As a trailer driver, you must have heard the term trailer clipping many times. You may even have faced it yourself. Trailer shearing is a strange, scary and of course dangerous event that is sometimes impossible to avoid. A shear occurs when a tractor towing a trailer slips and the trailer rolls backwards until it hits its own tractor. There is a high probability that the trailer will go out of control and cause other accidents. In this article, we will discuss what the scissoring phenomenon is, how it occurs, and how to prevent it.
Understanding
Understand the root cause of clipping. This phenomenon happens when the towing vehicle slips. If the driver fails to correct this slip in time, the rear trailer will continue to move and push the towing vehicle forward until the towing vehicle turns around.
Caution in light loads to prevent trailer scissors
Carry light loads with care: a car with a heavy load is less likely to shear. Shearing usually occurs when the trailer is empty or the weight of the load is not properly distributed at all points to create the necessary friction with the road surface.
Tow and trailer brakes are designed for a full load and are too strong for a light trailer. When the driver presses the pedal and these powerful brakes engage, the wheels lock and the trailer skids.Brake in a few steps to prevent trailer scissors
Do the braking process for as long as possible: brake gradually and slow down slowly. This will help you keep a safe distance from the cars in front of you and better make decisions about what might happen ahead. Additionally, you give yourself a good chance to take control of the situation, especially when you're driving on slippery roads or going down a hill.
Non -brake in the screws
Do not brake when going through corners: If you are approaching a corner, apply the brakes while the car is still moving in the straight line before the corner. Slow down a little more than necessary and release the brake pedal before entering the turn. Give very little gas when going through the turn. This helps the drive wheels not lose their friction with the road surface.
Do not turn the steering wheel while brake
Don't brake and turn the steering wheel at the same time: this is something you should definitely avoid. Apply the brakes first to slow down the vehicle as much as possible, then release the brake pedal and turn. This way, you will not lose control of the vehicle. After you turn, you can brake again if necessary.
Caution when brake on slider surfaces to prevent scissors of the trailer
On slippery surfaces, be very careful using the engine brake or retarder: this can lock the drive wheels and cause shearing. The engine brake or retarder acts only on the drive wheels while the braking system affects all the wheels. If you have to use the retarder to go down a mountain road and the road is slippery, first apply the brakes slowly to slow down, then carefully activate the retarder.
Warnings to prevent trailer scissors
In general, it can be said that the glossier the road surface is, the more slippery it is, but the following conditions are extremely dangerous:
Snow falling on the road surface and even worse, an icy road covered with a layer of snowflakes. Watch out for black ice in cold weather. Black ice means invisible ice. A thin layer of ice forms around the particles on the road surface and cannot be seen. A shower of rain after a dry period without rain. In this case, the rain water mixes with the dust on the road surface, then foams and takes the form of water and soap, but it is also slippery and slippery. Fall leaves on a wet road can also cause slipping and shearing.