS. I wouldn't encourage doing that.

One thing that if you deem you can't stop in time, look, for an escape. Your photo shows the pickup parked on the shoulder of a 3 lane highway. Could you have safely gotten to the shoulder and avoided the collision?

 

[dodge man]

You talked about using your e brake or turning off your ABS. Something must not have felt right with your brakes on the trailer or the truck.

 

[5030]

So, given what the OP stated, taken at face value, he should have been ticketed. Regardless if the other guy merged, the OP should have slowed down, and increased follow distance from the car now in front of him. The old 3 second rule, but they say to add an additional second follow distance for heavy loads and or bad weather. No offense, but I highly doubt the OP had 4 second follow distance.

With sight distance requirements and all, and following the posted speed limit (design speed or regulation speed either one), there should be plenty if distance to stop from the apex of the hill to the off ramp traffic. I'm not saying he was driving crazy or anyhting; let's say he had 2 second follow distance, a heavy load, and maybe 10 mph over limit, and yep, stacking tolerances. Sorry to hear about the truck, but I also don't buy that it's totaled, unless maybe airbags deployed. That's a $5k repair on a $25k truck; should be 100% repairable.

I doubt it seriously. Today, you cannot even get a dent repaired in a reputable body shop for 5 grand, I have no idea where you come up with your guesstimate, but it's hogwash. Truck is totalled plain and simple and furthermore to comment in insurance, in this state no insurance equals no drive as the State Police won't issue you a tag at plate renewal time.

 

[sandman2234]

I bet if you ask any semi truck driver, they'll have plenty of stories of people doing stupid things around their trucks.

I definitely have seen a bunch in my career!
Just because you hit someone in the rear doesn't make it your fault, but proving them to be at fault is a lot harder!
One of the first thing you should have done when you stopped was check to see if any of the vehicles around you, including the one you hit had dash cameras. Makes for a lot better case when fighting a driver who failed to change lanes properly!
Good luck, and yes...now is the time to hire an attorney to protect your self!
David from jax

 

[paulsharvey]

Maybe I'm way off, but it looks to be like bumper/bumber cover, lights, hood, and drivers side fender, and paint of the same; and new grill/trim. Glass, door, and everything is probably fine; honestly the radiator is probably fine too. It's not like they are gonna repaint the whole truck, that's just a hood, front fender, and a color matched bumper cover

 

[dodge man]

There is coolant on the ground and the radiator is fine? It can be fixed but it’s going to have to go on a frame machine. Depending on value it could easily be totaled.

 

[paulsharvey]

There is coolant on the ground and the radiator is fine? It can be fixed but it’s going to have to go on a frame machine. Depending on value it could easily be totaled.

I didn't notice the coolant, I was more looking at the truck.

 

[sea2summit]

Maybe I'm way off, but it looks to be like bumper/bumber cover, lights, hood, and drivers side fender, and paint of the same; and new grill/trim. Glass, door, and everything is probably fine; honestly the radiator is probably fine too. It's not like they are gonna repaint the whole truck, that's just a hood, front fender, and a color matched bumper coverView attachment 828591

With all the fluids on the ground I'm not thinking the radiator is fine. I'm actually guessing it likely stopped when the motor made contact. Totaled is my guess.

 

[Chewwy]

Maybe I'm way off, but it looks to be like bumper/bumber cover, lights, hood, and drivers side fender, and paint of the same; and new grill/trim. Glass, door, and everything is probably fine; honestly the radiator is probably fine too. It's not like they are gonna repaint the whole truck, that's just a hood, front fender, and a color matched bumper coverView attachment 828591

My 2017 Silverado had much less damage than that in a “minor“ accident in a parking lot. Just some lighting, a fender, and bumper damage. Cost over $8k to repair. Them parts are very expensive.

 

[sea2summit]

My 2017 Silverado had much less damage than that in a “minor“ accident in a parking lot. Just some lighting, a fender, and bumper damage. Cost over $8k to repair. Them parts are very expensive.

Acknowledge the hijack...but has anyone else seen the full replacement cost for F150 taillights???? 5K. For tail lights/covers. Crazy.

 

[Chewwy]

. . .

I bet if you ask any semi truck driver, they'll have plenty of stories of people doing stupid things around their trucks.

Had a neighbor where both husband and wife drove semis. They had lots of experience being cut off by the little 4 wheelers.

The husband recounted one time where he was cut off like the OP at an exit ramp. He admitted that he didn’t apply his brakes as hard as he could. He realized he was going to hit them no matter what, so he though to give them a bigger taste of being struck from behind by 80,000 lbs.

 

[prichard]

Had a scare hauling my B2601 Monday. Construction area with concrete barriers. Traffic suddenly stopped. ABS kicked in on truck (Ram 2500). I'm sure trailer brakes probably locked up but I was able to stop in time. I count it as experience I've rarely had to emergency stop like that while towing and was pleasantly surprised how well my rig handled it. I tow that tractor several hundred miles between properties many time each year and now have more confidence in my setup. I always try to maintain plenty of space and test trailer brake setting before leaving the properties.

I would not feel comfortable at all towing that load with a Tacoma, in spec or not.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Acknowledge the hijack...but has anyone else seen the full replacement cost for F150 taillights???? 5K. For tail lights/covers. Crazy.

A friend who does body work tells me that AIR BAG deployment often makes the difference between a total-loss or not.

 

[mrmikey]

but has anyone else seen the full replacement cost for F150 taillights???? 5K. For tail lights/covers. Crazy.

Was this the video you had seen, if so it was the tailights with the radar or some such accessory in them, it affected the whole CanBUS:

but yes I can't believe the price of parts not to mention that you can't buy just a certain piece of something.
Anyone whos watched SMA Auto, he had a GM SUV of some type, brake light bulb burnt out....nope, 'fraid not. The only replaceable bulb in the whole tailight assembly was the reverse light bulb. You had to buy the whole assembly for $1,500 for a burnt out brake light, ridiculous.

 

[CliffordK]

Had a scare hauling my B2601 Monday. Construction area with concrete barriers. Traffic suddenly stopped. ABS kicked in on truck (Ram 2500). I'm sure trailer brakes probably locked up but I was able to stop in time.

There may be different types of trailer braking systems and control.

However, with classic electric brakes, it should be adjusted to not actually lock up the trailer brakes. And the harder you mash the pickup brake pedal won't matter.

Perhaps some systems are better with proportional braking and could give more braking as the pedal is mashed further, but still adjust the brakes so the tires don't break loose.

A trailer skid could be dangerous.

 

[MossRoad]

A friend who does body work tells me that AIR BAG deployment often makes the difference between a total-loss or not.

Sure. If the repairs (including air bag replacement and anything else that's damaged) exceed X percentage of what the car is worth, it gets totaled.

X depends on your insurance, the area you live in, etc...

 

[MossRoad]

There may be different types of trailer braking systems and control.

However, with classic electric brakes, it should be adjusted to not actually lock up the trailer brakes. And the harder you mash the pickup brake pedal won't matter.

Perhaps some systems are better with proportional braking and could give more braking as the pedal is mashed further, but still adjust the brakes so the tires don't break loose.

A trailer skid could be dangerous.

As I understand it, the original posters's Tekonsha Prodigy P2 is a proportional brake controller that bases the amount of braking on inertia. The harder you brake, the more inertia is sensed, and the harder it applies the brakes to the trailer.

"PROPORTIONAL ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER: Provides automatic braking based on the intensity and rate at which you apply your tow vehicle's brakes, thanks to an internal inertia sensor. This makes the Tekonsha P2 brake controller ideal in any braking situation."

TEKONSHA | 90885 | Prodigy® P2 Proportional Brake Controller for Trailers with 1-4 Axles, Gray

Tekonsha | Brake Controllers

www.tekonsha.com