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Subject Topic: Snake and van balance Post Reply Post New Topic
Persondxflyer
07/7/2013 at 9:33am
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Swift Challenger View dxflyer's Profile View Profile   Reply to dxflyer Reply   Quote dxflyer Quote  
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Probably a silly question but here goes....

Does snaking of the caravan when towing have any bearing on the weight on the towbar of the car? My car is rated at 90kg towbar weight and usually I balance the car so there is 90kgs on it.

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?


PersonGreendemon315
07/7/2013 at 11:30am
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery View Greendemon315's Profile View Profile   Reply to Greendemon315 Reply   Quote Greendemon315 Quote  
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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


Personlisterdiesel
07/7/2013 at 1:14pm
 Location: Rushden Northants
 Outfit: Mercedes 614D Conversion View listerdiesel's Profile View Profile   Reply to listerdiesel Reply   Quote listerdiesel Quote  
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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


PersonGreendemon315
07/7/2013 at 2:07pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
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Very true. Too little noseweight will also cause a problem though.

Jim


PersonOliverDay
07/7/2013 at 3:44pm
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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


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PersonGrampian91
07/7/2013 at 4:48pm
 Location: Midlands
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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.


Persondxflyer
07/7/2013 at 6:43pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
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Thanks for all the replies really appreciate the advice and found the videos really interesting and explains a lot of what I have found out towing for a few years.

Thankyou all again


Personfreeatlast
08/7/2013 at 8:10pm
 Location: Teesside
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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.


PersonGreendemon315
08/7/2013 at 9:14pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery View Greendemon315's Profile View Profile   Reply to Greendemon315 Reply   Quote Greendemon315 Quote  
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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


Persontakisawa
08/7/2013 at 10:40pm
 Location: Staffs
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 490 SEL & VW Tiguan View takisawa's Profile View Profile   Reply to takisawa Reply   Quote takisawa Quote  
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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.


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Personlisterdiesel
09/7/2013 at 6:07am
 Location: Rushden Northants
 Outfit: Mercedes 614D Conversion View listerdiesel's Profile View Profile   Reply to listerdiesel Reply   Quote listerdiesel Quote  
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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


PersonDaveCoaches
09/7/2013 at 12:06pm
 Location: None Entered
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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.



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