Message Forums

Surfer didnt say that

He said because the guy didnt use a stabiliser he was probably a safer driver !

That I was pointing out WAS a stoopid thing to say ,there is no gaurantee ,that bloke could have still been an idiot!!

Hence me saying someone without insurance isnt going to be a safer driver just because they know they havent got insurance and so will drive more carefully ,which is basically what surfer was trying to say about the guy and the stabiliser ,he didnt use it so would automatically pack mroe carefuly!!!!

Yes he did:

"If the caravan is correctly loaded there is no need to use a stabliser.  In a way he may be a lot safer on the roads because he knows he has no stabliser and drives appropriately not like some who tear along at 70 - 80 mph with the caravan in tow and feel safe just because they have a stabiliser"

Yes, he did, although maybe not as I put it:

"If the caravan is correctly loaded there is no need to use a stabliser.  In a way he may be a lot safer on the roads because he knows he has no stabliser and drives appropriately not like some who tear along at 70 - 80 mph with the caravan in tow and feel safe just because they have a stabiliser"

Insurance is a totally different matter. It's a legal requirement so anyone without is is knowingly infringeing the Law, and is therefore the type of person who drives irresponsibly anyway.

Stabilisers are not a legal requirement and will not pevent a snake once the wobbles have gone beyond the point of no return.

There is a well known effect of making cars safer - people drive faster because they feel safer.  The same with some people and stabilisers - they feel the outfit is stable and may not be as careful with their loading or adhering to safe driving speeds.

Brian

has anyone considered that the driver might have just forgotten to put it down and  was embarrased that someone was running after them and banging on his window?? he maybe stopped down the road and put it down

Calling the guy stupid or a bampot is just plain daft.

It is his choice, and as was previously said......a stabilizer is no substitute for a correctly loaded van ,driven at a sensible speed with a good combo, and driver attitude.

What is it like to use one?

I just love it when a bam overtakes on the motorway with a van doing 70/80 mph.

He probably tells his wife......"it's ok babe this is a belter of a stabilizer

Quote: Originally posted by toffeedog on 03/9/2008

---

has anyone considered that the driver might have just forgotten to put it down

---

I know that is possible, because I have done it twice.  On both occasions, I'd stopped at a motorway services and put on a hitchlock while I went into the services.  When I returned, I removed the hitchlock, put it in the rear passenger footwell behind the driver's seat, got back in the car and drove off, without pressing the stabiliser handle down again.

On both occasions, I only discovered the error the next time I stopped - more than a hundred miles of motorway further on.  There was no noticeable change in towing behaviour.

Cheers
Andrew 

The only time I have noticed a difference with a stabilizer is on the motorway when being overtaken by speeding large vehicles.That said I still use one when towing my (supposed more stable ) twin axle with my ( excellent 85% match) Discovery with its "perfect" noseweight.Likewise the only time I have seen any benifit from wearing a seatbelt is when I have had to brake sharply.

The point of the post was to question the attitude of the driver not wanting to  use a safety device incase it wears it out.

3 Pages back the thread started like this with the driver saying that he didn't use it etc etc

We have just returned form a weekend at Blackpool South caravan park, and as we had just set up and sat down for a drink the caravan opposite was just pulling away when we noticed he had his alko stabilser in the up position therefore not in use. i ran after him and knocked on the window to tell him and he replied that he didnt use it as it wore it out !!! how dangerous is this ?? we cannot comprehend not using something that is designed to assist with stability and safety are we wrong ????

Quote: Originally posted by sweetpeaheidi on 05/9/2008

---

The only time I have noticed a difference with a stabilizer is on the motorway when being overtaken by speeding large vehicles.

---

Presumably you know that, because you have also towed on the motorway without a stabiliser?   Why did you do that?

Cheers
Andrew