Re: [A/S] Airstream Accident in Mississippi - #3

["Maurice Riggins" <maurice.riggins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I caught the wink, but I'll guarantee it wasn't the 
trailer swaying that caused the accident (seems to 
me the root cause was pilot error... following too 
closely, failure to have under control, etc which
created the need for the panic stop).

What a Hensley WON'T help with is the tow vehicle 
fishtailing in front of the trailer and that's going 
to cause the trailer to be weaving all over the place.  
The Hensley provides no resistance to the tow vehicle 
turning in front of the trailer... 
and the trailer will follow.

This situation can occur if the brake controller is 
set too low, causing the tow vehicle brakes to have 
to try to stop the whole rig by itself, and the tow 
vehicle tire's traction is overcome.  With no trailer 
braking to shift the weight onto the tongue (i.e. 
make the trailer nosedive too), the tow vehicle 
nosedives and its tail rises, taking weight off its 
rear tires, which skid much easier and fishtail the 
rear end.

This lack of braking always occurs to some degree in 
a panic stop with a time-based "ramp" brake controller 
(like the Draw-Tite Activator) which increases braking 
as the brake pedal is held longer.  In a short panic 
stop, the tow vehicle has to do all the braking.  And 
because these type controllers overbrake in bumper to 
bumper traffic where the brake pedal is held constantly, 
owners often dial down the braking force knob, making 
the panic stop situation worse.

I suspect the brake controller wasn't a properly setup 
Jordon or Prodigy.
--
Maurice
WBCCI 5446