Trailer flipped on the way to Cooke

[Randman]

On the way to Cooke, Just past the WY/MT line, a gust of wind blew my 27' Mission trailer on its side. Darn near flipped the truck. Only going 50 to 55 MPH. My question is, is this very common in windy areas? Would a heavier trailer be better? Thinking of going sled deck, not as convenient but pulling in snow, ice or wind the deck seems to be a better choice.


http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/forum.vb/picture.php?albumid=3385&pictureid=30984

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/forum.vb/picture.php?albumid=3385&pictureid=30990

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/forum.vb/picture.php?albumid=3385&pictureid=30992

 

[mfatty]

bummer

You could always switch to yamaha and then you would have plenty of weight in the trailer...

 

[capulin overdrive]

Think how scary the taller trailers with no wheel wells would be!

 

[Randman]

You could always switch to yamaha and then you would have plenty of weight in the trailer...

Good Point

 

[Meskie]

That almost happened to us last year in about that same spot. Good thing we had 2 yammies and a turbo cat in the trailer. I had a friend that it happened too also. He said it was very scary. He had a deck over trailer and said the wind pretty well lifted the trailer up before it landed on its side

 

[Randman]

Think how scary the taller trailers with no wheel wells would be!

That is what I was thinking and why I bought a low deck trailer, so I could use it for cars and sled/atv's and being lower, thought it would help keep it planted. Man it took about a second and that sucker was on its side. Luckily the ball broke and we did not flip the truck. We did a 180 and ended up in the opposite direction than we were traveling. 4 wheel sideways skid/180 in the ram was a bit scary. Totally dry road, not a lick of snow or dampness on the road.

 

[inspector01]

That's nuts, glad you're all ok. Looks like most stuff survived pretty well considering what happened.

 

[bnorth]

You could always switch to yamaha and then you would have plenty of weight in the trailer...

LOL wow you are ruthless.

 

[MORSNO]

If those are all after pictures, it sure looks like those Superclamps worked! You may want to share these pics in the do you use tie downs in an enclosed trailer thread.

I pulled a boat up to Alaska through that same area, I could read the name on the side of the boat in my passenger side mirror due to the winds. Heavy RV trailers flip in those winds too, it's just the nature of the beast with the huge sidewalls on enclosed trailers/RV's.

 

[Laundryboy]

I'm sure there is a lot of curiosity about how well the tie downs worked and how your sleds faired. Sorry about the accident, hope insurance doesn't give you any grief.

 

[Randman]

I'm sure there is a lot of curiosity about how well the tie downs worked and how your sleds faired. Sorry about the accident, hope insurance doesn't give you any grief.

Thanks,
The super clamps worked very well on the skidoo but it was on the side that was skidding on the ground (Entry door side) The clamp pulled out of the floor on my Pro and it ended up on the Doo. Once the trailer flipped on to its side and we reversed direction and came to a stop the trailer was taking up most of the two lanes of the road and my truck filled up the rest. This all happened near the crest of a hill and I was worried that the 1st north bound vehicle would smash into the trailer so I was trying to drag the mess off of the highway but it wouldn't budge. Dropped the ram into 4 low and after a couple hits of the gas it actually pulled the trailer up by the safety chains and it ended back up on the trailer wheels. Not sure how this happened, I think the trailer frame was gouging into the pavement? Anyway, the Doo needed a new gauge cluster and bars and the pro will need bars but is still rideable. Both sleds have 0 miles on them. Trailer is toast, ram needs a tailgate.

 

[mtncat1]

wow that's an amazing story. I glad things worked out for the most part an no one got hurt.

 

[joshkoltes]

what kind of damage did the sleds get? looks like those superclamps kept em right in place

 

[Randman]

what kind of damage did the sleds get? looks like those superclamps kept em right in place

Clamps work very well. I should have mounted them with a bigger washer through the floor though because the Poo side pulled through. Poo landed on the Doo and damaged the bars and cluster. All in all not too bad.

 

[nuggetau]

A load leveling hitch may have made the difference. Almost everyone towing a travel trailer ends up buying one because it improves stability, sway, etc, however not many people do it pulling the same trailers with sleds and toys. No criticism, just an observation.

 

[Randman]

A load leveling hitch may have made the difference. Almost everyone towing a travel trailer ends up buying one because it improves stability, sway, etc, however not many people do it pulling the same trailers with sleds and toys. No criticism, just an observation.

Sorry man, I could have been parked on the side of the road and that trailer would have gone over anyway, there was no sway or stability issue, it was instantaneously on its side. I wont be using another enclosed aluminum chassis trailer ever again. They are great for intended purposes but too light for blustery WY or MT with just a couple sleds in there - IMHO.

Looking for better options.

Anyone used a Full Lotus sled deck?

 

[zalez]

Definitely gives all of us a stark reminder. I have lived in one of the windiest places in Wyoming for over 12 years and have seen some stuff and wondered how the he!! did that blow over. There are just those "right" moments of wind that it doesn't matter what kind of trailer it is, or how slow you are going, it's going over.

I do commend you for trying and succeeding on getting your rig in a safer spot after it tipped. Level headed thinking there!

 

[WYsteph]

Glad you are ok! The road by Clark has claimed many rigs, I heard they had over 117 mph gusts on Friday. Crazy!

I like our deck but even in that kind of wind it probably would have brought the truck over if it had hit just right.

 

[Blk88GT]

It would be also be worth investing in the highest rated ball you can find for your hitch and a good "head" for it as well. I don't know if it would have saved any damage in this situation, but it certainly can't hurt. etrailer.com has a great selection.

 

[SSWIM]

It would be also be worth investing in the highest rated ball you can find for your hitch and a good "head" for it as well. I don't know if it would have saved any damage in this situation, but it certainly can't hurt. etrailer.com has a great selection.

Might be a blessing the ball broke. Truck didn't lay on its side.

Sam