|
 Topic: Snake and van balance
|
  |
07/7/2013 at 11:30am
Location: Blackburn Lancashire
Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/2/2009 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 2137
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
That is the most likely time and, yes the noseweight is critical. It must be right for the caravan, not just set to the maximum the car will take.
If the caravan needs more noseweight, you need a bigger car.
Jim
|
07/7/2013 at 1:14pm
Location: Rushden Northants
Outfit: Mercedes 614D Conversion
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/7/2011 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 581
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
The weight distribution in the caravan is more critical than the noseweight, within limits.
If there is too much weight behind the caravan axle, it will start the 'pendulum effect'.
Get all of the extras loaded over the caravan axle or in front of it.
Peter
|
07/7/2013 at 2:07pm
Location: Blackburn Lancashire
Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/2/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2137
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Very true. Too little noseweight will also cause a problem though.
Jim
|
07/7/2013 at 3:44pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 11/1/2007 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2328
| Site Reviews Total: | 24 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Yes it's very important to get your Yaw Interia correct!
Great demonstration video to watch here and game to play here.
Research by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath in partnership with Bailey of Bristol - http://www.towingstabilitystudies.co.uk/
-------------
Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
|
07/7/2013 at 4:48pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 11/5/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 6893
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Speed is also a big issue. Fast up the hills and slow on the way down.
On the way down the caravan is pushing you more. What is your car to caravan weight ratio? The higher the caravan weight compared to the car the more its likely to happen.
|
08/7/2013 at 8:10pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 23/3/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2135
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by dxflyer on 07/7/2013
I usually find the most likely time for a snake to kick in is when going down a steep hill, not sure if this is common to everyone?
You should NEVER have a snake kick in no matter where you are towing your van. What you have described above is dangerous.
|
08/7/2013 at 9:14pm
Location: Blackburn Lancashire
Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/2/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2137
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
That's true enough. I think you my be confusing a bit of twitchiness with snaking. True snaking is rare, and not mistakeable for anything else.
Jim
|
08/7/2013 at 10:40pm
Location: Staffs
Outfit: Swift Challenger 490 SEL & VW Tiguan
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 23/8/2004 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 902
| Site Reviews Total: | 16 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I find taking over trucks & buses on the motorway is when I feel the van being pulled most. I always ease off as the car pulls level with the front of the truck/bus, then accelerate past them & ease off. The outfit seems more stable under acceleration.
|
09/7/2013 at 6:07am
Location: Rushden Northants
Outfit: Mercedes 614D Conversion
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/7/2011 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 581
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We used to find that when being overtaken by trucks it was better to pull over a bit to the left-hand edge of the carriageway, so that the 'bow wave' of air from the truck didn't affect us as much, and similarly if we were overtaking, we would keep to the right hand limit of the carriageway for the same reason.
Subject to other traffic etc etc.
When we are passing caravans at a higher speed solo, we also pull to the right as we pass them so our own slipstream won't affect them.
Peter
|
09/7/2013 at 12:06pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 30/7/2011 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1247
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
A general guide is not to tow down hill faster than you can tow up it.
The fact you even asked the question gives cause for concern about your outfit though. A well suited outfit won't even twitch if driven sensibly.
|
|
