Terrifying moment drivers narrowly avoid death as ute towing a caravan exposes dangerous fault hiding in plain sight

Terrifying footage has captured the moment the wheels of a caravan being towed by a lorry broke off before it almost crashed into an oncoming car on a busy road.

The shocking incident was captured on a dashcam from a vehicle driving behind the caravan.

The axle containing the two rear wheels suddenly broke loose from the trailer, causing the car to wander off the road and land on the grass along the road.

The heartbreaking accident happened just as another car passed the caravan, with both vehicles narrowly avoiding a crash.

The motorist driving behind the trailer was stunned.

“S**t, f*** a brick,” he said. “He was very lucky.”

The passenger in the car could be heard saying, “Let’s make sure he’s okay.”

Plumes of smoke could be seen coming from the trailer.

Social media users praised the driver of the ute for his quick thinking.

“Full props to the driver for the rescue,” one person wrote.

“What a damn rescue from the driver,” wrote another.

“He’s done a good job of keeping that up,” a third added.

Others said the incident was a reminder for motorists to keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of them.

“That’s why you don’t tailgate. Stay behind for two seconds or more,” one person wrote.

“This isn’t tailgating,” another person responded.

Some commenters made suggestions about the possible cause of the incident.

‘That [would] it could be some broken u-bolts,” another person wrote.

‘That happens to me too, the U-bolts are there [the] second axle broke,” another person wrote.

‘Weak/defective/broken leaf spring or rusted bolt/fastenings. I’ve had this happen on a trailer, except only one side came loose (right side),” a third chimed in.

One commenter said the driver of the ute was towing “a poorly built camper trailer” and they urged the motorist to have the trailer inspected by the manufacturer.

Caravan axles are a crucial metal part of the trailer. They connect the trailer to the wheels and ensure that a caravan can be towed safely over the road.

While it is common for axle failure to occur, several behaviors can inadvertently contribute to the problem, such as overloading a caravan.

When a caravan is overloaded, the excess weight puts unnecessary pressure on the axle.

Axle failure can also occur if the suspension is damaged. Motorists are urged to regularly check and maintain caravan axles.

Drivers should also avoid driving too fast while towing a caravan as this increases the impact load on the axle, which can damage the structure.

Caravans must comply with vehicle safety regulations in Australia, as set out in the Australian Design Rules (ADRs).

Motorists in all states should ensure that their caravans have been properly inspected to assess whether they are suitable for towing on roads across the country.