Hope they make it

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Big Sky KLX

I love some of the over-reactions from some people on here. Everything from you are going to kill someone, and this is totally illegal, to even they are way overweight.

You can clearly see from the picture that like the poster stated above, they are using a standard hitch that has a 2" drop. Looking at the trailer, it looks to have some pretty high suspension and sit up very high. Also the 4-runner looks to have an aftermarket hitch that sits below the bumper and not in the bumper. Long story short, the tow vehicle should be using a raised hitch, or a hitch with an adjustable shank. I bet if he flipped over the receiver hitch and flipped the ball, it would help out tremendously and sit much closer to level.

This 4runner will have a 5000 lbs tow rating. The trailer weighs 3100 lbs empty. Even loaded the tow rig is adequate. Sure, it will squat a couple of inches but the hitch height is what is throwing this all off. It should not be overloading the tow rig.

Should they use a WDH? Yes, probably...........Do they need to adjust their hitch height? Absolutely

Being a single axle trailer, it doesn't really matter what angle it gets towed at. This angle puts a bit more weight on the tow vehicle, which in this case is probably get close to the hitch limit. Shouldn't really affect the towing that much though. The tow vehicle weighs 5000 lbs, it is heavier than the trailer. Probably tows just fine. It just looks silly.

For all we know they were out camping and someone stole their hitch and this is the only thing they could find to get home.

And this is the most important piece of information in the entire thread.

We know NOTHING about the circumstances of what is seen, yet, conclusions have been drawn that this thing tows/swerves so badly that someone is going to be killed around the next bend in the road or that the weight police is going to impound the rig and someone's going to jail.

There were no known facts listed... just a photo with "hope they make it" and the flood gates opened.

While this all makes for amusing internet fodder, take it for what you paid for it... nothing. No one has the capability to look at this photo and be giving reputable advice on how something 'should' be set up.

These threads are just like the ones that show a photo of an R/V accident and immediately there are 1000 forensic experts chiming in on what caused it.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by tcorl

I do not see sway BARS. Looks like a regular trailer hitch to me?

x2! No friction antisway bars and No WDH.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by D W

The trooper is not going to be concerned with weight. All he has to do is follow this rig for a mile or so with the dashcam running. In this configuration, this rig will be all over the road.

Actually with a very high percentage on the trailer weight on the tongue it will probably not sway at all. Go the other direction with zero weight on the tongue and that trailer would put a F350 diesel long bed, crew cab out of control.

[Hersbird]

Also some 4 runners have an auto leveling rear suspension. It is possible if there are leaks and that has sat for awhile it will squat like that with hardly any weight. Start it up and it repressurizes and self levels again.

[Roberte52]

Just got back from a two week stay in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It's really scary what some people are using as tow vehicles! Worst seen on this trip was a Toyota highlander pulling a 40' Jayco. Safety chains were dragging on the street. Wasn't fast enough with my phone to get a pic.

[frank4711]

they put the "Q" in squat ..........

[usapierre]

I find this some what angering
Some RV sales guy tried to make a buck not educating them on the proper solution - just because it has a 2” hitch does not make it right !!!
Ok maybe the bought it private party - then I blame them for not realizing the damage being caused her !!!

[Comanche]

Everything is fine...when highway speed is reached the aerodynamics of the canoe acts as a wing providing lift to the rear of the vehicle...

[Gsykora]

Dangerous for them and everyone else on the road.

[moose074]

Maybe the truck is the hitch lock while the real tv is being repaired. Better yet maybe none of us have enough info to make an informed decision. Could be towing it that way, perhaps they removed WDH because when they arrived only way to get parked was to reverse. Perhaps taking a nap in forward bed from long night of driving, or eating lunch in front dinette. amazing how many jump to negative/ positive post without all needed info

[arcdb]

A

Originally Posted by Teetime

I haven't posted for a long time, but we pulled up to a rest stop today, and these folks were parked close by. I had to take a pic.

I hope they make it to their destination OK.

All I can say is WOW

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by moose074

Maybe the truck is the hitch lock while the real tv is being repaired. Better yet maybe none of us have enough info to make an informed decision....... amazing how many jump to negative/ positive post without all needed info

This^^^^^^^ What he said.

[Silverbirch]

I would just like to put in a word here for good dealers. There are some. My dealer had to educate me about WDH and swaybars. I had done my homework about my Chevy Traverse with tow package and knew what I could tow. I believed the salesman when he told me he would not have sold me anything bigger than what I was buying. Since we don't know anything about the situation we're viewing in the picture, just suppose the owner bought a used unit from a private individual? Who would have educated him about proper hitching?

[Oafdawg]

Originally Posted by sugarray40

Should "we" report folks we see like this?

Would you report a unsecured load on a semi?

This is death waiting to happen. Just a couple "bigger picture" questions I have.

Even though that looks (and is) bad, I don't know what law they're breaking. Who would you call and report that to?

[itat]

I think his headlights are pointing too high. Needs an adjustment.

I would think any competent LEO would be able to come up with reasonable cause to demand some testing when a vehicle appears to be that overloaded. But you’d have pull them over on a public roadway. Just sitting there is not a not a danger to anyone and not a problem.

[aeblank]

Originally Posted by skytrash

rolling across the scales and are legal weight for that configuration

This is the part......
Where do I know the "legal weight for that configuration"....

The law says look at the mfg sticker?
And every config of every mfg is different...

I'm confident I'm way under all my ratings, so I don't have a horse in the race / it doesn't really matter. But it's something I've wondered since I started reading these forums...

[Silverbirch]

Originally Posted by Oafdawg

Even though that looks (and is) bad, I don't know what law they're breaking. Who would you call and report that to?

Please see #22 and #23 in this thread; they answer your question.

[stealth2715]

Some airbags and a hitch riser would fix that right up. A WDH to fix that issue would actually be more dangerous IMO as rear wheels would unload under braking. That is a light trailer and it has its own brakes. as long as he drives sanely he will make it.

[bhunt2405]

Kimber45, I don't think a 400 pounder would fit through the door. And aren't the steps rated? …..from another 200 pounder. We have air shocks on the truck. And wouldn't the dealer (or seller) have said something to them about this?

[Oafdawg]

Originally Posted by Silverbirch

Please see #22 and #23 in this thread; they answer your question.

I'm a retired cop, I don't see any laws that they're breaking.