New article in Car and Driver

[Halcyon]

The latest issue of Car and Driver tells a story of a newbie with a new truck and a $100,000 new Airstream trailer. The story is unbelievable in that they have an accident that could have killed them and numerous others because of their ignorance of trailering. Can’t believe that C&D even printed it. You gotta read it to believe it…:banghead:

[Weldon]

Link to the article?

[Pharphr]

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a36524475/spin-across-the-west-airstream-tow/

[Gegrad]

Oh dear goodness, they towed that likely 9500 lb AS with a 1/2 ton without a WDH... I mean dear god, what did they expect?

[Heavy_Chevy]

Ridiculous. Reckless. Not much else to say. Can't believe they printed that article with the "LOL we almost died but we didn't!" tone. It should have been an After-Action Report style warning label.

[bobbecky]

At least they did print the 'Towing the line' paragraph about the need for the proper WDH and the overloading of the hitch. Yes, it should have been noted earlier and maybe someone from C/D should have said something before they even hitched up that combination.

[notanlines]

In this writer's sorry attempt to be funny he completely missed the point of the entire pack of fools involved from start to finish. Nor was he even close at assigning blame for this fiasco.
The writer, the writer's wife, the owner of the pickup, the owner of the RV, the list goes on. Complete fools.

[rhagfo]

Link
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a36524475/spin-across-the-west-airstream-tow/

[flybouy]

Too much weight for the mighty 1500 so let's stop at Pottery Barn and buy some replacement glass/ceramic dishes and cups. Unfortunatly the educational system doesn't teach common sense and C&D hires a lot of writers that prove that point. They review products that they are given to use for their "tests". Like so many other typical publications ghe products are most likely provided by their advertisers so don't expect much if any critisism.

Typical artical that reads like a sales ad. Waste of time reading it. JMHO

[JRTJH]

The safety editors (they certainly aren't "safety engineers") should have "run the numbers" before being so "stupid"... Then again, this article clearly demonstrates that you simply can't believe everything you see in print, even if it's from a "reportedly valid and competent" source....

From the Trailer Life Towing Guides (that only give a sampling of the "best reported by the manufacturer" values) to the vehicle manufacturers (who use their brochures as advertisements geared at beating the competition) to the RV manufacturers who print "just plain BS information", there's precious little truth available in advertising that is useful to the consumer....

From that "first fluid drive transmission" to the "generator idiot light" to the "built in maps that lead people over a river where there is no road and no bridge", we've become a society unable to use common sense....

When the decal on the bumper states "MAXIMUM STATIC TONGUE WEIGHT 500 POUNDS" and the "Airstream brochure says the trailer tongue is 478 pounds" it's up to the consumer to "put it all together and realize the stupidity involved in believing those numbers are OK.....

I blame the Airstream owner for the accident, but more logically, I blame C&D for printing this account as "unfortunate" with no clue of WHY THE DAMN FOOLS NEARLY KILLED THEMSELVES AND EVERYONE AROUND THEM.....

This is a clear example of "selling magazines is more important than public safety".....

ADDED: The sad part, at least for me, is that I see this "John Pearley Huffman attitude" being posted every day. From "My truck can tow up to 17000 pounds so I'm OK at 16,950" to "I'm over my GCWR, but under my RAWR, so I'm OK" to "I'm over my axle rating but under my tire rating, so I'm OK" to "If they would have limited their trips to the local area, they wouldn't have been in Barstow, so they "pushed the limit too far, otherwise, they'd have been OK"...... Yeah, right......

[travelin texans]

A couple of rookies "borrow" $250000 worth of truck & rv not knowing 1 damn thing about either, take off across country & fortunately live to "laugh" about it????
What a great example of what NOT TO DO for the newbies reading here!

[Pharphr]

I think perhaps they should change the magazine title to "Crap and Drivel".

[travelin texans]

I think perhaps they should change the magazine title to "Crap and Drivel".

With testing performed by DUMB & DUMBER!

[jasin1]

The sad part is someone will buy that truck and the trailer probably advertised as “new” , Maybe a demo on the truck.. I know they were loaned the truck and trailer from dealers, but the couples absolute lack of care about trashing a truck and trailer is why I never lend tools and vehicles of any kind out.(except my kids) Wonder if they did any damage to suspension or axles/ tires with the incident..and under the floor water damage

[flybouy]

The sad part is someone will buy that truck and the trailer probably advertised as “new” , Maybe a demo on the truck.. I know they were loaned the truck and trailer from dealers, but the couples absolute lack of care about trashing a truck and trailer is why I never lend tools and vehicles of any kind out.(except my kids) Wonder if they did any damage to suspension or axles/ tires with the incident..and under the floor water damage

If it happened at all..... Reading that story to me read like a 9 th grade writing assignment. Especially the part where it was his wife driving during the "incident" and MR Macho man was all cool and collected letting out all that "wit and wisdom". Yea right, give me a break. If I overheard that story in a locker room I'd call BS and tell the jerk it was probably him driving and to quite hiding behind his wife and go home and wash out his drawers that he soiled.

[jasin1]

This guy bought a car advertised as a demo in the UK. Apparently the license or numbers plates follow the vehicle throughout the life of the car. Unlike in the US where different owners get different license plates. Well he had nothing but problems with it and then his girlfriend noticed the car was on a old episode of TOP GEAR ...saw the number plates and realized the car had been thrashed by Jeremy Clarkson ..then top gear returned it to the dealer after the episode and they sold it as a demo https://www.carthrottle.com/post/this-guy-bought-a-problematic-bmw-m3-then-saw-his-car-had-been-abused-by-top-gear/..he returned it to the dealer and they admitted their “mistake”

[jasin1]

If it happened at all..... Reading that story to me read like a 9 th grade writing assignment. Especially the part where it was his wife driving during the "incident" and MR Macho man was all cool and collected letting out all that "wit and wisdom". Yea right, give me a break. If I overheard that story in a locker room I'd call BS and tell the jerk it was probably him driving and to quite hiding behind his wife and go home and wash out his drawers that he soiled.

It certainly does sound embellished

[Life-in-Him]

The only positive comez as you dig deeply for some humor.

And as several have said this shouldn't have been published.

But think about it: as the massarati (sp?) , Ferrari, Porsche et al money makers read it, a mear $100k is to cheap for their tastes & maybe it'll keep them away.