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We started our return trip home yesterday afternoon after leaving a wedding venue, we were only minutes away from the M40, all was fine, got onto the M40 and just felt unsure the van just didn't feel secure, i sat around 45-50mph as i couldn't get over the feeling of it snaking a little, nothing major just a bit 'wobbly' and i after scrutinising the hubby over the hitching process, about 20 mins into th journey, i asked if he definately pushed the al-ko down all the way!      errrr no, we got disturbed by family while hitching up and it was obviously overlooked.

I jumped out and engaged it, and it started towing like our normal dream of a van!   i can not believe that would make such a difference!  it scared us and last night we made our own checklist to be laminated. 

could have been a different outcome, and the biggest lesson was, if your not sure about the feel then stop and check it over!!!

 now that is a lesson to us all

 all things in order and check and double check !!

 glad it worked out ok and no nasty surprises

let me get something straight here, it certainly wasn't snaking all over the road, something was just bugging me that it didn't feel 'quiet' right, we check tyre pressures and nose weight before we hitch.

it was meant as a friendly and what i considered useful piece of information on how easy it is to get distracted. And to go with your gut instincts, rather than keep going and ignore them. maybe just maybe, one day someone having read this might think to themselves about it and save an accident, i certainly recall advice from this site regularly!!

guess my latest lesson learnt is to keep my findings to myself!!    

Quote: Originally posted by owennicki on 18/9/2012

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guess my latest lesson learnt is to keep my findings to myself!!

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Quote: Originally posted by owennicki on 18/9/2012

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let me get something straight here, it certainly wasn't snaking all over the road, something was just bugging me that it didn't feel 'quiet' right, we check tyre pressures and nose weight before we hitch.

it was meant as a friendly and what i considered useful piece of information on how easy it is to get distracted. And to go with your gut instincts, rather than keep going and ignore them. maybe just maybe, one day someone having read this might think to themselves about it and save an accident, i certainly recall advice from this site regularly!!

guess my latest lesson learnt is to keep my findings to myself!!    

 

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Well said! and I'm also finding lately that my opinions get slated too due to people who try to dominate this forum and consider that their answer is the only one that is correct. I read books with related links to caravanning first before I ever ask on here (which is rare) and if everyone did the same a lot of personal knowledge would be gained and unnecessary debates avoided. Your personal input regarding the stabiliser handle being left up cannot be found in any text so it's an experience of caution handed down to others like you say. However, the word 'stabiliser' is a selective word to be used with much caution on here also along with the words 'tyres' and 'noseweight' too so like you advised, it's best to read what you need and keep the rest to yourself because as you have found out for yourself with this thread you get little praise from a minority for what you thought was good advice.