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 Topic: How do you slow down when towing?
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21/4/2016 at 1:06pm
Location: S.Wales
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Bordeaux
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OH and I have had some absolutely blazing rows about this, as a result, I haven't let him tow purely because of the way he drives.
He's not a bad driver, he just drives every vehicle as though it's a racing car; using the gears to slow down when approaching a corner or junction rather than the brakes. Even though he's currently got an automatic, he's overriding the gearbox to do this. As a result, normally he's going too fast when you get to the junction and he ends up standing on the anchors to stop. Consequently passengers have a rough ride & I'm sure if he were ever towing livestock, they'd all be on the floor within a mile of leaving home, I'm sure everything in cupboards would either be broken or on the floor by the time we got to where we are going if he tows the caravan or even if the caravan makes it there in one piece.
I've mostly towed horses, although this is my second caravan, I slow down using the brakes and only changing gear when I'm doing the correct speed for that gear, (I do select lower gears to keep the unit at a suitable speed when we're going down a significant hill) I try not to throw passengers around when I'm driving, and my horses always got back on the trailer to come home after a show.
OH says he'll be absolutely fine towing, I'm not sure I'm prepared for him to prove it with £9k worth of caravan on the back.
He also doesn't reverse off his mirrors or by looking where he's going instead he uses the reverse sensors on his car (and, despite the fact the sensors were screaming at him, managed to reverse into my car yesterday because he wasn't looking where he was going....then blamed the automatic gearbox! but that's a whole other story) How on earth can he expect to reverse a caravan using reversing sensors? It's not as if the caravan is fitted with them!
So how are you suposed to slow down or stop when towing?
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Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.
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21/4/2016 at 1:32pm
Location: North Norfolk
Outfit: Bailey Olympus
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I drive and tow with an auto, if you plan ahead you can let the vehicle slow through the gearbox, I never override the gearbox except on a steep down hill.
I prefer to use the brakes when slowing for a turn apart from anything else it gives warning to following vehicle that you are slowing.
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Just saying
If all is not lost where is it then?
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21/4/2016 at 2:02pm
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Why do you say your o/h is not a bad driver & then go onto describe just how bad he is?
At risk of stating the blindingly obvious, when towing you drive accordingly, ie gentle acceleration & braking allowing much more distance for stopping. With an auto you don't need to change gear, it does it for you. That way you don't end up paying for expensive premature mechanical failures on your car.
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21/4/2016 at 2:42pm
Location: Lincs
Outfit: Coachman Wanderer 19
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Agree with you entirely. Wouldn't let him anywhere near a tow car.
In fact I don't think I'd want him to drive me anywhere if your description of his driving style is accurate.
..........
Andy
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21/4/2016 at 5:49pm
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Just tell him it is cheaper to replace brake pads than clutch plates...he'll soon get the message.
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21/4/2016 at 5:53pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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It sounds like you would feel safer with him driving a Motorhome rather than having a caravan in tow. If his style of driving is that he makes last minute decisions such as approaching junctions at speed etc. then sudden movements like immediate lane change (which we all often see) could well be catastrophic. Towing a caravan comes with responsibility and this is what he seems to be lacking.
However, I'm rather confused as you can't praise him one minute for being a good driver then be critical for several other issues behind the wheel because I can't decide whether that's actually a pass or a failure.
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21/4/2016 at 7:14pm
Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3
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If he ever wants to drive out of Wales, Nellie, can you post his routes and itinerary on here please.
DaveS1
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21/4/2016 at 7:39pm
Location: Near Belfast
Outfit: Ranger & Hymer Nova
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I like to drive rapidly, I tow trailers for work all the time, I drive a HGV 26T lorry and from a farming background have towed livestock for years. Having recently purchased a caravan I asked the dealer about issues from towing. He told me rapid acceleration and breaking is the most likely cause of damage to the front of the caravan, esp with a big powerful jeep.
As such I treat the caravan like a cattle trailer with animals. Everything is very gentle and smooth. NOT necessarily slow, but very smooth. Leave myself loads of time to think (big gap to vehicle in front) but I still move on at the speed of most normal traffic. I just accelerate, change direction and slow down much more gently than when not towing a caravan.
I am far more gentle with the 1.2T caravan than with a over 3T plant trailer fully loaded with a well strapped down load.
When slowing down I use the breaks and gears in combination, mostly breaks but have engine in decent gear in case I want to accelerate again.
From your description of your OH driving I would not want to be in same vehicle, no matter what he is driving/towing.
Any driver who is smooth is being easy on their running gear, ALL of it and also makes being a passenger a more pleasant experience.
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if your not living life on the edge your taking up tooo much room
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21/4/2016 at 7:47pm
Location: Washington UK
Outfit: Hymer+Eriba+Nova+485
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Always felt that driving smoothly was the best option whether towing or not.
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21/4/2016 at 7:48pm
Location: Southport
Outfit: Adria Adora Premium Yeti 4x4 run about
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How due you stop a car that suffers break failure run it in to a wall jam near side wheels against kerb or use you gears and engine speed.to stop your vehicle the correct distance from the kerb.
When I took my test the examiner asked me to park at side of road without using my brakes.
Which I did he did not ask me to do a emergency stop as I was approaching a pedestrian crossing a woman came out of a shop shot straight across the crossing without looking and I did a emergency stop
He remarked well done but no need to call her a stupid bitch under your breath as I would have done. However passed first time.
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21/4/2016 at 10:44pm
Location: East Herts
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I learnt to drive a bus in the early 1970s, and was told even then that using the gears to slow down was an old fashioned idea. The bus I learnt on was a double decker with a crash gearbox, so double-de-clutch up and down the gears. It had vacuum assisted drum brakes.
I was told, use the brakes to slow down, then change into the appropriate gear. On the test I had to change all the way up the box, then all the way down again, but this was not to slow down, but to prove I could do it. I was expected to use the brakes to slow to a suitable speed for each gear-change when coming down the box.
On a bus you may have standing passengers, so smoothly with everything is the way. No harsh braking except in an emergency. This is the way I still drive, whatever I am driving.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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21/4/2016 at 10:57pm
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H
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Quote: Originally posted by GWTE on 21/4/2016
Always felt that driving smoothly was the best option whether towing or not.
I agree, It reduces stress, wear & tear on the equipment, yourself & passengers too,
Dave
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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.
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