Trailer safety

[FlyingMonkey]

This is an interesting demonstration. I've been there & quickly learned the importance of weight distribution on my trailer.

[Elliot]

And if I had used a dash-cam in my trucking days, I would have had a film just like this one:

[ygmir]

those are great examples and visuals......I can't say how many times I've had to almost yell at someone who has too little tongue weight, to fix it or crash.

ETA: also too much tongue weight.............

[lucky420]

I'm stuck on "almost had to yell at someone"

[ygmir]

I'm stuck on "almost had to yell at someone"

well I did speak sternly.

[lucky420]

And I bet you used your "death stare" too

[ygmir]

[FlyingMonkey]

And if I had used a dash-cam in my trucking days, I would have had a film just like this one:

"The key bit is to focus on where customers are putting their loads". Sorry.......couldn't resist.

But seriously. Many of us drive through some pretty dicey mountains getting to Burning Man & many have never hauled a trailer. Please do your homework when hauling your stuff.

I have seen so many poorly configured trailers on small cars it's scary.

[Elliot]

... ...
ETA: also too much tongue weight.............

[*struggles with the embarrassment, but finally manages to raise his hand for the greater good*]

[Corvus]

I have often noticed on highways and freeways swirly skidmarks and wondered how somebody could get into that kind of trouble. Now I know.

And if I had used a dash-cam in my trucking days, I would have had a film just like this one:

[Thecatman]

*struggles with the embarrassment, but finally manages to raise his hand for the greater good*

Well, at least the safety chains were crossed

[Elliot]

Lemme tell ya... it has better chains on it now. (And of course, properly installed and with proper hooks now. This was the quick-fix.)

[BBadger]

... ...
ETA: also too much tongue weight.............

[*struggles with the embarrassment, but finally manages to raise his hand for the greater good*]

At first glance I thought this was an aerial view of a jet mid-air refueling or something.

[Elliot]

Millicent The Bus is certainly sleek and fast, but not quite as fast as jet aircraft.

And there is a lesson to be learned from this, besides the technical weight distribution matter.

I made this ridiculous mistake because I was fatigued.

Starting with running late loading all that Stuff more than a week before the official opening of the Event, thru several days of camp setup pre-event, and 50+ hours of working Perimeter, and running a Theme Camp, and generally doing a lot and sleeping little.... By Wednesday or Thursday after the Event was over, I was sleep-deprived. So I wasn't thinking clearly.

That's all there is to it.

I had to make all that gear fit on the trailer, and I neglected to consider HOW it fit on the trailer. Basically, I loaded the trailer from the wrong end.

So try to concentrate on this when striking camp: You ARE fatigued. Keep that in mind, and do frequent sanity checks on yourself.