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Topic: Towing Failure (Read 987 times) previous topic - next topic

Towing Failure

Good Morning!

We had a tow failure yesterday.  At one point I heard a new tinny metallic sound (this turned out to be the ladder.)  Glancing in the rear view mirrors I saw the edge of the Honda appear on driver side and then then passenger side.  The Honda was also obviously very close to the rear of the FT.  I slowed down gradually to prevent damage to the FT body and eventually found a shoulder with just enough room to pull off.

When I got to the back of the FT I saw only one arm of the Blue Ox was connected.  The pin connecting the other arm was no where to be found.  It's hard to believe but it had obviously sheared off.  I say "obviously" because after I hook up I walk 360 around the FT before I move it.  Even though I had just hooked up the Honda, I stop and specifically focus on each connection in the tow setup to ensure they are as they should be.

I had spare connectors so I used one and we were on our way in 15 minutes. No further problems.

The only cause of connector failure I can point to is stressing from the many moguls we had just driven through on CA-78 and and US-95 toward Needles, CA.  It's hard for me to believe the connector sheared off.  Being steel it should have been a ductile failure and some yielding and deformation but not shearing off.  But I've used these same connectors since 2004.  Perhaps this one had a flaw and the many stress cycles caused the flaw to grow and the eventual failure.

In any event I'll get new connectors at first chance.

You can see photos after the re-hookup here:

Kathleen & Paul Smith's RV Travelblog

The scouring of the tow bar end is because it's aluminum.

best, paul


1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #1 –
Paul,

Wonder if you stopped somewhere that a kid could have maliciously removed the pin??? 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #2 –
Paul,

Good thing you had an early warning system. The ladder!

This could have gone horribly wrong. Glad you saw it and handled it well! Hope there wasn't any body damage. Thanks for sharing.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #3 –
My second guess was the kid removing it, but my first guess that the pin might have failed is due to my two Blue Ox pins have worn down, causing ridges, I did not look to see if the wear was on the mounted hitch on toad, or on the arm connectors.  But  I felt I might install my two Fancy chromed key lock Blue Ox pins, so I did. Hope they do not wear so much, I only have about 15 k miles towing the F150  empty 3800 lb, with the ATV 4700 lb
In the end who knows, sure not me
Dave M

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Dave M –
two Fancy chromed key lock Blue Ox pins
I use two Yale padlocks with harden Steel Shackles.  And even then I had a failure.  Still don't  know how it happened, except that I did it???  Last year after I hooked up when getting ready to leave Skidaway State Park, Savannah, Ga, I pulled out of my site and around the corner and stopped to check my hoopups and tow bar.  Somehow the right tow bar was not hooked up, but the pad lock was on it locked???  Somehow  I had stuck the pin thru the Triple Pivot Lug  of the towbar but not thru the baseplate  removeable tab.  Even locked it.  I always hook up and make a turn, stop and check everything again within a 100 foot or so of where I hooked up.  it was there I discovered the I had everything in place and locked, but one tow bar arm was not connected to the toad :o ???  Am going to have to replace that arm as I did bend it.  But luckly there was no other damage ;) !!!
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #5 –
I had one of the locking pins pop off miners well.  I now replace them every two years.  No problems since.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #6 –
Quote
Paul,

Wonder if you stopped somewhere that a kid could have maliciously removed the pin???

Fortunately, no evil kids.

We hooked up at Sunbeam Lake RV Resort near El Centro and first stop was to fix broken tow on US-95 North of Blythe, CA

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #7 –
Quote
Paul,

Good thing you had an early warning system. The ladder!

Right!
Quote

This could have gone horribly wrong. Glad you saw it and handled it well! Hope there wasn't any body damage. Thanks for sharing.

When we stopped for the night in AZ we noticed the left side of the mud flap had been torn from the steel angle MOT re-attached it to. That flap just doesn't want to be attached ;o)

Then when we had an oil change at SpeedCo in Kingman, AZ we noticed the left front of the Honda had taken a beating, possibly from the FT exhaust.

BTW, SpeedCo was a great experience. Highly recommended!

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #8 –
reminds me of our experience coming to the border of Mexico and US this last trip and finding out I had been towing my car by the safety cables for 5 kms after the hitch ball was sheard off after hitting a low point. The pictures show the wear thru of the stainless nut and the thickness of the hitch. It was a clean break and the rust is because it just sat out by the sprinklers. I did not know it had happened but an alert Mex' truck driver got my attention.
John h
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #9 –
We have a small device that senses abnormal up/down, side to side & front to back tow-car movements that sounds an alarm in our motorhome when there is a problem. It is completely wireless with up to 1,000 foot range, so it can also be used to let us know if our disconnected car is being tampered with. But towing problems are its real forte. It is called Tattle-Trail and uses a high-tech circuit with an accelerometer to determine what is normal and what is abnormal. Trailer Towing Monitoring System - Trailer Accessory - Home

Tattle-Trail has adjustable sensitivity and a broken suspension, tow-bar, frame, wheel or other towing failure should cause enough abnormal movement to trigger the alarm. We have been using it for several years and find it a great supplement to our Pressure Pro air loss system. It will save our Jeep if we throw a tread or have other structure changes that could cause extensive damage. We also turn it on every night to let us know if someone is messing with out Jeep.
 

Re: Towing Failure

Reply #10 –
Barry - if you had to choose just one system, which would you choose?
1996 U270
Build #4846