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Subject Topic: Do i need a stabiliser ????
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PersonStumpy230168
11/4/2014 at 2:55pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Elddis EX300 Typhoon View Stumpy230168's Profile View Profile   Reply to Stumpy230168 Reply   Quote Stumpy230168 Quote  
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Hi,
I have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder and have just got our first caravan Elddis EX300 (1997)

Question is, as the tow vehicle is much heavier than the EX300, would i benefit from using a stabiliser (snakemaster came with the caravan, but not the towbar bracket)

Going away on 18th April, and want to get all sorted by then.....

Cheers.


Personmichell8
11/4/2014 at 4:16pm
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A heavy tow vehicle & light caravan will make a more stable outfit. Provided outfit is loaded correctly with tyre pressures correct it should tow well enough without a stabiliser.


Personmoppetsdad
11/4/2014 at 4:55pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
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Look in caravan and caravanning and see the post about an overturned caravan and ask yourself could it have been me and decide for yourself.
I never used to use one until I had a wobble and by heck it puts the s***s up you I can tell you!

-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


PersonStumpy230168
11/4/2014 at 5:16pm
 Location: Hampshire
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Cheers peeps,
Just need to locate a Snakemaster Towbar bracket, everywhere seems to be sold out and none on eBay......

Simon


Personmichell8
11/4/2014 at 5:23pm
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If it wobbles without a stabiliser then you need to fix that before adding a stabiliser. If an outfit goes into a snake badly enough to cause an accident a stabiliser would not have saved you.

If you want to push the envelope & go right to the limit of what your car can tow then you might just make a case for a stabiliser but for a car towing half its max weight there is no point in fitting one, it will tow straight as a die.


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Personmoppetsdad
11/4/2014 at 5:51pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
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When it happened to me I was towing at around 60% on a straight road and within the speed limit and nothing else on the three lane dual carrageway and the van was loaded correctly. Draw your own conclusions, you pays your money and take your choice.

Also at the time I was an Hgv driver with thirty years towing behind me,

-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


Personfreeatlast
11/4/2014 at 5:52pm
 Location: Teesside
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Another myth. No matter how heavy the towcar, a badly loaded caravan will never be stable. Adding a stabiliser will simply mask the problem until perhaps too late.


Personmillermicm
11/4/2014 at 6:33pm
 Location: west country
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You don't need one but you may want one. I regard it as an aid to safety. Others will disagree claiming a correctly loaded caravan with correct tyre pressures should be stable.

That's all well & good but what if it isn't correctly loaded or a tyre has a slow (or fast) puncture. What if the car in front of you causes you to do an emergency stop?

Personally I would forget that you have half a snakemaster and get an Alko friction hitch stabiliser fitted.

-------------
Steve


Personmichell8
11/4/2014 at 6:36pm
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I recall a recent thread where a poster eliminated a wobble on his caravan after being advised to increase noseweight by 10kg & adjust to max load tyre pressures, so it shows how important it is to get loading & tyre pressures correct.

One problem that will not be encountered by op is the need to run caravan with insufficient noseweight due to low limit on towcar. This potentially dangerous situation is then masked by use of stabiliser.


Personbillyboggins
11/4/2014 at 6:43pm
 Location: norfolk
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i ALWAYS use a stabiliser no matter what the weight combination...safety first i think


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billyboggins


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PersonStumpy230168
11/4/2014 at 6:59pm
 Location: Hampshire
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Ok,
So now im getting confused, and a tad worried.
Need to read up on correct loading etc.......

Cheers again though ...


Personmoppetsdad
11/4/2014 at 7:36pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
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No need to worry correct loading is vital as is nose weight ect ect    But you could tow a for the rest of your life and not have the slightest bother (and now for the but)
Things can go wrong as happened to me, I was in one of those tram lines that hgvs make on some roads and a very strong gust of wind caught me side on and away she went I managed to catch it ok but if another gust had caught me who knows?



-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


PersonAndy Higham
11/4/2014 at 8:53pm
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I only had one wobble, towing a car trailer loaded with a "fox body" Mustang behind a Vito van. I have towed caravans many miles without a stabiliser


VangoMan02
11/4/2014 at 8:54pm
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Stabiliser's are few and far between since the introduction of Alko friction hitch.
I would concentrate more on being aware on how to load your van, checking noseweight and understanding tyre pressures when towing.

There can be the occasion when no matter what you do there will be a time when you get a wobble, again learn what to do if that occurs.
Its all a learning curve and about prevention rather than reaction..

-------------
It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.


PersonGrampian91
11/4/2014 at 9:29pm
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Load the van properly and do add some weight to it. Then tend to tow a bit better with some extra load.

They dont bounce so much when loaded.

Ive towed different vans in excess of the UK legal speed limits with various cars and sometimes you do get a car/caravan that do not like each other.

Same van 90mph 3 different towcars no issues. Change to the 4th car and the caravan was less stable. Repeated the runs in the opposite direction and repeated. The same everytime. Swap the car to a previous one and no issues again.

Usually this doesnt show up until above the UK legal limit though.

Properly loaded will 99% of the time be all thats required. Adjusting your speed for the circumstances.


PersonSproz
13/4/2014 at 9:52am
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Most of the overturned vans I see on my daily trips around the country are towed by big 4x4s, maybe because they think they're safe?



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