R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
How fast were you going when this happened?
Trailer carnage pics :(
- Thread starter teebes
- Start date
Metal Twister
Highly Motivated
So if its not too painful, what went wrong? Was it a fast thing or a big rut? I didnt see anything on that? Or did I just miss it...
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
And I don't intend to criticize. I'm just curious. The bump actually looks like it's pretty bad once you figure in the way that cameras make everything look flat. So were you moving pretty good? Looks like the type of road I'd actually be going pretty slow for.
Or did the trailer flip at a surprisingly low speed?
pygmyowl
Member
Just curious why you couldn't unhook the trailer from your rig and get a better recovery angle? I would guess that if you unhooked it might roll further or possibly you just didn't have good access to the hitch to unhook? Looks like it must have been a lock-n-roll or similar coupler?
Cool job on the recovery never the less!
Scotty
Cool job on the recovery never the less!
Scotty
adventureduo
Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
Sorry to see that.. but great execution and example of self recovery. Thanks for sharing and i hope thats the only flop you'll ever have to deal with.
Rather slow (5-7mph in 4lo still), my truck's wheels took a slightly different line and the double bump feature of the ledge, with a slight off camber nature of the truck, was enough. Taking it even slower and 'paying attention' would have completely avoided this, no doubt in my mind (I was still winding down from 2 other recent recoveries - a busy day). I should have taken a break and relaxed a bit, argg.
pygmyowl said:
It definitely crossed my mind! However, the coupler was still under load and by leaving the trailer/truck coupled up, the truck was able to serve as an anchor point to keep the trailer from moving in other directions.
Good question! I do and will be calling my agent to discuss options on that side, but I've been afraid how long the process could take (if they deal w/ Conqueror for replacements) or maybe they'd simple reimburse me for local repairs? Hmm, I better chat w/ my agent soon!XJBANKER said:
Thanks for all the support, everyone. I know I wont be quite so complacent during low speed maneuvers from now on. Not to mention the 'wheel cheat' aspect of dealing with a third axle!
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Probably would have just dragged the trailer all over the place that way. It would just rotate and slide... Needed the anchor point up front.
Wow, that's incredible! How off-camber was it?
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I doubt it very, very, very much.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Not only would it still have flipped, two potential things could have resulted. One, it the truck was off camber, there could have been enough binding that it could have caused the truck to flop over too. Second and more likely, the force of the binding up most likely would have bent parts on the trailer and/or truck which could have resulted in not being able to tow it home.
In any area that is basically not a typical dirt/paved road, I would want a full articulating coupling that is positively attached and no risk of coming undone and causing a lot more damage and make recovery very difficult.
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
A regular ball gives you 15' of movement from the vertical axis, anything greater than that and the coupler and ball are at high risk of separating.
You can get off road couplers with 45' rotational limiters built into them, but it has been our experience that when a trailer is ready to roll it's best to let it do so. If the rotation is limited by the coupler it is transmitted to the tow vehicle and can result in vehicle rolling as well.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
First off, very sorry to hear of the damage but glad no one was hurt and you were able to get everything back home. Always a positive in my book. Second, great job on the recovery. I can't wait to get my winch setup and it surely makes me think more about straps, pulleys and other things that would help in recovery.
As something mentioned before, a lot of these "tub" type trailers seem to have a much higher COG that seems to make them a little more tippy in off camber situations. I have been behind a AT Chaser that just about flopped. My wife and I were both like "Oh $h#t!!!" when we saw it bounce up and had the moment of balance waiting to see which way it went. Luckily it bounce back onto its wheels.
I think if the trailers were a little wider and lower, it would help to greatly improve the likelihood it would stay upright on a bad bounce. That is one reason we like our Kamparoo, most of the wieght is very low and being wide (almost square) seems to make it very stable behind us.
I also feel trying to get the tongue length right so the trailer tracks about the same path as the rig helps too, mainly because you don't run the risk of it clipping a turn off, placing it more inside where an off camber or ruts might be worse. I completely lucked out when redoing the tongue on the Kamparoo and with the longer wheelbase of the XJ (over a typical Wrangler) it tracks very close to the same, making it easier to get thru difficult areas.
Hoping you can get everything sorted out and back to the way it was. If nothing else, you have one heck of a story to share at the campfire.
As something mentioned before, a lot of these "tub" type trailers seem to have a much higher COG that seems to make them a little more tippy in off camber situations. I have been behind a AT Chaser that just about flopped. My wife and I were both like "Oh $h#t!!!" when we saw it bounce up and had the moment of balance waiting to see which way it went. Luckily it bounce back onto its wheels.
I think if the trailers were a little wider and lower, it would help to greatly improve the likelihood it would stay upright on a bad bounce. That is one reason we like our Kamparoo, most of the wieght is very low and being wide (almost square) seems to make it very stable behind us.
I also feel trying to get the tongue length right so the trailer tracks about the same path as the rig helps too, mainly because you don't run the risk of it clipping a turn off, placing it more inside where an off camber or ruts might be worse. I completely lucked out when redoing the tongue on the Kamparoo and with the longer wheelbase of the XJ (over a typical Wrangler) it tracks very close to the same, making it easier to get thru difficult areas.
Hoping you can get everything sorted out and back to the way it was. If nothing else, you have one heck of a story to share at the campfire.