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Subject Topic: Shock absorbing tow ball???
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PersonFee Fi Fo
03/12/2011 at 12:26am
 Location: Somerset
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Our first caravan will have a Alko stabilize fitted. A lot of this goes over my head, I thought it was a perk but should I be worried? Going to hunt round for previous stabiliser threads, or will that just worry me more?


PersonJTQU
03/12/2011 at 7:41am
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Fee Fi Fo,
Don't worry about using the "stabiliser" its not detrimental to towing stability but neither is it as its name implies [in an engineering sense] really a stabiliser either. All it does is damp down the magnitude of small amplitude swaying and pitching movements of the van and this makes for a more comfortable drive.
Whilst it damps these movements it does not stop them or alter the underlying behavior. In that there is arguably concern that early "hints" of instability might be missed allowing the driver to push on into territory where those underlying issues could quickly develop into a real problem.
If you get the fundamentals of loading your van right, then your setup will be as safe as possible. This means that you need to run at as high a noseweight as the van or towcar permit and get the heavy mass items close to the axle both along the caravan's length and height wise. With the unit like this then on the road dont be silly and drive too fast, use slalom type steering movements and go down hills much faster than you can get up them.
The "stabiliser" then does all that it is capable of doing making for dynamically a more damped and relaxing ride. Just leave it there , use it and benefit from it.
All I and others have said earlier is that it is not an "essential" bit of kit and some of us like to explore how a van inherently behaves. To do this we need to work with the "stabiliser" inactive to feel those subtle hints the van gives out but the "stabiliser" would damp down. As new to towing you just forget that anorak trait and enjoy your van and towing.

Post last edited on 03/12/2011 07:50:24


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PersonSurfer01
03/12/2011 at 8:54am
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Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 02/12/2011
Not at all. It's your choice. What we must not do is mislead beginners. All too often they resort to a stabiliser before going through the normal steps to stabilise the van.
If it helped safety I would buy one. It doesn't, as has now been proved. Even on this local forum, the accidents we've been made aware of have all been fitted with stabilisers.
If you want one, I have no problem with that, but do make sure you tell beginners what they have to do before they buy a stabiliser.
Jim
Okay I agree with the above and that it is necessary for them to check noseweight and to ensure that the caravan's weight is either on the MTPLM or below and that the car is legally capable of towing that weight.


Personsaxo1
03/12/2011 at 9:23am
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I agree but I would assume that a shock absorbing tow ball would have the same material and therefore would have a similar lifespan.

Saxo1


PersonGreendemon315
03/12/2011 at 10:23am
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
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JTQU and Surfer

That all sounds good to me.  All I have ever said is that we need to educate beginners to the fact that there are several things they need to do first.

Saxo

I'm sure you are right - if that towball was made today.  I think technology 20 years ago was obviously not as advanced, and we shouldn't expect the same performance from a 20 year old item that we do today.

Jim



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