The winch on the front is a straight pull and I have used this method for many, many miles. BTW, winches are dot designed for this sort of load so use this method at your own risk.
My feeling is that the rear straps somehow came off first. I have never seek a 2 5/16" Bulldog hitch let go but this one was still closed and sitting on the ground when we stopped. If you look at the trailer you can see that the factory tie down points on the rear are very narrow (inside the little ramps I added). I have never liked this and will be adding some new points for a wider cross on the rear.
As for the truck, I KNOW the dually saved our butts. Good tires from 49Tire, properly inflated, wide stable stance, etc. I have had trailers fishtail before but never like this one did. I also think we are lucky that the trailer break-away wiring got cut allowing the one remaining safety chain to retain the trailer to the truck. If the trailer brakes had locked up I feel like the last chain would have snapped and the trailer would have gone completely out of control.
Yes, very lucky!
)and remains calm enough to bring the train wreck to a safe stop on the right shoulder of the road. No damage to the Dodge (other than the previously noted seat cushion), no "new" damage to the previously wrecked 4runner, and only minimal damage to the trailer consisting of one broken link to one of the safety chains, chewed up wiring from contact with the highway, and damage to the breakaway wiring/switch. We were very lucky...
