V-Cross Platinum Rollover

[ChooChooMan74]

Saw this online today...

Facts that I can see...

V-Cross Platinum, 2 sets of stairs. Options are 32VFKS and 32VRLS
GMC 1/2 ton truck.
E-qual-izer Hitch (99% sure from the photo)-Corrected Husky Centerline
Broken Reciever

Truck and Camper Trailer Accident Slows Traffic on I-79 Near Fai - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

Looks like everyone was OK.

My opinion, too much trailer for the truck.

Also note, the breakaway switch was NOT activated. I am not sure where this guy had it tied to. But, this shows you that you should NOT connect the breakaway to any part of the hitch or receiver.

[fonzie]

Hitch is: Husky Centerline

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by fonzie

Hitch is: Husky Centerline

Thanks for the correction. I don't own either, so it looked like the equalizer to me. Looking at images of both, I can see the similarities and differences.

[fonzie]

Me neither but that is what is written on the hitch....it ripped the receiver right off the truck.

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by fonzie

Me neither but that is what is written on the hitch....it ripped the receiver right off the truck.

I was like How the F(*#$ can he read that. I opened it up in a new tab and now I can read the words. DUH!!!

[dustman_stx]

Based upon the damage on the drivers rear of the truck and the front drivers side of the camper, I think there was a serious sway issue going on that swung that truck and trailer to a 90 degree angle or more. This would have likely created serious lateral torque on the receiver hitch plate, pretty much twisting it off. Improper hitch setup. That's my hypothesis, anyway.

[Cowracer]

its a 32VRLS. If it was the VFKS, the slide topper for the street side slide would start farther back from the front, as the refrigerator in that corner. I copied the pic of the trailer into a photo program so I could zoom in on it and I noticed two things...

1) it looks like the the drawbar is a 2" and the hitch receiver is a class V 2-1/2". that may just be a trick of the shadows, but it sure looks that way.

2) the trailer has that new style ball coupler that FR went to this year (kinda looks like its made upside down). I have never seen a properly sized ball get pulled out of socket like that. It almost looks like the only thing keeping the whole hitch from falling to the ground is the one lift arm still attached. those new hitch couplers are kinda wonky, and I wonder if the old guy set the trailer down on the ball with the jaw in the way, and didnt know it. that would sure as hell mess with the weight distribution on the husky hitch.

I'm not sure if the trailer wasn't properly attached how it could rip the receiver off the truck, but something just don't look right with the hitch ball. I don't know how we could see that much of the transition from the 'post' to the 'ball' if it was properly attached. And when its properly attached, those new hitches suck the ball way the hell up inside of them. Maybe a 2" ball in a 2-5/16" socket?

Anyone see what I am seeing?


tim

[Dave_Monica]

It looks like the door side W/D bar it gone, while the non-door side is still there and snapped up.

Even though there's W/D hitch with integrated sway control doesn't mean that it was set-up properly.

Dave

[youroo]

The ball is still in the Socket,the Truck hitch plate with both safety chains are still on the Plate. The (Truck Hitch) is the problem here (Not) the ball or trailer. Youroo!!

[whj77372]

I have the V-Cross 275 and it is a fiver and that is one good reason that we got the fiver and not regular trailer. Very sorry to see that.

[ryand]

Boy this scares the crap out of me....


May I offer this....I own a husky Centeline and after about 1,000 miles of towing with it I noticed that the Pins that hold the bars into the receiver were beginning to sheer. I called husky and they immediately sent out new receivers and new pins. Strictly a guess...could this poor guys pin have sheered off? then the WD bar somehow manages to pull out of the hitch....what in theory would happen at that point? I would imagine a whole lot of lateral force would be applied to the hitch. At speed i would imagine that this could be catastrophic and could explain the bent snap up bracket and the missing WD Bar.

See Item B in the photo
Just a thought.

[ryand]

Also.....after zooming in i noticed that the pin is gone in the drivers side too? Is it possible this guy forgot to pin the bars to the hitch?

[dannyabear]

Just because a 1/2 ton can pull it, doesn't mean the suspension can handle it

[puff]

Originally Posted by dannyabear

Just because a 1/2 ton can pull it, doesn't mean the suspension can handle it

Danny beat me to it.

Have a look at the truck there is no 1500 or 2500 emblem on the truck. Yes, sticker says it can pull 7500lbs (or what ever) but can the truck handle the weight or the sideways pull of wind or passing other vehicles..? How many people in the truck..? Full of fuel..?

The problem was not the trailer or the hitch. It was the T.V..

[puff]

I had a mechanics instructor who always said... "Before you put the motor in the front make sure you can stop the thing at the end of the road." Wise words.

[ryand]

Going to stick with my gut on this and say this was a set up failure. Don't have enough info to assume the truck is too small. It may very well be within the numbers. I keep looking at the missing hitch bar and the missing pin on the wd bar as a factor in the crash...of course this is the only info we have based on the photos.

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by ryand

Going to stick with my gut on this and say this was a set up failure. Don't have enough info to assume the truck is too small. It may very well be within the numbers. I keep looking at the missing hitch bar and the missing pin on the wd bar as a factor in the crash...of course this is the only info we have based on the photos.

The GM website states that with certain engine/gearing combinations of this truck, you can pull 9600# with it. link here

Just because they say you 'can' does not mean you 'should'. C'mon! 9600# in a half-ton truck? Has the automakers lost their minds? I wouldn't haul 9600# in anything less than a 3/4 ton heavy duty. The margin of safety is so thin you could read an obituary thru it at that point. They don't point out that the advertised towing capacity is all based on a best-case scenario. Add winds, high temps, wet roads, etc and all bets are off.

How many wrecks will be caused because the automakers over-inflate their towing capacities just so they can advertise "BEST IN CLASS TOWING". I find it disgusting.

Tim

[ryand]

Tim I agree 100%....The dirty little secret is that most 1/2 tons will be maxed out or way over the payload by the time they hit the max towing numbers thus if you are following the guidelines of payload and max towing you will never actually be able to tow a trailer at the max rating.

For Example my truck is rated to tow 10,500 with a payload of 1400.

Using conventional tongue weight values of 13-15% of the total weight values that are commonly found on todays TT and a trailer that weighs in at 9500# you are at 1,235 and 1,425 respectively. Just the hitch will put you over payload pretty quick.

I still think this is may not be 100% truck issue just knowing a bit more about the husky hitch and the photos provided. I keep going back and looking at the missing bar and pin. You can see it from the photos....and the one with the pin in the bar.

In theory what would happen if you dropped a WD bar during travel?

[AquaMan]

I'm with Ryand, I'm thinking more of a faulty set-up.

[RhoZeta]

CSI-RV is on the job!!

Did a helluva ground loop that is for sure, complete 180 from the direction he was going, tail wagged the heck out of that dog.