We Survived....don't know how.

[Denny_A]

I awoke suddenly to the sound of gravel.

Grass to the left, gravel center, and concrete to the right. Startled, I yelled "what's happening?". She wrenched the steering wheel to the right, in an attempt to regain the concrete of the left lane of I-74. That sealed our fate. The trailer whip-lashed left, the TV jerked left. Unrecoverable sway set in at 65 MPH!

We rode it to a stop as interested(!!) observers....totally unable to have any further effect on the outcome.

The trailer overtook the TV as our heading changed from 270 deg to 360 deg, whilst still tracking due west. The TM left tire caught a small concrete culvert. It rolled 180 degrees whilst sliding to a messy, muddy stop.

Inside the TV it felt like Godzilla was trying shake us out of the vehicle. The whole time she was saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry......". Suddenly the motion stopped. I looked around and saw the TM inverted, the hitch resting aginst the right tail lamp fixture. The TV pointed straight uphill towrd the same lane from which we had come....and all 4 wheels still on the ground! The TM bumper was facing the original direction, 90 deg angle to the TV, resting inverted and encased in mud.

I am very happy. No one was hurt. The dog, in his well secured kennel seemed a bit nervous (catatonic, really), but uninjured. So, all-in-all, a good day to be (still) alive.

When the wrecker/recovery guys rolled the TM over with a cable and winch, it remained in one piece. They said most TT's fall completey apart when righted. Small consolation.

Was able to start the 4Runner, select Lo-4wheel and drive right up a 20 deg incline of wet mud. Toyotas are tough. It had slid about 100 feet at 90 deg to the diretion of motion w/out rolling over. Left a 100 foot double strip of black, muddy earth, and a pile of turf on either side or the mud strip. Heavy rains the previous day and resulting loose turf meant the the friction on the tires never rose to the point of causing the TV to roll! The TM would probably have made it safely also, but for the concrete pipe the tire struck.

Total loss. Righting the trailer finished the destruction of the shells. The hitch was ripped fron the ball and twisted 90 deg. One chain remained connected and had the rear of the TV hoisted about 4-6". All in all, a very memorable day.

Seems my DW was moving into the passing lane whilst closing on a truck. Can't piece togther (in her memory) how she ended up sliding to the soft gravel just off the shoulder. When I awoke and interjected, she overcontrolled.....I think my sudden, loud question probably startled her into the reaction.

Five hours later we were on our way home, towing our stuff in a U-Haul. In the wrecking company's yard, we opened the shells. Tough work, but got both up and stabilized with the fore/aft stabilizer bars. Both shells are broken, peeled back, etc. All latches sheared and/or bent.... and so on. OTOH, the box remained intact. Toilet, reefer, wardrobe, etc. stayed in place, mostly unharmd. A structurally sound unit. Other than a few glass containers and the oven door glass, none of our 'stuff' was harmed. Telly still works, etc.

So, we're out of the trailering game for awhile.. maybe forever. DW is thinking that Flying holidays may be a better solution, since we can travel nearly anywhere for $20-$30 (Airline retiree). At least it happened on the last day of our trip to the Gulf coast. Were only 250 miles from home. Managed to get home last night.

Moral of this story: Stuff happens. Stay vigilant. At 65 mph you can become an unwilling participant w/out the means to affect the outcome. Very, very scary!

In my military combat flying and instrument flying I never felt as helpless as I did whilst taking our "crack the whip" ride.

Wondering what the insurance adjuster will say... re. their idea of my TM's fair market value!

Happy Trailerin' for y'all.
Denny( Glenlivet helps)_A