And from what has been published this was the truck often recommended on forums to solve all towing concerns an F350 yet there it is dangling over the side from the tail wagging it.

 

All I can say is, this is reality

 

That's a pretty broad, misleading statement to imply that a Super Duty will simply solve a towing problem and this proves different. It doesn't. With a more robust truck, you can't just throw caution to the wind.

With any tow vehicle, you still have to be EXTREMELY mindful of the truck, trailer and how they interact together and with outside factors. In most cases when a larger truck is recommended, it's based on a poster with limited towing experience coming to an internet forum in hopes of justifying that it's ok to overload their truck....it's not. I'm part of the beloved forum "Weight Police" and did make that jump from a 1/2 to 3/4 ton. I was maxed out on payload, over by 150lbs on the rear axle and my family was growing. With that, the change in truck didn't change the weight dynamics of my trailer or allowed for an increase in operational speed. It only allowed for a larger safety buffer to operate the truck/trailer combination within reasonable parameters.

To say that this incident proves that an F350 is a bad recommendation is BS. Look at the contributing factors involved in that accident. The only things wrong with the truck and trailer was the nut holding the steering and his lack of care for himself and others. It was a completely avoidable accident. No truck & trailer can overcome the stupidity of speeding and a poor loading of the trailer.

A first responder stated:
"This accident happened today in Idaho. Excessive speed, sway, and load mis-management each played a part in this accident. Luckily my rescue team was fortunate enough to rescue both occupants and 2 dogs from this crash.

This F350 single rear wheel truck was equipped with a Reese WDH with a sway bar, but he also had a rack on the back with a large generator, spare tire, firewood, and other camping gear on a Curt receiver hitch cargo rack.

The skid marks told the story, with evidence of multiple sway action as he entered a curve on the interstate, which in Idaho has a speed limit of 80 mph. The trailer overtook the truck, causing it to Jack knife, the trailer contacted the right Jersey barrier, and pushed the truck over the left Jersey barrier and over the side of the bridge...."

Here is the link:
Stark reality of speed and sway

 

Yet time and time again the answer to "can I tow this?" is "you need more truck"

Thanks for agreeing with me. We need to reinforce that a heavy tow vehicle should not be your first consideration. Otherwise why limit yourself at a 1 ton get a Kenworth.

 

Not seeing how that impacts my statement that the images we see on the internet are not reflective of reality.

I presumed there to be a lower DEATH rate among RV crashes as most of us are traveling at lower speeds than non-RV traffic, and I also presume the DEATHS Vs CRASHES rate of RV traffic does not correlate to the same for non-RV traffic.

 

26 is only a few more than those killed by lightning.

 

You said yourself that there were 42,000 traffic deaths and the facts are there are on average 26 deaths from RV wrecks. How many of those were from crazed RV drivers? If you expected LESS, then you’re pretty hard to please. I don’t know what else to say.

Below was what I was responding to. If you don’t think that’s an overblown broad brush statement, then I’ll just step away from this conversation.

 

Glad you finally came to your senses. Just kidding, just kidding...

But seriously... what part of my original comment do you feel is overblown and broad brushed?

Do you think there’s NOT a lot of people out there that don’t know how to properly tow?
I never said “ALL” or even “MOST”. I merely said there’s a LOT. And anyone that has ever spent more than an average amount of time hauling trailers on interstates, knows that to be accurate.

Or do you think it’s not a good advice to stay clear of them? Or any other trailers as they’re buzzing up and down the interstates? Do you think a guy dragging a camper trailer down the highway at 80mph is safe? Just trying to understate what exactly is perceived as overblown?

My original statement refers to a few basic points: when it’s time to pass someone else pulling a trailer, do it. And do it efficiently and as quickly as legally possible. And that means don’t tailgate trailers (or any other vehicles for that matter). But anyone who spends more than twenty minutes on an interstate can tell you that most people don’t even realize they’re tailgating horribly. risks compounded infinitely when a trailer is involved. Or how about the trailer that’s experiencing some sort of an issue on the shoulder. In most states, it’s the law that you’re required to move over, if at all possible. But every trip I go on, you’ll see someone pulling a trailer, that won’t move over when they clearly have the room and time to do so. If you disagree with those last statements, then you’re only lying to yourself.

I’m not suggesting at all, that YOU personally are one of these inexperienced, but I suspect you have a fair degree of knowledge and experience, so you have to know the instances I’m referring to, and surely you’ve come across no shortage of them in your journeys. All I’m suggesting is that you be realistic. There’s lots of drivers out there that have very little or no experience ever pulling trailers, that disregard the necessary measures and precautions, once they find themselves pulling trailers for the first time.

 

I agree with absolutely everything you mentioned. The tailgating, the not moving over, not passing in a timely matter, etc. Just that I don’t experience it with people towing trailers (not that they don’t exist) and I drive daily on one of the busiest interstates on the east coast. As far as towing experience I can assure you I have a lengthy resume that includes towing everything from an open car trailer to a 40’ diesel pusher towing a stacker car trailer from the northeast to Florida. I’m sure we would agree on most of what we see on the road!

 

Damn... you responded. 😂

Ok, 95 isn’t too bad. Well, at least once you get south of Baltimore. I’m originally from the mid-Atlantic region, so I get it. Most of 80, and 90 are moderate. Gets a little crazy though Chicagoland, but then quiets down quite a bit heading out west. But other areas, like 40, through NC and TN can get a little hectic. And then again once you get out into the plains of OK and into NM. And anything in Texas can be ok once you get out of the dense areas like Houston and Dallas, but then the winds pick up, the speed limit climbs, and everyone in a camper becomes a nuisance. Colorado, for the most part, isn’t bad until you start the heavy climbs and descents. And on and on out to the land of nothing over 55mph. Canada... completely different beast all in itself when the grounds covered white up there.

I had a suspicion you likely had “more-than-average” experience. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve got quite a bit myself, and unfortunately, that includes everything on the west coast, the southwest, the Pacific northwest and all the Canadian provinces. And in all seasons also. There’s lots of Canadian snowbirds that venture to the desert in the winters, and all other snowbirds headed to all other points, and the worst of all... summer vacationers consisting of executives, dragging the newly acquired boat or RV somewhere all summer long. Yes, they very much get in the way, and have little to no experience doing it in anything larger than an SUV. Despite what they think, a Carharrt flannel shirt and pair of Merrell’s, doesn’t make them OTR ready.