Message Forums

To all.

Be wary of new stabilisers. Contrary to my thoughts, stabilisers are not set up during manufacture and you have to set them yourselves once you get them home.

I didn't know this and just took it out the box and fitted it.

After the accident that wrote off my caravan, I put it on the vice and tested it. Instead of having a pull weight of 27Kg, it actually had a pull weight of about 3Kg.

That mistake nearly cost me my life.

Obviously correct trailer loading, tyre pressures and  a good match with tow vehicle will all be far more inportant than any stabiliser. I am also always cautious on long descents to ensure that I am well under 60 at the start of the descent as they rae the most dangerous stretches (look at the speed limits on French autorutes on the long descents - they are well aware of the issues)

Shorter tow vehicles with a much higher trailer to vehicle ratio will also surely be more prone to side winds/buffeting etc. We have a 57% match and our car is about the same length as the Pathfinder

I never worried about a stabiliser until I got the Pathfinder. These particular models are a lot heavier and higher than most of the ones mentioned by other posters. My previous camper was a Conway Cardinal which I would have thought was a comparable size but it's surprising just how much bigger the Pathfinder is!

I found just occasionally it would get some sway from passing (or being passed by) trucks, even with correct noseweight, tyre pressures, etc. I'm towing with a Xsara Picasso so it's well within sensible limits.

I fitted the smaller Alko hitch stabiliser (not a difficult job) and it's cured the problem. It's certainly not essential, but just adds an extra bit of confidence.

Glen

We have had the alko type stabiliser on previous caravans, but we found that on the Pathfinder, it is difficult to increase the noseweight once the FC is folded ready for towing. Also, with all the equipment that we have, we are normally recording the lower end of the preferred noseweight.

Hence our choice of a Spring Type Stabilizer which effectively adds 10kg of weight to the towball without actually increasing or having to adjust the contents of the FC.