Hi Everyone,

Last week on the way to 4h I came upone a fellow who had just hit a deer and had put his vehicle (just a car) quite far into the ditch. I stopped to see if he was alright (he was okay, and the deer had been killed instantly). This happened on one of the country roads that I regularly drive down. All of our range roads in our area are paved (thanks to the rich Alberta economy), however, they are not terribly wide. My observation is that most people drive TOO FAST regardless of whether they are hauling a trailer or just driving a single vehicle. I'm sure that speed must have contributed to this collision.

I started to wonder what the appropriate course of action would be should I ever need to stop my trailer quickly. Having grown up in a rural area my driving habits have always (well, okay, from about age 25) been very cautious. I don't speed and I leave at least three car lengths between my vehicle and the next. When I am pulling my loaded trailer  I am extra careful especially when going down those range road that are heavily treed on both sides. We also have moose out here and I have seen firsthand what happens to individuals who survive those collisions (they usually have spinal injuries). So my question is this: Even when driving cautiously there might be situations when you have to stop your trailer asap. I've heard (but thankfully not experienced firsthand) that if you slam on the brakes too hard the trailer will jacknife. Is there a safe way to stop a trailer quickly? Should the trailer brakes be adjusted in that situation. Of course, I am assuming that there would be enough time to do that, which might not be the case.

With regards to animals jumping in front of the vehicle, I was always taught to just hit it straight on and not try and stop first. My dad worked highway patrol for many years and said that he had come across many bad accidents caused by people who swerved suddenly to avoid hitting a rabbit and rolled their vehicle. He also said that if you brake before you hit a deer the front of the vehicle will lower and you will literally scoop the deer up and put it right through your windshield. Not sure if this is always the case, and I hope to never find out. However, it helps to rehearse the response before the event occurs.

Regards,

Jodie

apply the brakes

I got an email on this very topic this morning from Millenium Trailers. I have deleted it, but I bet it's on their website, which I believe is just milleniumtrailers.com

I recieved it as a newsletter update. It addressed how to compensate for being passed by a semi, which way to turn your wheels in certain "for instances"; very helpful.

?????

http://www.milltrailers.com/horse-trailers/tips/dec-2007.asp

And know exactly where your "oh s**t" button/lever/switch is on the controler.  That way when the idiot in the little car jumps out in front of you, in your buffer zone, and decides you can stop and make way for him you don't run over the top of him.

May I suggest changing controllers to a Prodigy or equal?  With a proportional controller there is never any reason to use the manual button other than pre-trip brake checks.

It's one thing to proclaim that taking precautions before an incident occurs, will prevent one from happening. It's quite another to experience the event and know that the only thing that saved your life, was your involuntary reflex actions.

I've had two incidents that could have been serious, that resulted in no injuries.

I was on a six lane highway, three lanes in each direction, in the center lane. The car in front of me was at least the length of two football fields ahead of me; the road was dry, the day clear. I was driving a large SUV pulling a BP three horse combo. Suddenly across my left front fender, a passing car cut in front of me, trying to make the exit we were passing. In one instant the clear roadway I had been enjoying, was filled with almost the whole side of a car.

At almost 70 mph I swerved to the right and within a fraction of a second later, hit the brakes as I saw the car going under my engine hood. Somehow he cleared the front of my SUV as he went across three lanes of traffic. My problems were just beginning.

My vehicle and trailer were now in a strong curve to the right and the trailer was pushing the back end hard to the left. As I hit the brakes, this action increased these forces and I was unable to steer to the left. I let off the brakes and the Suv slowly started to turn in the opposite direction. By now I was in the right hand side of the right hand lane almost to the shoulder. With the vehicle now steering to the left and the brakes again applied, my course was reversed as I headed uncontrollably towards the center lane, with my trailer pushing me in a large arc. Again I let off the brakes and was able to start steering to the right and the center lane.

I was able to reach the manual override on the trailer brake controller and pushed it full on with the vehicle brakes off. This broke the pushing problem on the back of the suv and allowed me to straighten the rig out. When it was straight, I put on the vehicle brakes and went safely to the shoulder. I spent many minutes sitting and reflecting on my good fortune. For almost 3/4 of a mile I had had little or no control of my rig. I had uncontrollably crossed two lanes of traffic, twice. My trailer had wagged the dog.

Last summer I was in my truck pulling a three horse GN trailer. We had just passed a tractor trailer, we were in the left lane going about 65 mph, the cruise was on, the pavement was dry in the evening.

A large explosion hit us, the front of the truck literally jumped into the air. When we came down, the truck immediately pivoted to the left and the front of the trailer went into the right lane. The truck was sliding sideways and headed for the median when I hit the brakes. I could not effect any steering, the wheel was locked. As soon as the brakes were applied, the truck and trailer straightened out and I was straddling the center line. I let off the brakes in an effort to steer and immediately the truck again spun uncontrollably to the left. My wife was able to look out her side window as the pavement and grass came at her as we slid sideways towards the median.

I hit the brakes and again the rig straightened out. By using the brake pedal, I directed the truck towards the median and was able to stop half on the shoulder and median, off of the passing lane.

The cause of the accident was the left front tire which had failed. The carcass was wrapped around the suspension and it destroyed most of the wheel well, and the enclosed mechanics.

I was prepared for these events in that my brake controller, vehicle and trailer brakes, and drive train components were all in good repair. In the beginning of each incident, I had no time to evaluate what I was going to do. I initially reacted only on instinct, and shortly later was able to form a plan based on how the vehicle was reacting to the conditions. Each circumstance was different as was the solution. In  one case the trailer exasperated the problem; in both cases it was the trailer's brakes that saved the day.

 You can read all about the preferred manor in which to react to an event, but until it happens to you, you cannot predict what course of action you will use. Only your previous experiences and skills will enable you to do what is proper. What is the best course of action for another event, may not be the best for your involvement. You are the only one there when it happens.

Bol  Gard

TO answer your first question you should not swerve to miss an animal in that situation.I have been a truck driver for 14 years and have learned one thing that very few situations are the same.sounds like you have good driving habits.the amount of brake pressure should depend on the road conditions.its ok to tighten on your trailer brakes when dry.but should reconize when the road is wet you should adjust your trailer brakes lower.there are so many veribles to what tension should be run on a trailer.loaded are empty,wet are dry.

Okay ... My experience...

Doesn't matter if you're going below the speed limit...

Doesn't matter if you're leaving a lot of space between you and the vehicle ahead...

Doesn't matter if you're a safe driver...

You can't control what other people or animals do...(from another post...)  "stuff" happens.  That reminds me of the trip coming home from Boone. 

It was two lanes of heavy traffic in each direction.  I had left plenty of space between me and the car ahead.  The opposite lane had stopped because of folks waiting to turn left to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance.  When I about got there, several cars decided to use my ahead space to make the turn.   Only problem was for the last car, the entrance traffic suddenly stopped.  The last car was now blocked from going forward and the traffic was flowing behind him.  He was stuck in MY lane!  I couldn't move left because of the moving traffic and cars were in front of him blocking his movement or mine to the right.  He was about to get hit! While I stomped the brakes, blew the horn, I locked eyes with the right back seat passenger.  At the last moment, the path cleared and the car pulled forward and out of our path.  

Afterward, I thought hard about what almost happened.  ... I came to the conclusion that a straight ahead collision is the best choice of a lot of poor choices.  The engine and air bags will help protect me from the initial collision.  And, the bed and rear of the truck will protect us from the trailer if only it doesn't over ride the truck.  The horses are also best protected in a frontal collision.  Anything that overturns the trailer or impacts the sides are worse for them.  Side impact to the truck is especially dangerous to people.  Head injuries from the rebound kills a lot of people.  That's why side air bags are getting to be standard equipment.

So ... Jodie 

My plan and advice to you is :  Brake hard and hold the rig straight.

Also very good advice!

A trailer can ride up into the truck, brother in law got rear ended.  He was stopped at a stop sign, drunk driver rear ended him at 80.  B in L was pulling a 30' flatbed gooseneck loaded with hay.  Ball snapped off and the hitch went through the toolbox behind the cab and came on into the cab, but nobody (included the drunk driver!) was hurt really.  Amazing.  Anything can happen, can't keep ya from doing what you need to do, just keep your equipment up and pay attention...prepare for the worst but hope for the best!!

I have to walk because my husband has got the wagon and team to drive to work.

ha ha ha.very funny,gard.

Greyhorse,

Thanks for the tips. I guess overcorrecting would be a natural response sometimes, but as you said, a deadly one. With a rig as big as yours I'll bet a moose woud be flattened into a pancake!

Regards,

Jodie

Thank you Towfo, that is good advice. I guess I'm a little paranoid about the possibility of jacknifing. I thought it happened as a function of applying the brakes hard, but I'm glad to hear that is not the case.

Regards,

Jodie

Hi Chadsalt,

The proportional controller sounds like a much safer alternative to the manual one. I'm not sure which one mine is I will have to check for the manul and look.

Thanks,

Jodie

Hi Gard,

Wow, if either of those incidents had happened to an unseasoned driver I'll bet the outcomes would have been disastrous. You really know what you are doing....  Were you able to determine why the front tire blew out in the second accident? It scares the beejeepers out me to think about how the heck I would manage in that situation as I have very little experience and my skills are (hmm, I guess I would say a work in progress).

Regards,

Jodie

Did I mention that the mere thougth of driving ANYTHING on a six lane highway is scary? Wow, I have never driven on anything like that. That would be pretty indimidating. You must have to plan your exits to the off ramps well in advance even if you aren't hauling anything.

Regards,

Jodie