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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Stop the snake
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Personlucyeff
03/10/2008 at 8:18pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Alouette 1990 & 52 Seat Alhambra View lucyeff's Profile View Profile   Reply to lucyeff Reply   Quote lucyeff Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by doit on 02/10/2008
Buy a heavy tow car and a lighter caravan. Fit an electronic anti-sway device and an alko style friction anti sway device. Do not travel with excessive speed, and then you will be able to travel to you holiday destination relaxed and in comfort. Or you can take a risk or 2 .....

We've just bought a Swift Alouette (1990) and we have a Renault Scenic, and a Seat Alhambra both which will have towbars as from Monday evening (Scenic has one already).

I'm petrified of the whole snaking thing and so have been reading this thread with interest.

I have googled 'electronic anti-snaking device' but this thread comes up and not much else, lol! Whereabouts would we be able to get these pieces of kit please and how much they would cost approx? Our caravan was £1800 but spending some to make sure our kids are safe seems a good idea. My husband is safe driver but I have these irrational fears since having sproglets. Best to make sure we're safe as we can be, I guess :o)


Personvwalan
03/10/2008 at 8:34pm
 Location: roche cornwall
 Outfit: lynton 5th wheel View vwalan's Profile View Profile   Reply to vwalan Reply   Quote vwalan Quote  
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snaking is not just about light car heavy trailer . my lt unit weighs 1875kg and legally pulls a 5000kg trailer, as an artic it must have at least 1000kg on the pin but lynton build it so 2000kg is on the pin its very stable. wheels on trailer at the very back . thats the secret . my unit is designed for 7500kg train wgt. if you take the unladen wgt of trailer n unit then x by 3 you have the artic train . other vehicles are less thats why artics can pull more wgt . its all a load of bull really but i dont make the rules . best fit anti snake if you are worried with car n caravan.

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vwalan


Persongazza12345
04/10/2008 at 4:25pm
 Location: sheffield
 Outfit: Volvo XC70 D5 SE Lux - Bailey Senator View gazza12345's Profile View Profile   Reply to gazza12345 Reply   Quote gazza12345 Quote  
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lucyeff   This is for a ALKO chassis if your caravan as one it will fit.

AL-KO ATC Trailer Control System

 

http://www.al-koatc.co.uk/


PersonThe 2 Tops
05/10/2008 at 10:23am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave View The 2 Tops's Profile View Profile   Reply to The 2 Tops Reply   Quote The 2 Tops Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by doit on 02/10/2008
Buy a heavy tow car and a lighter caravan. Fit an electronic anti-sway device and an alko style friction anti sway device. Do not travel with excessive speed, and then you will be able to travel to you holiday destination relaxed and in comfort. Or you can take a risk or 2 .....

Whilst I agree that a heavy towcar versus a light trailer is good advice, I think the idea that this will prevent sway or snaking is mistaken.  What it will do, is assist the towcar in staying where it belongs; in the driver's chosen line of travel, and in bringing the caravan back under control.

But the swaying of the caravan, from side to side, is a result of sideways forces applied directly on the caravan.  The only possible mechanical control of this is the resistance imposed by any fitted stabilising device, and the frictional resistance to sideways slide of the caravan tyres.

Bertie.



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The 2 Tops


PersonNickRB
07/10/2008 at 10:39pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Ace Supreme twin + Freelander 2 View NickRB's Profile View Profile   Reply to NickRB Reply   Quote NickRB Quote  
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Mat,

With the TD5 Disco be conscious of the air suspension in that when the van is hooked up and the engine is running (air suspension working)the van should be level or slightly nose down. We towed our first van with a TD5 and found out that the towball needed dropping to the lowest setting which really improved stability. I have seen a number of TD5`s towing with the nose of the van pointing upwards which I suspect has been the cause of some of the problems you hear of on here.

The van may look level when hitched prior to starting your engine but when the engine is running the air suspension lifts the hitch by 2 - 4 inches which gives the nose up appearance.

On the correct towball setting and with correct loading, noseweights, sensible speeds etc you will find the disco will tow your Elddis without issue.

We had the Elddis Avante 556 (1450kg) and it towed really well behind our disco. I am fairly sure the Winterhoff is rated up to 100kg noseweight so aim for the 7% but check your manual anyway.



Hope this helps,

Cheers

Nick

   


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Person8342mat
08/10/2008 at 8:21am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Vango Icarus 500 View 8342mat's Profile View Profile   Reply to 8342mat Reply   Quote 8342mat Quote  
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nick

thanks for that info. i have a brink towbar fitted with the ball set at its lowest level, the centre of the ball being 42cm with the engine running, and car unladen.

max weight for the towbar is 150kg and the max noseweight for the van is 100kg, so i guess upto the vans max will be my best option.

 

mat



-------------
Vango Icarus 500
Modified Erde 122 Trailer


Persondoit
08/10/2008 at 6:24pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Bailey Orion 560-5 View doit's Profile View Profile   Reply to doit Reply   Quote doit Quote  
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Advantage of heavy car and light trailer is that the trailer will be much less likely to cause the car to weave about should the trailer start to snake. Absolutely true that this setup will not stop a trailer from snaking, but if it does happen you will have a much better chance of it staying in control. Important things to remember are to never tow more weight than the cars max. permissible tow weight (better to stick to the 85% rule if you can), never exceed the caravan max. permissable weight(caravan plus extras and equipment and luggage etc). Never exceed either the car or the trailers max nose weight. Always use the lowest figure. Always put the heavy stuff in the caravan over the axle. If you need to move stuff forward/backward to get the nose weight right, resist the temptation to put stuff right at the back of the van - it will add to the pendulam effect that can cause snaking. Always be careful of your speed, particularly downhill - alot of snakes are caused by excessive speed downhill. Follow these tips and you can be almost certain you will be as safe as a church! Above all remember you are towing your pride and joy to your holiday destination so if you do not want to rush and risk your safety then cruise at your own pace. Just remember to pull over every now and then to let any other motorists pass, and to brew a nice cuppa


PersonCaddyClan
09/10/2008 at 8:10am
 Location: Mid-Wales UK
 Outfit: VW + Bailey Pageant Burgundy 08 View CaddyClan's Profile View Profile   Reply to CaddyClan Reply   Quote CaddyClan Quote  
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We had the AL-KO 3004 triple pack fitted to our caravan (tow-ball came with the pack). Hoping this will be all we need.

-------------
Claire x

Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
      Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches



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