High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

[Maclin]

Text of article...:


High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway
Boat pushed off trailer, down highway embankment
Published 6:05 AM CST Jan 27, 2014


KANSAS CITY, Mo. ?Drivers encountered an unexpected sight near the Grandview triangle late Sunday night after high winds pushed a large boat off of its trailer along Interstate 470 eastbound.

The boat was pushed off its trailer and down an embankment on I-470 east near the Blue Ridge exit.

We're told the driver had just purchased the boat at the boat show in downtown Kansas City, Mo., just before the accident happened.

No one was hurt in the accident. It wasn't immediately known how much damage was done to the boat.



Link...:
High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway | Local News - KMBC Home

 

[alldodge]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

The trailer and all was torn off the guys vehicle. With the size of the boat I would start thinking the tow vehicle did not have the correct size hitch installed. I don't see insurance fixing this one.

 

[agallant80]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

So many things could have come in to play here. 1 7/8 ball on a 2" hitch, the hitch, coupler latch not latched down or out of adjustment. Did he have chains attached? Sucks for him though, new boat, insurance claim, he will have to pick up some of the bill.

 

[Maclin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

I watched the video, looked like the boat was still on it's own trailer, the trailer tires had grass and junk all over them. I have seen videos of a semi trailer getting blown over but it has much more area to catch. Has to be lots more to this story.

 

[Maclin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

With the size of the boat I would start thinking the tow vehicle did not have the correct size hitch installed.

I agree, if it was hooked up properly it should have drug the tow vehicle with it, we have all seen the pics of the truck on the road and the boat hanging off the side of the cliff.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

Somebody goofed. It should have never come unhitched. But, maybe that was a blessing.

I have actually witnessed a semi get blown over, in front of me, by high winds in North Dakota. As I watched, the driver did a yeomans job of trying to save it. He did everything right, but to no avail. The driver was OK but what a ride!

I told the Police what I saw and what a great skilled job he did trying to save it. I later told his Company's Insurance Co. the same.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

I have actually witnessed a semi get blown over, in front of me, by high winds in North Dakota. As I watched, the driver did a yeomans job of trying to save it. He did everything right, but to no avail. The driver was OK but what a ride!

I just saw a semi tip over in front of me last week. (in north dakota also!) I've seen lots of campers end up in the ditch because of wind also. Bumper tow campers will usually break free from the ball when they start to roll, so even if it was a 2" match, its not impossible to part ways.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

I just saw a semi tip over in front of me last week. (in north dakota also!) I've seen lots of campers end up in the ditch because of wind also. Bumper tow campers will usually break free from the ball when they start to roll, so even if it was a 2" match, its not impossible to part ways.

I don't disagree but if no parts were broken, it makes you wonder?? Glad nobody was hurt!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

I don't see insurance fixing this one.

Why would insurance not pay for this? That's what insurance is for.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

No way did the wind separate the boat from the tow rig without help

In fact, I suspect that the wind had very little to do with the incident....

Not properly latched, improper sized ball, no safety chains, etc etc.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

No way did the wind separate the boat from the tow rig without help

In fact, I suspect that the wind had very little to do with the incident....

Not properly latched, improper sized ball, no safety chains, etc etc.

Don't disagree.

The incident I witnessed was pretty obvious. No photograpic record just my eyewitness.

I will say though that the fifth wheel pin remained intact and the whole rig went over. Pretty impressive that the 2", or so, pin held the load.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

No way did the wind separate the boat from the tow rig without help

In fact, I suspect that the wind had very little to do with the incident....

Not properly latched, improper sized ball, no safety chains, etc etc.

A lot of trailer manuf and dealers do not put safety chains on the trailer. They tend to leave it to the owner and that relives them of the liability of improper chains.That size boat probably took a 2 5/16 ball and he had a 2 inch

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

A lot of trailer manuf and dealers do not put safety chains on the trailer. They tend to leave it to the owner and that relives them of the liability of improper chains.That size boat probably took a 2 5/16 ball and he had a 2 inch

Never seen a new one without. They realize that is liable suicide if not provided.

If this thing came "unhitched" my pointer is aimed at the dealer/customer. But, their pockets are shallower.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

I was driving home near the Iowa-Illinois border yesterday when the system hit. Wind gusts in the open exceeded 60 MPH, and in some places where the topography funneled the wind thru a narrow pass, I am sure the windspeed was much higher than that. I was getting blown around in my pickup (darkness and true whiteout conditions just added to the fun!), but it's not inconceivable to me that a trailer hit by that sort of wind could be yanked off the hitch.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

Not buying the wind theory. You can't yank a trailer off a hitch unless something broke or was the wrong size ball. No chains???

 

[redneck joe]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

just bought it. dam..



Yeah not the wind. It might have been windy but to cover is stupidness of no chains/wrong size ball (probably suspect) that's his story and he's sticking to it.


New boat, excitement, darkness, storm coming in all add to not double checking everything. As one who forgot to latch over the ball once in that same scenario (did use chains) , I triple check everything now. Hitch up, pull about 20 feet, stop and walk around again.

 

[Maclin]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

It could have been blown sideways, then if the shoulder was narrow and there was an immediate embankment it could have twisted the ball out, not sure about chains.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

just watch the vid - looks like minimal damage? Didn't roll at least and that lends to the theory it was not wind.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

I'm not gonna say they CAN'T come loose but it takes a LOT more than a wind gust to do it

Trailer Race Figure 8 - Orange Show Speedway 7.10.10 - YouTube

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: High winds pull new boat off trailer on highway

you can stop speculating, guys; the answer is in the story:

"....the driver had just purchased the boat at the boat show..."

You think newbies are a menance on the water; they can be worse on the road!

And what do you want to bet he figured he's get around to getting the insurance closer to boating season?


And just to add to the truck-tipping, we've had them roll on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnell--a 2 lane bridge across the mouth of the bay, subject to summer squalls that hit like that.