On vehicles with trailers, rear drive wheel braking skids can cause the towing vehicle to be pushed sideways. True or False?

On vehicles with trailers, rear drive wheel braking skids can cause the towing vehicle to be pushed sideways. True or False?

• A. The towing vehicle pushes the trailer sideways
• B. The trailer pushes the towing vehicle sideways
• C. There is no effect
• D. The vehicle stops

Answer: (B)

When the trailer’s rear wheels lock and skid during braking, the trailer loses straight-line control and can begin to yaw or slide sideways relative to the tow vehicle. The friction forces acting on the skidding trailer tires, transmitted through the hitch, push against the towing vehicle. That lateral reaction at the hitch tends to push the towing vehicle sideways, rather than the tow vehicle pushing the trailer sideways. So the dynamic force from the trailer’s skidding tires is what moves the tow vehicle sideways.

When the trailer’s rear wheels lock and skid during braking, the trailer loses straight-line control and can begin to yaw or slide sideways relative to the tow vehicle. The friction forces acting on the skidding trailer tires, transmitted through the hitch, push against the towing vehicle. That lateral reaction at the hitch tends to push the towing vehicle sideways, rather than the tow vehicle pushing the trailer sideways. So the dynamic force from the trailer’s skidding tires is what moves the tow vehicle sideways.