|
 Topic: Passat Alltrack or....?
|
  |
25/9/2018 at 1:15am
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/5/2008 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 9588
| Site Reviews Total: | 23 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 11 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 3 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 24 |
|
If your old caravan was fine being towed but the new one is a bit unstable I advise to get the tyres balanced as they can make a significant difference in the stability if everything else has been checked such as the noseweight and loading etc. It's much cheaper than going looking for a new car as it might cure the problem but you won't know until you get the wheels off and have them balanced.
It's a long story from a 30 year experienced caravanner with a new Bailey caravan which was mentioned in one of the Camping & Caravanning Club monthly magazines a few years ago in the section where people write in and published respectively.
|
25/9/2018 at 7:19pm
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 |
|
Have you weighed the van? You may find its heavier than the figures you have.
Natural materials will vary with weight and in my handbook they suggest + or - 5% as an average. But its possible that your van got the heaviest bit from each pile of bits.
There was a letter in one of the mags where the owner weighed his van and found it had less than 60kg of loading allowance left instead of the handbooks 200+kg.
He was lucky enough to have a decent towcar and could get the caravan uplated to allow them to carry more weight.
|
24/10/2018 at 9:54am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 01/8/2006 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4789
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| 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 Passat estate has a long overhang behind the rear wheels. This amplifies any 'twitchiness' between car and caravan, and you have possibly moved up to a caravan weight that will cause it to be noticed. If you do change the car, look for one with the rear wheels as close to the back end as possible. Keeping the van's nose weight as near to the maximum tow ball weight of the car may also help.
Loading the car with the heavier items up behind the front row of seats will also help, but not so easy to do if you carry rear passengers. Careful loading of the van is also important. To give an idea of how weight can affect a van's stability: We once had a 5-berth Monza, and it was twitchy. As we did not need the 5th berth, I removed the swing-up 5th bed, which was like a house door hanging on the side of the van, and was at the offside rear, and the difference was amazing.
Bertie.
-------------
The 2 Tops
|
10/11/2018 at 9:30pm
Location: N.E.Wales
Outfit: Baily Olympus 540-5 Passat Alltrack
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 20/9/2005 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 285
| Site Reviews Total: | 6 |
|
| 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 tow a Caravan with 1450 Kg MTPLM with a 2014 Passat Alltrack TDI 177 DSG. Best Towcar I've ever had! This summer we drove back from Brussels in one go. 500 miles in a day. Set the Cruise Control to 60 mph and the Passat will tow up hill and down dale all day without breaking sweat.
I do take care to load the caravan and check the noseweight. I try and get close to 90 Kg which helps enormously with stability. With a full boot of stuff, 4 passengers and bikes on the roof, the back of the car does sag a little bit, but with suspension 30 cm higher than a standard Passat I still have bags of ground clearance.
Post last edited on 10/11/2018 21:35:40
Post last edited on 10/11/2018 21:36:27
|
10/11/2018 at 10:20pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 05/11/2013 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 6379
| Site Reviews Total: | 18 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 2 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 7 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 8 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 12 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 18 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 21 |
|
I can't quite see how poor wheel balance could affect instability caused by passing vehicles, although I accept it could cause other issues. I am inclined to agree with the O/P that nose-weight was the real issue. I always load so that I am up to the maximum permitted nose-weight for the vehicle I am towing with. Its always given me a stable tow.
-------------
Best Regards,
Colin
|
|
