Death by 5th Wheel Driver

[Dads Toy]

Just recently my wife and I drove up to Indiana for a funeral. Let me tell you it was the craziest drive yet. I have made this trip a 1000 times before. With the COVID stuff going on you would think it would be no problem. Oh no. first of all you need to plan ahead for hotel rooms. We had to stop for the night and couldn't find a hotel room no where. Had to finally drive an hour up the road to find a room. We never had an issue with trying to find a room just for a quick stay. Cars, trucks every where. There was soo many people on the road you thought it was a holiday.
Then we are about 30 miles from are final stop then this happen. Traffic ahead was slowing down then stop!! I had enough room for me to stop our car. There was a Mini Copper in front of me. Then I saw in my rear view mirror a guy towing a big 5th wheel in my lane. And HE WAS NOT STOPPING!! I knew he was not going to make it in time to stop. So I had to divert to the emergency lane. Other wise this guy would had hit me and push me into the Mini Copper. I would had kill the guy in the Mini. The guy in the 5th wheel was going over 80mph, cause I had to pass him to get around and couldn't hardly get pass him. Why in the world would you travel that fast in a 5th wheel. You have over 16,000lbs you have to stop. Crazy. When I saw him in the mirror he was hauling mail and hadn't even touch the brakes. He was already on top of my rear end. He couldn't had any brakes left after that. I am sure his wife gave him an ear full.
And I was about to trade our Class A in for a 5th wheel. That didn't help my cause with my wife. People go low and slow. and arrive safe.

[TXiceman]

65 mph is our top speed with the 5er. Sure the truck will pull it faster, but why? It is a lot to maneuver and stop so, play it safe. Some of the idiots out there are on a short schedule and think they have to make 600 miles in a day to make the most of a trip. They do not realize that they can pick destinations closer to home and travel much shorter days at much safer speeds.

Ken

[IC2]

In the west I might touch 70 mph fora very short time and usually in error but normally I run 62 to 68 mph regardless. A couple years back in Wyoming, cruising along at my normal speed an identical set up to our rig including tow vehicle pulled out and passed us. No clue as to his speed but he was a small dot way ahead in less then a mile. Some folks hauling these 20,000 pound plus combined units have no chance of a fast stop at these ridiculous speeds.

[Ray,IN]

Just for grins, how logical is this?
"The guy in the 5th wheel was going over 80mph, cause I had to pass him to get around and couldn't hardly get pass him."

I would prefer a careless/reckless driver be in front of me rather than behind me.

[TandW]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Just for grins, how logical is this?
"The guy in the 5th wheel was going over 80mph, cause I had to pass him to get around and couldn't hardly get pass him."

I would prefer a careless/reckless driver be in front of me rather than behind me.

The coach driver would be the loser in the tv movie "Duel" with Dennis Weaver.

[Dads Toy]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Just for grins, how logical is this?
"The guy in the 5th wheel was going over 80mph, cause I had to pass him to get around and couldn't hardly get pass him."

I would prefer a careless/reckless driver be in front of me rather than behind me.

I would agree with you on having him in front of me. But my exit was coming up soon and I was in the left lane. I needed to get over to the right lane and cars was lined up behind him. So my only choice was to speed up and get around him so I could get over. I hardly got around him, cause he keep speeding up. Crazy...

[TandW]

Originally Posted by Dads Toy

I would agree with you on having him in front of me. But my exit was coming up soon and I was in the left lane. I needed to get over to the right lane and cars was lined up behind him. So my only choice was to speed up and get around him so I could get over. I hardly got around him, cause he keep speeding up. Crazy...

A better choice was for you to better anticipate your upcoming exit. Or to proceed to the next exit and make u turn. Crazy is as crazy does.

[Jim_HiTek]

I'm with T&W and Ray on this one. When there's lots of traffic, I slow down. Just to be safe. And I try to make it as easy as possible for those that want to pass me to pass.

Both in my car or my RV. Slowing down has the added benefit of giving me more time to find and safely head for my exit. It's rare that I ever have to panic lane change.

In my RV, there have been a couple times when I missed my exit or was slow in recognizing it was coming up, but I just drive on, take the next turnaround and head back.

[Glenn and Kathy]

In my RV, there have been a couple times when I missed my exit or was slow in recognizing it was coming up, but I just drive on, take the next turnaround and head back.[/QUOTE]

West of the Mississippi that could easily be a 30 mile round trip.

Glenn

[huntnski]

ok DadsToy see how fast it was pointed out that you was totally in the wrong.
Glad everything worked out for the best. I do have one question. Under your screen name there is a picture of a man and woman walking in the moonlite. Asking for a friend, is the woman Dad's Toy?

[Old-Biscuit]

You had to pass him??

Had to cause exit was coming up.....

Slowing down/let him go by...then merge to right
OR pay attention to signage/exit numbers and plan ahead

Guy towing 5th wheel probably was spitting cause you cut him off and then short stopped due to traffic snarl

Sorry..but I think blame goes all around on this one

[RS ODonnell]

We're full timers that pull a 35' Montana. Always stay pretty close to 60 mph.

Ran across this video just yesterday. Just not worth getting in a hurry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUz8O_8KRSk

[RS ODonnell]

Browsing his website I found another!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMQUMgITKQg

[Jim_HiTek]

'Tis merely a scratch. A bit of duk tape, WD40, and Krylon paint they'll be good as new.