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well you have taught me,  thank you.

I can not understand how we have been able to tow our large twin axle van to Switzerland and back (a number of times) accross France, at a (perfectly legal) 80mph, slowing only for down-hill sections, and have never had a twitch.

Yes it is loaded correctly.  Yes it has the correct nose weight.  Yes the tyre pressures on vehicle and caravan are spot on.  And, no, we have never had a problem.

After all my years of experience, I now realise it must have been a fluke.

Thanks

Michael

We were on our way to Cornwall a couple of years ago when we passed by a car/caravan that had jack-knifed and had swung into the middle lane clipping a car with small children in. All were on the embankment looking very shaken. Similar to the original thread - only 4 or 5 miles down the road an idiot came tearing past us (we were also towing) and must have been exceeding 80 mph with a twin-axle van covered in stickers....

We commented at the time that we wouldn't have been surprised to see him end up the same as the one we had just passed - and sure enough 20 mins or so later we came across an almighty traffic jam....caused by non other than our sticker-mad tearway. Not only was he content with rolling his own shogun-type-vehicle AND caravan but he had involved two other in the process. Don't know if he was the cause - but he certainly didn't manage to stop in time if he wasn't! Caravan was certainly beyond repair seeings as it was virtually in half (as were many of the contents which were strewn across all three lanes and something suspiciously caravan-like was imbedded in the bonnet of another car)

Didn't seem like such a great start to his holiday....and probably ruined plenty of others in the process.

Wise up people and SLOW DOWN.

This thread is coming to the same conclusion as the foglights/blue lights thread.

There is a form of anarchy on the roads today, caused by both ignorance and deliberate bloody mindedness (the laws don't apply to me, but I need to go 3 mph faster, my foglights look pretty) and it doesn't appear that education, in the form of television or magazine adverts or articles, makes a blind bit of difference.

What might make a difference is a few more police cars on the roads... I honestly can't see any other solution.

I can only agree with you Gram.

I do get a bit annoyed when people rant on about speed, often without understanding the difference between excess speed, and excessive speed.

In the case of towing, other factors are just as important, and problems occur at speed because of these other factors. EG too much weight in the caravan, wrong nose weight, incorrect tyre pressures in van and/or car, etc.

Last Sunday, we left our house in the Austrian Tirol to drive home to Lancashire.  The 700 miles to Calais, took just over 8 hours including 4 stops of about 15mins each (petrol, the loo, and a short walk for Heidi).  The autobhans are almost empty on a Sunday, and we kept up with the outside lane traffic at around 115/120 mph (obviously we did not have a caravan with us).  This was perfectly safe, stress free and uneventful.

From Dover to home, about 300 miles, was a different story.  Congestion, everyone sticking to the outside lane, and an alltogether much more stressful journey.  It is a shame that we british still seem to think that we can learn nothing from "jonny foreigner".

Have fun, and be safe.

Michael

Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 09/8/2005

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we know someone who reckons they do Selby to Cornwall in 5-6 hours , TOWING !

thats about 375 miles at an average of 62 -70 mph without taking fuelstops in.

i say idiot or bulls**t !!    

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Have read this thread with interest. As a personal observation, I think that most of the problems stem from 'unconscientious' caravanners, those who do not take an interest in their caravanning and how to tow in a safe and legal manner.

Afterall, it is perfectly possible to go out, buy a caravan (new or secondhand), and drive away, without having a clue about noseweights or loading, and think that snaking refers to a dancemove and that only golfers have to worry about pitching. I would hazard a guess that some don't even know the laws regarding lane use and speeds etc. Caravanners have to use their own initiative to find out about such things at the moment, although of course good guides exist about such things in pamphlets and on-line, not to mention training courses. The majority make such efforts, but others don't bother finding out, and simply 'go for it' by towing without advice and guidance.

The key, I believe, to improve towing practise generally is to make sure that all dealers are giving out guides and leaflets on safe and legal towing, that information is available at service stations and main sites, and that key advice (such as speed limits) is flashed up on roadsigns etc. during the holiday hauls.  Major websites which enjoy significant caravanning 'traffic' (ours including - I'll try to get something sorted out before the season starts to go with the NTTA guide we've already got online) could have advice and guidelines.

Sadly, information packs given out at service stations etc. could be very hard hitting, if thought necessary. There are many examples of serious accidents involving caravans to drawn on, some of which have been fatal but have not reached more than the local news. I can imagine caravanning clubs, police authorities and commerical sponsors would be happy to contribute to such a campaign.

John T.

Quote: Originally posted by Frank Elson on 12/1/2006

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I am frequently overtaken at my normal 80mph ........

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sam 1953

To carry gas bottles in the boot of your car is irresponsible. what if you had an

accident,