By Cheri Sicard
Like a lot of RVers, Joe of RVing with Joe has watched a lot of RVing YouTube videos over the years. He also admits to watching a lot of videos of RV crashes.
No, Joe is not just being voyeuristic. He says that you can learn a whole lot about RV safety by watching RV crashes and figuring out what went wrong. He demonstrates this in the video below.
Joe also says that keeping images of RV crashes, no matter how horrific, in the back of your mind can help you stay mindful while on the road.
I have to agree with him. Especially when I see inexperienced or irresponsible RVers whizzing past me at top speeds on windy, winding mountain roads.
In the video, he focuses on seven particular crashes that help him keep important RV driving safety practices in mind. Be sure to watch the video for the visuals.
RV crashes #1 and #2: Pay attention to height!
The RV crashes in the first two videos, fortunately, do not put anyone’s life in danger, but they most assuredly cost the RV owners a whole lot of money. In the first, the driver ignores signs and warning lights and plows forward under a low bridge at regular speeds, and shears off his RV’s air conditioner in the process.
In the second video, a fifth wheel owner drives smack into the shelter of a bank ATM drive-up lane.
RV crash #3: Don’t drive distracted or drowsy
In this video, we see a truck and travel trailer serpentining all over the road. It culminates with the trailer flipper entirely over! The cause? A drowsy driver. Luckily, no one was hurt in this particular incident, but it could have easily been a deadly head-on collision had it happened in another location.
RV crashes #4 and #5: Driving in high winds
If you see too much sway going on in your rearview mirrors as a result of high winds, it’s a good idea to pull over and stop as soon as you can safely do so, even if you are driving at slow speeds. The driver in this video did not do that and, as a result, flipped his travel trailer over.
If you see trucks and RVs pulling over in windy conditions, you should probably do the same. Don’t be the last person on the road in a windy situation.
In video #5, the tow vehicle was lighter than the trailer, and the high winds flipped the trailer, which in turn flipped the tow vehicle.
RV Crash #6: Don’t drive too fast!
This driver ignored speed warning signs on a winding and icy mountain road during a snowstorm and ended up wrecking his RV. Luckily, he slid into the mountainside and not over the cliff. Also luckily, he did not hit the semi-truck coming at him in the other lane.
RV Crash #7: Avoid trailer sway
A trailer that is not properly loaded can result in severe trailer sway, as this video demonstrates. If this happens, Joe says you should lightly hit the trailer brakes, not the vehicle brakes. In the video, both the trailer and the vehicle end up flipping due to trailer sway.
This video is especially important for those whose tow vehicles are lighter than their trailers, a less-than-ideal situation to begin with.
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RVT1251
Speed – speed – speed
In my opinion (with thousands of miles pulling and driving), speed is the main issue. Too fast, too small of a tow vehicle, limited experience and … again speed!! See someone rolling down the road at 75+ pulling a 35 ft pull behind just tells me they are oblivious to the truth. A gust of wind and the trailer starts to sway. We know how it ends. Slow down and live!
Thank you for the summary, Cheri! Very helpful column. Thank you for repeating it. Always good to be reminded to know ones RV’s dimensions including weight, and to not drive fast. Have a great day and safe travels!