NHTSA Complaint #10680177 — 1998 DODGE RAM 1500

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET WHEN I TURNED A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. AS I TURNED I FELT AN AWFUL JAR. I WAS PULLING A 12' EMPTY TRAILER. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE MY TRAILER LIFT UP ABOUT 3-4 FT. IT STAYED ON THE BALL HITCH BUT BOUNCED TERRIBLY. I ALSO SAW A TIRE ROLLING ACROSS THE ROAD FORTUNATELY NOT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED AROUND MY TRUCK. I ACCOUNTED FOR ALL 4 TIRES ON MY TRUCK AND THE TWO ON MY TRAILER. I THOUGHT I MUST HAD RUN OVER ONE LAYING IN THE STREET. THEN I NOTICED MY SPARE WAS MISSING AND SAW THE METAL PIECE WHERE CABLE GOES THROUGH LAYING IN THE ROAD. THE CABLE BROKE OFF WHICH DROPPED THE SPARE INTO THE ROAD WHICH MY TRAILER RAN OVER. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER OR ON A BUSIER HIGHWAY THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAD BEEN MORE DAMAGE. ONLY DAMAGE I INCURRED WAS MY TRAILER MESH FLOOR BROKE WELD AND NOW IT IS BENT FRAME. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A RECALL MUST AT LEAST MAKE PEOPLE AWARE TO HAVE THIS CABLE CHECKED PERIODICALLY AND REPLACED IF NEEDED. *TR