Community Forums

Gordiegaffer · 05-17-2019, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Could be worse, about 4 years ago I had to dodge the remains of a 6 ft fiberglass step ladder in the middle of I-610 near downtown Houston during afternoon rush hour. Thankfully I was in my car, not the motorhome.

I had to avoid a ladder pulled to the right missed it looked back in the mirror and saw two trucks go left they made it through by than I think everyone had slowed down enough to stop took about 30 miles to get my heartbeat back to normal

garry1p · 05-17-2019, 07:35 PM

Hope they all made it OK not turning over was luck or good driving.

On I-85 2 AM I had a flatbed 18 wheeler drop his load of rebar, or some type of metal. I though the road in front of me exploded I could no longer see the truck in front of me with all the sparks then I saw things flying by just to my left I pulled to the right missed a sign by inches and was on the grass, the truck was trying to stop still on the Interstate and I passed him on the right. There was a rest-area about 2 miles down I pulled off so I decided to call dispatch just to have something to do and calm down. However; I was shaking so hard I could not put the dime in the phone. Just sat there for 20 minutes the truck was stopped on the interstate but I didn't try to go back. That was a long time ago hardly any traffic do to gas shortage and rationing in I think 1974.

Drive long enough and I guess we all have a story to tell.

TXTiger · 05-17-2019, 07:49 PM

Try riding cross country on a motorcycle and see how many alligators you have to avoid.

V3600 · 05-17-2019, 08:51 PM

FWIW there is no news story on this incident.

grldst · 05-17-2019, 09:33 PM

It would be interesting to know how many lbs of shredded rubber are picked up by the various DOT's.

Finance · 05-17-2019, 10:24 PM

How do we know the gator was not the remains of motor home tire? Seems a more likely cause of an off-road excursion.

If the coach did in fact lose control due to a maneuver to avoid road debris, who's at fault? Job 1 is to maintain control of your vehicle. I might run off the road to avoid a baby carriage, but I'm darn sure not leaving the asphalt for a piece of rubber.

Crasher · 05-18-2019, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finance

How do we know the gator was not the remains of motor home tire? Seems a more likely cause of an off-road excursion.

The largest majority of gators on the road are the result of a recap coming apart. They are only legal on semi trailers. Motorhomes can not legally run a recapped tire.

BillJinOR · 05-18-2019, 08:59 AM

Actually we ran caps on tractor drive tires at times. They are only illegal to my knowledge on steer tires. The cost savings of using quality recaps is just to great to ignore for many big trucking firms
Virtually all “Gators “ are tread caps not blowouts. Blowouts leave pieces everywhere not just a long tread. If the recap-manufacturing is good they choose safe casings to start with and properly adhere the tread
Now that summer is here you’ll see more as the hot weather and pavement heat plus freeway speed will mix and cause more failures of the caps. Just one of the hazards of the road to be aware of.

Electra 225 · 05-18-2019, 09:55 AM

Years ago I was behind a car in the hammer lane, we were coming up on passing a semi. When that car in front of me got right even with the trailer tandems, one of the tires blew, and jettisoned the recap. Their windows were down too! Boom! I think some of the shrapnel went in the car, some hit my windshield, and I missed the gator. Scared the heck out of those people, with good reason.
Moral of the story, don't take your time passing a big rig, get it done and clear. I see lots of cars lally gag around like the above mentioned when passing big trucks. Bet it was the last time those particular folks did that.

fottip · 05-18-2019, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXTiger

Try riding cross country on a motorcycle and see how many alligators you have to avoid.

Alligators would be easy on a bike if you're paying attention.

Years ago, I was riding behind a flatbed truck with a small portable building on the trailer. Building came loose, slid off the trailer right in front of me and kept sliding on the highway, slowing rapidly from sliding friction.

Pucker-factor went off the scale that day, but I was lucky and avoided it.

fottip · 05-18-2019, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

The largest majority of gators on the road are the result of a recap coming apart. They are only legal on semi trailers. Motorhomes can not legally run a recapped tire.

I just spent some time researching the legality of using retread tires, and not once did I get a return indicating retreads are illegal for ANY type of vehicle.

I subscribe to the periodical "The Aviation Consumer", and this month's issue happens to have an article on use of retread tires in the aviation industry, one of the world's most regulated industries. The article states that as many as 95% of all tires used by airlines are retreads.

I think they're legal for any vehicle.

Is it really safe to use retreads on my truck or car?? | Interesting Articles (Retread Tire Association (RTA))

https://www.tirerecappers.com/tire-r...yths-debunked/

https://www.treadwright.com/blogs/tr...-tires-illegal

Crasher · 05-18-2019, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fottip

I just spent some time researching the legality of using retread tires, and not once did I get a return indicating retreads are illegal for ANY type of vehicle.

I subscribe to the periodical "The Aviation Consumer", and this month's issue happens to have an article on use of retread tires in the aviation industry, one of the world's most regulated industries. The article states that as many as 95% of all tires used by airlines are retreads.

I think they're legal for any vehicle.

Is it really safe to use retreads on my truck or car?? | Interesting Articles (Retread Tire Association (RTA))

https://www.tirerecappers.com/tire-r...yths-debunked/

https://www.treadwright.com/blogs/tr...-tires-illegal

Yes after I posted my comment, I remembered from 45 years ago using recaps by Bandag on our potato bulk trucks. And as has already been pointed out, they were legal at any position EXCEPT the steer axle. I wouldn't want to use them on my motorhome, but some might to save a few bucks.

Kurtsara · 05-18-2019, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtofell

X2 - yeah, how does this happen so frequently? I see them often. I'm generally not one for a bunch of laws a regulations but are truckers required to have TPMS sensors so they are alerted before a blowout? I certainly hope they are since every Toyota Corolla with 13" rims must. I'd gladly take my chances with an "alligator" off a small car as opposed to the monsters coming off 18-wheelers.

Why does every Toyota with 13" rims need tpms?

AKIQPilot · 05-19-2019, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finance

How do we know the gator was not the remains of motor home tire? Seems a more likely cause of an off-road excursion.

If the coach did in fact lose control due to a maneuver to avoid road debris, who's at fault? Job 1 is to maintain control of your vehicle. I might run off the road to avoid a baby carriage, but I'm darn sure not leaving the asphalt for a piece of rubber.

Very true. Without a better look at the motorhome it was speculation on my part that the tire carcass was from a semi. It was about 3/4 of the entire circumference of the tire. It had the appearance of a recap.

Throughout our 3000 mile trip from Havasu to San Antonio and back I got to see the remanence of hundreds of semi tire carcasses all over the road. Its pretty sobering to think of the damage a tire carcass could do to a motorhome and or coach.