Message Forums

Hi,

weve got a freelander a td4 2000 car and pull a compass olympas 4berth, which should be ok, but since we changed to this caravan from a swift corniche 2 berth, weve noticed the car feels like its not setting off straight away,then it does a small jerk for a split second and then it pulls feels like normal. Is this a car problem OR a weight problem in the nose of the van, any ideas would be appreciated....

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, weve only just bought the caravan (which we love) and was gettin a bit worried it was  the car, although the new van is a bit heavier than our old swift we were told it was ok for the weight, will do that before  the warranty runs out.

Many Thanks

 Elizabeth and John.........

Assuming the caravan is a good match to your car, it sounds rather like the brakes are sticking.

Jim

When you stop, the over run brake operates and the drawbar shortens. When you pull away the draw bar has to lengthen. If it stays shortened (van brakes on) while you're stopped, it will lengthen as you pull away and when its fully extended you will feel a bump. I normally stop, then ease forward a few inches so when I pull away the slack has been taken up. Makes a much smoother pull away.

Hope that's clear. Think of it as a tow rope, you should always take up the slack or you get a jerk when it straightens.

hi,

 Appologises weve got a compass omega 460/4 berth(single axle), don't know where my head is some times, were in the middle of selling and buying another house and its stress full, well thats my excuse HA HA!

we have realised its the very start when we pull off so going to get the caravan brakes ect  checked out where we bought it, its got a 3 month warranty, we went away this month FEB to test everything out, good job we did.

So Many Thanks to all who posted, we thought it was the car.

Hi, yes weve been down and tried that with the rubber ect, we don't think its right so its going back to the caravan place, luckily that should be covered in the warranty, WE HOPE

thanks for your help everyone................

elizabeth and john...........