Blue Ox Failure - My Bad?

[jmosberg]

Here's my story, it's sad but true. On the way back from Florida at the end of March after "the season", we had just crossed the state line from SC into NC on I95. Pulled into the welcome center and went to the truck area. A mix of 18 wheelers and various RV's has it full. But the racehorse inside me was calling. I could see ahead on the exit from the truck area to where it merged with cars leaving their area to get back on I95, a spot between two trucks. So I pulled in there. Watched from inside as a couple of departing trucks went past, so I knew there was enough clearance. Could have gone in the back, but we figured we would stretch and walk to the restrooms. My Equinox was due for a 5 minute run, so I got that going and locked everything up. When we came back, I put the Equinox in tow mode and we took off.

After a couple of hours we were planning to stop at a Pilot in about 15 minutes for gas, when I noticed in my rear camera that the Equinox was swaying back and forth. I knew something was not right with our Blue Ox (Combined with Air Force braking) and pulled over. The Driver's side leg assembly on the Blue Ox had come loose from the bracket on the Equinox. The 1/2 inch pin and the locking quick pin (with the ring) were missing. Additionally, the D-ring on the small orange wire cable was disconnected from the breakaway switch on the Equinox and lying on the ground.

Fortunately, no body damage to the car or coach. One of the bottom lights on the coach was smashed out, probably by the bar of the tow defender, which was bent. The 6 pin connector for the lights on the Equinox was broken off it's brackets. And the Blue Ox casing was split, probably from the sway, and I will need to replace it. The good news is no major damage to car or coach and I didn't cause an accident.

We got it all unhooked and stabilized. And DW drove the Equinox and followed me the rest of the way home. She later reported that as we got back on the highway and got up to speed, she saw a paper fly off that was under one of the wiper blades.

It is entirely possible that failed to secure the locking quick pin properly when I hooked up the day before (it was 530 am). But if I also failed to connect the d-ring to the breakaway switch, then that meant two failures on my part.

Now for the conspiracy theory...did a trucker who was angry at me and all the other Rver's for taking up their space, sabotage my hook-up? Or did someone else for whatever reason? Taking out that locking quick pin and disconnecting the d-ring from the breakaway switch could have caused me pain in that I could not tow anymore, without necessarily leading to an accident.

Trust me, I've learned a huge lesson - always inspect the hook-up after an overnight or being away from the coach. But has anyone else heard of this kind of mischief being done to a tow hook-up?

Thanks for listening.

[jeanluc001]

A couple of hours until you noticed the sway??

[TandW]

Replace your "quick-pins" with padlocks.

[deckape]

I always check the setup anytime I walk away . And the wife will check it also , so I don't miss anything .

[ArtJoyce]

You will never know what happen?

A few years ago we made it a practice that we both connect the toad. Joyce is the best. She will normally do it at the dump station while I dump. We have the other inspect our work when we connect the toad. There are at least 10 steps and an interruption has the chance of a goof up. We have over the years found some minor issues. Such as the light cable not latched into position, brake controller not turned on. Thank goodness for the double check.

[Winger2]

Not sure how this is a Blue Ox failure. Seems more to be a failure of due diligence on your part when getting back on the road.

[dfuelman]

Always do a walk around inspection anytime you stop. Only takes a minute and can save lots of headaches. keep a small LED flashlight in your pocket for night time rest stops and hard to see areas.

The note could also have been from a trucker that noticed the pin missing, it's what we get used to doing in pre-trip inspections and it becomes habit. I do it walking through parking lots, I can't help it (and former LEO, so double nosey).

It's a pain but I put wire ties on my pins to hold them in going up interstate, heard too many stories about them "disappearing" suddenly.

[Spk64]

I will always do a quick check of all the tow bar connections each time I stop or leave. Also use locking pins to help keep them in place.

[rffowler55]

Originally Posted by TandW

Replace your "quick-pins" with padlocks.

I agree completely, someone could still do what you suspect but why make it easier on them to do it.

[jmosberg]

yes

[jmosberg]

Originally Posted by Winger2

Not sure how this is a Blue Ox failure. Seems more to be a failure of due diligence on your part when getting back on the road.

This is true

[Fushux]

Like others have said. Complete walk around when you stop. You could find something minor that could save you a lot of time and headache if you didn't see it. I've been towing trailers with my motorhome for years but just got my Jeep JL set up for flat towing. There is a lot that goes into this process. Way more complicated than a trailer.

[jmosberg]

Originally Posted by jeanluc001

A couple of hours until you noticed the sway??

yes

[2cyber71]

I’m sorry this happened to you.
I have been using Blue Ox since 2003, I have had my share of errors, including losing a pin when I took my Jeep off, not noticing until I was leaving. I got lucky and found a lock that fit. Now I travel with an extra break away connection, a second set of pins and a set of locking pins. Also, when I stop overnight I take my tail light cord off and lock it in the Jeep.

Every single time I stop, I always walk around the Jeep and check the tow setup.
Ret area, diesel stop, pee stop, poop stop for the dogs.

I overnight many times without unhooking, this is what I do.
1. Remove the tail light cord and lock it in the Jeep.
2. Turn off the Patriot brake, and my 2 dash cams in the Jeep
3. Turn of my Remote Jeep TPMS relay for my Tireminder, it’s hard wired with a switch
4. Double check that I locked the Jeep.