I need a trailer...
05-22-2012, 04:11 PM
#61
Tour de Franzia
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I'm having a hard time reading posts from the same guys who need 3 layer fire suits (for the extremely unlikely event of car fire) say that trailer brakes are not important (for the very real likelihood of having a motor vehicle accident). You do realize that the most dangerous aspect of a typical motorsport event is driving to and from the track, right?
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05-22-2012, 04:17 PM
#62
Around here people tow 3000+lb boats with 1500 trucks and no trailer brakes. I'd happily load up on the OP's trailer and tow it behind any full size pickup made in the past decade and never think about adding brakes. A mid size truck/suv is another story however.
I've got a tire trailer that gets towed behind the miata which is not rated for towing. Should I put brakes on the 200lb trailer? Trailer, passenger and me are well above the gvwr.
I've got a tire trailer that gets towed behind the miata which is not rated for towing. Should I put brakes on the 200lb trailer? Trailer, passenger and me are well above the gvwr.
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05-22-2012, 04:39 PM
#63
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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F the brakes,we had 2 setups at my old shop, 3-car dove-tail with a winch (not 5th-wheel) and brakes, and a cheap single car trailer, our tow vehicle was a F-350 Crew cab w/ tool box bed and gasoline v-10 (fuel mileage fail). With the single car trailer hauling a 99 NB, we would go up and down a couple mountains on a 10 Hr. drive with no trailer brakes just fine. We did make some extended ramps to make getting lowered cars on and off possible.
Don't worry about the brakes, you've got a big enough truck to slow it down as long as you drive like you know you've got a trailer attached. I've hauled a miata on that style of trailer before (and with a smaller truck), and I have no idea what you mean by the car wont "clear" the kearny dovetailed whatever style trailer. The Miata rocks that trailer just fine.
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05-22-2012, 04:55 PM
#64
Tour de Franzia
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I wasn't untilmately clear. I believe trailer brakes are more than a luxury, but not required. I would have them on my trailer, but most likely not from day one unless I got a deal.
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05-28-2012, 04:59 PM
#67
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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I've been trailering my Miata w/o brakes for 5 years. I am in NJ and tow to Watkins Glen, NY, to Pocono in Pa to Lime Rock in Ct. to Summit Point in W.Va. & NJMP in Jersey. Shortest trip is 90 miles each way, longest is 275 miles each way. Much of it is through the mountains. Up and down major hills sometimes crusising way faster then is smart to do, 80-85mph. Usually I try and stay around 70-75 on the interstates. Never a problem. I try and leave lots of braking zone space and constantly scanning the roads in front, behind and on the sides for any potential idiots coming up on me.
Well, last year after picking up my car at my buddies shop and heading to the track on a 3 lane 50mph road with traffic lights, trying to leave lots of space in front. I am in center lane, left lane is closed up ahead for construction. I am scanning my mirror for the idiot that is going to speed up in the left lane and cut in front of me at the last possible moment before the merge point. Sure enough I see him coming. Turns out it was a she. Zooms in front of me, my brake zone cushion is gone, the light ahead turns red she slams on her brakes as I do. Unfortunately, I needed about another 6" of braking distance.
I hit her in the back, her tail light get popped out of their sockets. No other damage to her car. My right side bumper is kind of hanging down. I zip tie my bumper. I use some of my blue track tape to tape her tail lights into place, they are not broken.
Cop, shows up, Speaks with each of us separately. Her first. After hearing my story, he says that's amazing--amazing. Both stories jive. He does not give me a ticket. Says, it sounds like under the circumstances this was not your fault and unavoidable. Says so in the police report. I fix my bumper for $12. Only had to replace a few plastic clips, no damage to bumper. One year later against my objections my insurance company pays her: $25,000. Tell me, it's cheaper then going to court.
If my trailer had brakes, I would not have hit her.
Got new trailer with brakes the following week.
Towing with brakes now about 2 years and I could never imagine towing w/o brakes ever again. Got electric brakes. I do about 20 events every season. I tow about $5000 miles each track season.
Not worth saving a few $ when your safety is at risk.
Well, last year after picking up my car at my buddies shop and heading to the track on a 3 lane 50mph road with traffic lights, trying to leave lots of space in front. I am in center lane, left lane is closed up ahead for construction. I am scanning my mirror for the idiot that is going to speed up in the left lane and cut in front of me at the last possible moment before the merge point. Sure enough I see him coming. Turns out it was a she. Zooms in front of me, my brake zone cushion is gone, the light ahead turns red she slams on her brakes as I do. Unfortunately, I needed about another 6" of braking distance.
I hit her in the back, her tail light get popped out of their sockets. No other damage to her car. My right side bumper is kind of hanging down. I zip tie my bumper. I use some of my blue track tape to tape her tail lights into place, they are not broken.
Cop, shows up, Speaks with each of us separately. Her first. After hearing my story, he says that's amazing--amazing. Both stories jive. He does not give me a ticket. Says, it sounds like under the circumstances this was not your fault and unavoidable. Says so in the police report. I fix my bumper for $12. Only had to replace a few plastic clips, no damage to bumper. One year later against my objections my insurance company pays her: $25,000. Tell me, it's cheaper then going to court.
If my trailer had brakes, I would not have hit her.
Got new trailer with brakes the following week.
Towing with brakes now about 2 years and I could never imagine towing w/o brakes ever again. Got electric brakes. I do about 20 events every season. I tow about $5000 miles each track season.
Not worth saving a few $ when your safety is at risk.
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05-28-2012, 09:27 PM
#70
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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Oscar,
It was actually 2 tail lights and they did not even break. This thing dragged on for about a year. There were 3 girls in the car. Driver was on her cell the entire time.
When I reported the accident to my insurer I said be ready for a scam in the making.
For months I got notifications from my insurer re: claims being made by the driver. I kept insisting this was a scam and not to concede 1 cent to this girl. Eventually, when they notified me they were going to settle this I insisted they fight it. But as the insured you have no legal standing in the case. Then I asked to speak with the my insurance company's attorney(s). I was not permitted to speak with them. I then asked my claims person " have you read the police report". His answer was yes. Then I said, OK based on that how can you concede anything. Answer: According to the legal dept. it was more cost efficient to settle for the $25,000. I said how can their vehicle sustain virtually no physical damage and the driver claim physical injuries and you guys roll over for $25k?This girl just hit the lottery. America! What a country.
It was actually 2 tail lights and they did not even break. This thing dragged on for about a year. There were 3 girls in the car. Driver was on her cell the entire time.
When I reported the accident to my insurer I said be ready for a scam in the making.
For months I got notifications from my insurer re: claims being made by the driver. I kept insisting this was a scam and not to concede 1 cent to this girl. Eventually, when they notified me they were going to settle this I insisted they fight it. But as the insured you have no legal standing in the case. Then I asked to speak with the my insurance company's attorney(s). I was not permitted to speak with them. I then asked my claims person " have you read the police report". His answer was yes. Then I said, OK based on that how can you concede anything. Answer: According to the legal dept. it was more cost efficient to settle for the $25,000. I said how can their vehicle sustain virtually no physical damage and the driver claim physical injuries and you guys roll over for $25k?This girl just hit the lottery. America! What a country.
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05-29-2012, 10:15 AM
#72
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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sixshooter,
I was not going to cast any ethnic aspersions, but I'll say this. The driver and friends were from Eastern Europe. I can't swear she was on her cell while driving, but I walked up to her car with-in seconds of coming to a stop. She was on her phone jabbering away in a foreign language and did not put her window down for at least 2 or more minutes before she acknowledged me.
When, I reported the accident to my insurance company, I said for the record: be prepared to be scammed. And when the scam happens, I told them the lawyers and doctors will all be from the same Eastern European country.
They have a very tight knit community in the Northeast and as a group they stick together. Sure enough when the papers started flying, they all: lawyers and doctors had Eastern European names. I did all I could to ask the insurance company not to rollover.
But, as I said as the insured you really have no rights in the matter. And I was amazed how easily they gave away $25,000.
I even called the State's Insurance Fraud Dept. and asked them to look into it. Off the record I was told the dollar amount was not worth pursuing.
Aside from that, I now would never tow without trailer brakes. Looking back, I am surprised I did it for as long as I did.
I was not going to cast any ethnic aspersions, but I'll say this. The driver and friends were from Eastern Europe. I can't swear she was on her cell while driving, but I walked up to her car with-in seconds of coming to a stop. She was on her phone jabbering away in a foreign language and did not put her window down for at least 2 or more minutes before she acknowledged me.
When, I reported the accident to my insurance company, I said for the record: be prepared to be scammed. And when the scam happens, I told them the lawyers and doctors will all be from the same Eastern European country.
They have a very tight knit community in the Northeast and as a group they stick together. Sure enough when the papers started flying, they all: lawyers and doctors had Eastern European names. I did all I could to ask the insurance company not to rollover.
But, as I said as the insured you really have no rights in the matter. And I was amazed how easily they gave away $25,000.
I even called the State's Insurance Fraud Dept. and asked them to look into it. Off the record I was told the dollar amount was not worth pursuing.
Aside from that, I now would never tow without trailer brakes. Looking back, I am surprised I did it for as long as I did.
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05-29-2012, 10:20 AM
#73
Oscar,
It was actually 2 tail lights and they did not even break. This thing dragged on for about a year. There were 3 girls in the car. Driver was on her cell the entire time.
When I reported the accident to my insurer I said be ready for a scam in the making.
For months I got notifications from my insurer re: claims being made by the driver. I kept insisting this was a scam and not to concede 1 cent to this girl. Eventually, when they notified me they were going to settle this I insisted they fight it. But as the insured you have no legal standing in the case. Then I asked to speak with the my insurance company's attorney(s). I was not permitted to speak with them. I then asked my claims person " have you read the police report". His answer was yes. Then I said, OK based on that how can you concede anything. Answer: According to the legal dept. it was more cost efficient to settle for the $25,000. I said how can their vehicle sustain virtually no physical damage and the driver claim physical injuries and you guys roll over for $25k?This girl just hit the lottery. America! What a country.
It was actually 2 tail lights and they did not even break. This thing dragged on for about a year. There were 3 girls in the car. Driver was on her cell the entire time.
When I reported the accident to my insurer I said be ready for a scam in the making.
For months I got notifications from my insurer re: claims being made by the driver. I kept insisting this was a scam and not to concede 1 cent to this girl. Eventually, when they notified me they were going to settle this I insisted they fight it. But as the insured you have no legal standing in the case. Then I asked to speak with the my insurance company's attorney(s). I was not permitted to speak with them. I then asked my claims person " have you read the police report". His answer was yes. Then I said, OK based on that how can you concede anything. Answer: According to the legal dept. it was more cost efficient to settle for the $25,000. I said how can their vehicle sustain virtually no physical damage and the driver claim physical injuries and you guys roll over for $25k?This girl just hit the lottery. America! What a country.
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05-29-2012, 11:42 AM
#75
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i feel safer now.
BTW, i think i'll be on the hoon in the new track car at msr cresson this weekend. any of you going to be out there? the guy im buying it from is a member and if the hydra computer gets back in time i'll be out there getting the final tune tweaked. and hopefully getting Keith to teach me to drive it.
BTW, i think i'll be on the hoon in the new track car at msr cresson this weekend. any of you going to be out there? the guy im buying it from is a member and if the hydra computer gets back in time i'll be out there getting the final tune tweaked. and hopefully getting Keith to teach me to drive it.
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05-30-2012, 12:29 AM
#77
I have a customer who makes ball mills. He was sued by a guy who put something flammable in a ball mill and then pounded it with a shovel and had it explode. He sued for 25K and this manufacturer's lawyer said, have your insurance company cut a check cause it's cheaper than me fighting it for you.
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05-30-2012, 07:39 AM
#79
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lol planning to get rear ended?
years ago i got in a minor fender bender and a year later the lady sued me saying she went blind from the accident lol. anyway, the lawyer the insurance co hired said they would pay out 13k to "make her go away" that was the amount at the time they would throw at you. i felt like the other guy, she was lying but the insurance co didn't want to go to court and risk an idiot jury awarding 100k so they paid. my premiums didn't go up.
years ago i got in a minor fender bender and a year later the lady sued me saying she went blind from the accident lol. anyway, the lawyer the insurance co hired said they would pay out 13k to "make her go away" that was the amount at the time they would throw at you. i felt like the other guy, she was lying but the insurance co didn't want to go to court and risk an idiot jury awarding 100k so they paid. my premiums didn't go up.
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05-30-2012, 08:37 AM
#80
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 491
Total Cats: 32
It's hard to comprehend but companies settle for that amount all the time. Even if they go to court. It's actually less expensive to just cut the check,
My father was on a case where the "victims" claimed their air conditioner vibrated through the cord, sparked and lit a couch on fire killing their kid. Evidence was overwhelming that dad fell asleep with a cigarette and burnt their trailer down. After they completely dismantled their case and it was obvious that they had no chance of winning they settled for some 5 digit sum because it was cheaper to settle than to finish out the case and pay the lawyers/experts to stay out where the trial was.
My father was on a case where the "victims" claimed their air conditioner vibrated through the cord, sparked and lit a couch on fire killing their kid. Evidence was overwhelming that dad fell asleep with a cigarette and burnt their trailer down. After they completely dismantled their case and it was obvious that they had no chance of winning they settled for some 5 digit sum because it was cheaper to settle than to finish out the case and pay the lawyers/experts to stay out where the trial was.
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