New Super Duty, new Cyclone, new hitch - what could go wrong?

Bones

Well-known member
This is definitely going to have me start attaching my cable some where on the truck and not on the hitch.
 

bwdt

Well-known member
I'm in the process of shopping for a hitch system right now. Trailer is being built. I have been watching videos of systems being installed and was just thinking that the rail system would not hold up in an accident, boy was a right, after seeing this thread. I'm glad to hear that everyone is OK.

Do you think a Gooseneck mounted hitch would hold up better in an accident? My truck is a little older and I was even looking for an aftermarket puck system for it but it doesn't exist. I'm was even thinking a custom made puck system would be stronger then the rail mounted system. Has anyone seen how well a puck system holds up in an accident?

On another note. California (municipalities) are notorious for setting up their lights with short times on yellow to make more revenue, cities have been busted and sued before. You need to get the light timing info and then find out what it is required to be for the speed of the road that the accident happened on. The state might be responsible for the accident if insufficient time was available to stop or clear the intersection. I am moving from Cali to Florida right now and while in Florida I found that every light I come to people are running the reds. I make sure that the intersection is clear before going.

Good luck on your travels.
 

avvidclif

Well-known member
Would someone point me to the F250 that can carry 3400 lbs of pin weight. That's what my 2 axle Cyclone has. And why my TV needs training wheels.
 

BLR

Well-known member
The area that this Happened in scares me alittle bit.. Lots of trucks traveling north & south either to catch the 8 east west travel near the Mexican border or to go into Mexico.
On this particular week lots of extra traffic going to Ocotillo Wells and Glamis..

We have been warned from our friends that live in the area, when your light turns green check and make sure it's clear. Lots of people run the lights either by choice or not being able to stop.

In some areas that we travel, when the speed limit is 55 or more with stop lights, they have a warning light in your lane that the stop light ahead is about to change to red. These have only warning lights that they have lights approaching.

Said situation for sure, glad everyone was safe.

Sent from BLR Logistics
 

Toy1Ton

Toy 1 Ton
who's to say how the trailer brakes wear working if at all. I'm sure disc brakes would have made a big deference, perhaps the truck was trying to do most of the braking
 

porthole

Retired
In an accident something has to give.
If the hitch didn't pull out of the frame, something else would have happened.

And my guess would be if none of the steel failed, the trailer would have rolled.

Still hard to imagine the dynamics of this incident given the alleged description from the owner.

Who knows, maybe it won't be long before traffic cam or dash cam footage shows up on the net.

- - - Updated - - -

who's to say how the trailer brakes wear working if at all. I'm sure disc brakes would have made a big deference, perhaps the truck was trying to do most of the braking


Back to the alleged account by the driver, it seems as if there was little to no effort to stop. And perhaps hit the accelerator instead trying to get through quicker.

Either way with an apparent 2 second elapsed time, even properly working disc brakes are not going to stop in time to prevent running a light.

Add up driver time to gather data, process, reaction time, brake time, inherent delay with electric over hydraulic brakes and there is just not enough time.
 

fritzwell

Active Member
Would be interesting to see or know how many of the rail mounting bolts actually were installed into the truck frame. From some the pic that I've seen here it looks like some have missed.
 

LBR

Well-known member
Don't forget that this truck was T-boned in the bed with a 90° side impact when he was in the intersection. That could even have done serious damage to a puck setup also.
 

brianlajoie

Well-known member
We almost hit someone a year ago. This lady in a Honda stopped sideways in the middle of the highway after pulling out from a stop sign and we almost hit her. I had my breaks and horn fully engaged. I have since added a set of Hadley air horns and disc brakes to the trailer. I am always in the slow lane and go 10 to 15 mph slower in heavy traffic. I've just had to many times where traffic will stop on a dime and you need to be prepared for it.

I drive s SRW F350 and I can tell you that the F250 truck in the accident is over weight and suspension over loaded. My guess the lift kit and tires did not help the situation either. Glad everyone is ok. Experience is a stern taskmaster.
 

avvidclif

Well-known member
And a funny along that line that could have been bad. Returning home from camping in the misting rain and going around a 20mph gradual 90 deg turn. Going about 15 in the middle lane. Fruitcake in an Audi in right lane passed on my right. I saw him coming and started slowing, he lost it about the back of my truck. When he came by in front of me he was crossways (90 deg to me) drivers door to my front bumper. He looked at the front of my F350 pulling this huge trailer from about 20' directly in front of me. His eyes were big as saucers and I'm sure his other end was fairly tight or maybe loose, don't know. I had slowed enough to let him continue his spin into the left lane, said a few tacky words, and went on down the road. Time to laugh, we dodged a bullet. I saw in the rear view mirror his karma was great that day as no one in the left lane hit him either. He was on the inside shoulder when I lost sight.

23,000 lbs t-boning an Audi would not have been pretty, even at 15mph.
 

fastcarsspeed

Well-known member
It really sucks. I know that with the new rig I keep my distance on the road and make sure I give myself plenty of time to stop. I don't think even with disc brakes on the camper would I change my driving style. If we are going through town and it is 45 mph with multiple lights I have learned to take my time so I have time to make it through lights or slow down quickly enough to not have to make the brakes work overtime.

Looking at the squat on that truck definitely needed some airbags to carry the load. I also didn't realize the pin weights on the newer toy haulers had increased so much.
 

avvidclif

Well-known member
Mine is kinda that way. The factory still hasn't published weights for it other than GVWR. It seems everything that is heavy is in front of the axles, generator, kitchen, water tank, holding tanks, all storage cabinets, bedroom. The only thing behind the axles is 2 Happi-Jack beds, 30 gal gas tank, and a 1.5 season screen curtain. Oh, and a lot of open space.
 

jleavitt11

retired Utah Chapter Leaders
It's a Toy Hauler.. Dont forget the 1600 lb RZR in the garage. Which brings me to my question. How much will a 1600 lb load in the gargae reduce the pin weght on a 44' Cyclone? In my 33' bumper pull it was almost 20%.
 

porthole

Retired
It's a Toy Hauler.. Dont forget the 1600 lb RZR in the garage. Which brings me to my question. How much will a 1600 lb load in the gargae reduce the pin weght on a 44' Cyclone? In my 33' bumper pull it was almost 20%.


I have a pin weight scale and did that measurement.

Empty, bike, bike and cart. Bike and cart are just over 800 pounds each.

On our two axle Cyclone, with trailer leveled for each test it was right about 25%
200 pound reduction of pin weight for each 800 pounds in the garage.
 

avvidclif

Well-known member
It would be hard to put a Razor in mine, because of weight not room. With an 800 lb Harley and no water I'm at 15,100 with a GVWR of 15,500.
 

Thunderbolt

Active Member
I'm in the process of shopping for a hitch system right now. Trailer is being built. I have been watching videos of systems being installed and was just thinking that the rail system would not hold up in an accident, boy was a right, after seeing this thread. I'm glad to hear that everyone is OK.

Do you think a Gooseneck mounted hitch would hold up better in an accident? My truck is a little older and I was even looking for an aftermarket puck system for it but it doesn't exist. I'm was even thinking a custom made puck system would be stronger then the rail mounted system. Has anyone seen how well a puck system holds up in an accident?

On another note. California (municipalities) are notorious for setting up their lights with short times on yellow to make more revenue, cities have been busted and sued before. You need to get the light timing info and then find out what it is required to be for the speed of the road that the accident happened on. The state might be responsible for the accident if insufficient time was available to stop or clear the intersection. I am moving from Cali to Florida right now and while in Florida I found that every light I come to people are running the reds. I make sure that the intersection is clear before going.

Good luck on your travels.

Get a copy of the UTCDM which will give you the national standards for traffic signal timing. If the timing was wrong, then the agency who timed the light would be the major factor.
 
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