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Topic: will it tow better?

SHOGUN30

19/5/2009 at 9:46pm
Location: west mids
Outfit: swift elegance grande 645 VW Touareg

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was really excited on monday pick up our first van,(twin axle coachman) have to say was a bit worried about the way it towed home.we have a lwb shogun and the guy a the dealers said i wouldn't find anything better to tow it with.but it looked like it was swaying a lot,it was a little windy but was only on dual carrigeway and minor roads,will it tow better when it is loaded with more weight to help hold it down?

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Twin axle all the way

Grampian91

19/5/2009 at 9:57pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram

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If it was a bit light on the noseweight, I would say it should improve.

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mystery.tipster

19/5/2009 at 10:04pm
Location: Gosport
Outfit: Combi Camp County

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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 19/5/2009
If it was a bit light on the noseweight, I would say it should improve.

I thought if you had a heavy noseweight it would sway more as you are making the steering lighter on your towing vehicle?

Adam

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The force is strong in this one

pinkfloyd

19/5/2009 at 10:05pm
Location: The Beautiful Lake District
Outfit: Buccaneer Clipper Autotrail Cheyenne

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Hi, Pleased to see someone else with a Coachman Laser. We bought ours three years ago and at first towed it with a 2.8 Pajero.It towed the Laser OK but struggled a bit on inclines. Have to say though it towed it straight without any swaying about. We changed the Pajero for a Landcruiser and have never looked back. Can I ask if your caravan tyre pressures (and Shogun) are OK and is the Alko stabiliser working as it should?. Did you check the noseweight before you towed it home?We have had no stability problems at all with our Coachman loaded either light or to max. I would suggest you load it heavier but remember to check all the weights and tyre pressures. Best of luck with it and well done for choosing such a great caravan....

SHOGUN30

19/5/2009 at 10:16pm
Location: west mids
Outfit: swift elegance grande 645 VW Touareg

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thanks for the info didnt check noseweight as was only picking it up from dealer and stupidly assumed he would check the tyre pressures for us

.will check them tomorrow (after finding them in handbook). glad hear someone else is happy with there coachman laser,is there way to check the stabiliser?the wear indicator says it is ok but is there any thing else to check?

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Twin axle all the way

pinkfloyd

19/5/2009 at 10:34pm
Location: The Beautiful Lake District
Outfit: Buccaneer Clipper Autotrail Cheyenne

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If the wear indicators are showing OK then I would think the Alko stabiliser is probably the least important of the issues mentioned.Only other thing to check is make sure the Alko towball is clean and dry. Noseweight and tyre pressures are far more paramount along with correct loading of the outfit. I am sure you will find the cause of the problem soon and enjoy the caravan in all its glory.

Karim

19/5/2009 at 10:37pm
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Quote: Originally posted by mystery.tipster on 19/5/2009
I thought if you had a heavy noseweight it would sway more as you are making the steering lighter on your towing vehicle?
Adam

The noseweight needs to be correct not light or heavy.

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Salaam

SHOGUN30

19/5/2009 at 10:44pm
Location: west mids
Outfit: swift elegance grande 645 VW Touareg

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thanks again

will tell OH every thing she wants to put in is to heavy lol .

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Twin axle all the way

madtrucker

20/5/2009 at 8:21am
Location: biddulph stoke on trent
Outfit: sprite quattro Mercedes ML 270

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on our twin alxe i once tried to bring the nose weight down to 75kg and it swayed quite a bit took it back up to 100 kg and it was OK again i thought the same the lighter the better buy in my case that was not so Andy.

Trek 39

20/5/2009 at 3:54pm
Location: Greater Manchester
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Check thisout

http://www.towingstabilitystudies.co.uk/index.htm

JTQU

20/5/2009 at 5:37pm
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S

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The rear tyre pressures on "off-road" type 4x4s is very important as they have,relative to normal cars a high profile making the lateral wall stiffness inherently low. Particularly if set to comfort pressure levels, and worse with long wheel based vehicles because of the longer overhang.
There should be guidance in the Shogun's handbook for the "towing" case; if not then try them at the maximum pressure quoted.
Similar problem come from tired bushes in the rear suspension links, another issue quite often afflicting 4x4s as they age.

Bill Terry

20/5/2009 at 6:48pm
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I put 40 psi in the rear tyres of my 4x4. makes a big differance,Like JTQU says the tyre walls are soft with them being a high profile tyre.Pulls the van great (swift conqueror 645.

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Grampian91

20/5/2009 at 7:42pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram

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I liked the video clip. but i was waiting to see him put all the weight on the axle & forwards of the axle.

Would it be more stable? The game on the site seems to think otherwise.

SHOGUN30

20/5/2009 at 10:01pm
Location: west mids
Outfit: swift elegance grande 645 VW Touareg

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have put more pressure in van tyres they had various pressure in them have put them all at 40psi .the side wall says 44psi for max load but dont think van is at max weight will check car tomorrow am looking for hand book,iknow i put it some where safe so i would know where it was

.

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Twin axle all the way

JTQU

21/5/2009 at 6:58am
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S

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Quote: Originally posted by SHOGUN30 on 20/5/2009
have put more pressure in van tyres they had various pressure in them have put them all at 40psi .the side wall says 44psi for max load but dont think van is at max weight will check car tomorrow am looking for hand book,iknow i put it some where safe so i would know where it was.

It's the tow car's rear tyre pressure that have a great influence on towing stability. A high pressure is still needed even if the carried load is light.

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