Accident this weekend

aldermanre · 08-24-2011, 11:06 AM

Ok, we were in a vehicle accident this weekend while towing. Luckily we ere slowing down due to traffic coming back from the beach and there was a stop light and exit ramp ahead. At the last second a lady in a Toyota Seqouia jumped in front of us and slammed on her breaks. There was no way for us to stop and we hit her going about 15 MPH. Everyone was able to drive away, but three vehicles had damage, she hit the one in front of her. I have a 2006 F250 and about a 13,000 lb 5th wheel. My bumper was bent up, and trans cooler bent, but not leaking. minor damage to tow hooks, fog lights, etc...

What should I be concerned with as far as the hitch is concerned? It is a Reese 16k slider.

Thanks,
Rick

wa8yxm · 08-24-2011, 11:52 AM

While I can not be sure and you **SHOULD** inspect it fully.

I seriously doubt the hitch was damaged.

Also inspect the trailer's half of the hitch.

Who got the ticket? And/or Who's name came first on the accident report?

Gerall · 08-24-2011, 11:59 AM

Glad to hear all are OK. Just curious what the law has said about the accident. All of us RV'er know that an RV can't stop like a car, but the car was in fact in front of you and you rear ended the car. I am sure we have all had the same scenario where someone cuts in front of you and rapidly slows down making you brake hard.

RustyJC · 08-24-2011, 12:44 PM

Although I wasn't there to witness the forces involved, there's every chance that your hitch has experienced a significant shock load. My first recommendation would be to confer with the technical folks at Reese, get their recommendations and proceed accordingly. Only they know the design limits and weak links of their hitch design.

Should that not be possible, I'd inspect ALL load-bearing fasteners for signs of distortion or stretching (bending failures or failures in yield) and retorque same - if any are significantly low in torque, I'd check them closely as they may have stretched and lost their prestress. Further, I'd inspect the hitch structure very closely for any signs of bending, misalignment, etc. Without more sophisticated NDT (non-destructive testing) tooling, you're limited in what you can do, but the above is what I'd do as a minimum.

Rusty

**JohnRR** · 08-24-2011, 12:53 PM

I'm guessing you would have full coverage on your F250 and would be making a claim for damages if so I'd shift the liability of the hitch inspection to them in case of something unforeseen happening in the future they are the "professionals" which is not to say I would trust them enough not to make my own inspection if you feel capable of doing so..

BCooke · 08-24-2011, 01:30 PM

Call Reese. I had bought a new hitch and had a problem with it. They are very helpful.

BobGed · 08-24-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldermanre

Ok, we were in a vehicle accident this weekend while towing. Luckily we ere slowing down due to traffic coming back from the beach and there was a stop light and exit ramp ahead. At the last second a lady in a Toyota Seqouia jumped in front of us and slammed on her breaks. There was no way for us to stop and we hit her going about 15 MPH.

This is exactly the reason I installed a dash camera in my MH and other personal vehicles. Here's a sample from one of them:

Close - YouTube

aldermanre · 08-24-2011, 02:25 PM

I called Reese, and they said that they do not crash test their products and recommend buying a complete new setup since it would be cheaper that taking everything to be magnafluxed and checked. The guy wasn't to helpful, but I understand that they don't want to say anything that could come back on them.

I don't think the hitch was damaged, I have visually checked everything several times, and don't see any signs of movement either. I'll have to check the torque, good advice. The trailer hitch look fine as well.

No one received a ticket, he said vehicle 1 hit vehicle 2, and vehicle 2 hit vehicle 3.

The lady said she was in the wrong, but not in front of him, and not to her insurance.

Wayne M · 08-24-2011, 02:26 PM

Rick,
Sorry about the mishap. I hope the person that darted in front of you got a ticket.

Bob,
PM me with details of that dash-camera if you would. Looks interesting. Model, and what do you feed it into.

aldermanre · 08-24-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobGed

This is exactly the reason I installed a dash camera in my MH and other personal vehicles. Here's a sample from one of them:

Close - YouTube

Good Idea.

**Route 66** · 08-24-2011, 02:30 PM

Bob, could you post your dash cam info in the Technology Forum?

I think many of our members would be interested.....................I am.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Bob,
PM me with details of that dash-camera if you would. Looks interesting. Model, and what do you feed it into.

Blaster 22 · 08-24-2011, 03:45 PM

aldermanre...sent you a PM.

**JohnRR** · 08-24-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldermanre

I called Reese, and they said that they do not crash test their products and recommend buying a complete new setup since it would be cheaper that taking everything to be magnafluxed and checked. The guy wasn't to helpful, but I understand that they don't want to say anything that could come back on them.

I don't think the hitch was damaged, I have visually checked everything several times, and don't see any signs of movement either. I'll have to check the torque, good advice. The trailer hitch look fine as well.

No one received a ticket, he said vehicle 1 hit vehicle 2, and vehicle 2 hit vehicle 3.

The lady said she was in the wrong, but not in front of him, and not to her insurance.

You may not think they were very helpful but I think they gave you very good advice. Paper work that comes with Blue Ox tow bars and base plates say the very same thing about their units that have been involved in an accident.

powerboatr · 08-24-2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnRR

You may not think they were very helpful but I think they gave you very good advice. Paper work that comes with Blue Ox tow bars and base plates say the very same thing about their units that have been involved in an accident.

yep they are like baby seats. one wreck and your better off to scrap em and get a new one.

to many variables