Re: [A/S] Re: Overload Devices On Tow Vehicles

[JSmith1805@xxxxxxx]

The descussion on towing will never end If you were to ask10 persons what is 
the proper towing truck or auto you weoll recieve at least 10 answers. I have 
been refered to as an Idiot because I use no equalizing hitch but use 
ovderload springs and/or airshocks. I always hook up as close to the truck as 
possable. It has been said that the weight on the hitch will lighten the 
weight on the front wheels. If you think aboult the fact that800 lbs max 36in 
behind the wheels on a120in wheelbase truck weighing in the excessof 4000lb 
is insigfanice. Now when an equlising hitch is used and eavery thing is 
tightened up and lever where doed the extry strane go when the truck and 
trailer go through a sharp dip or a grade crossing . the leverage has to be 
transfered to the toung because you are trying to remove the flex between the 
two.
Some years ago I saw atrailer sitting in the meisan with the tounf broken off 
the 'A' frame and equlising hitch were still on the truck true the "a'frame 
was not properly installed and the welding was poor but I believe the hitch 
was a contributing factor. It was a new unit NOT an airstream. I have seen 3 
rollovers of trailers in my 40+ years of traveling only 1 did the tow vechile 
roll and it had an equlising hitchand swaybars I believe this stuff made the 
leverage that caused the rollover of the truck. 
I fermly believe that toungh weight is the most importent elementand should 
exceed 10-15% of the trailer weight.Theonly time I eaver hsad a provlem 
towing was in1959 when we were very poor and were moveing to FL from PA 
towing a 5by 7 ft Uhall with a Morris Minor and no toung weight we had to 
drive under 40mph to control the trailer.
None of the so called safty devices are a subitute for careful driving.
Jim Smith
1965 Tradewind(the Silver Abaltross)
1992 Dodge Gummins Diesel