My son was driving up the M5 last Sunday ( 11th Aug ), and was about to overtake a car an caravan that was already overtaking a waggon. The caravan started to wobble so he hung back, the result about 500m down the road was this. Everybody got out safely.
I just wondered what the drivers view of what happened was
Post last edited on 17/08/2013 12:01:55
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Glad they are OK, seen loads of partly snakeing caravans lately, I've slammed on a few time because I've notice the caravan I'm about to overtake is snakeing.
Most of the time they seem to be speeding mind you.
90% of the caravans I pass up and down the m5 every weekend are good but that one or two are scary.
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Slightly off topic but do the anti-snaking device's actually work? We were thinking of getting one for are little van but not sure if its worth it on such a small van. Its just as we start going further and using motorways we wonder if lorrys overtaking us would make it bounce around.
------------- She may be old, she may be rough around the edges but she is our home from home and we love it.
yes anti snaking devices do work ,as long as the caravan is loaded correctly with correct air pressure in the tyres ..
and i agree with the others the main culprits seem to be a to powefull car towing at excessive speed .done it myself in the past ,you sometimes tend to forget the vans there and just let your foot control your brains .
i,m lucky as i have a trained rottweiler oops wife that sits in the passenger seat telling me to slow down
And the reason why many 4x4 owners exceed the speed limit of 60 mph. is because they think they have a heavy tank and can tow anything behind. The fact of the matter is it's when the caravan bounces that causes the problem and to prove it, just pull an empty aquaroll slowly over an eneven field and it will still follow but sway from side to side but then run with it and see what happens. Basically you can't control it to which it eventually tips over and this is exactly what happens with a caravan over an uneven road surface. Once the bounce starts it progressively gets worse and no stabiliser will reduce the bouncing action and even slowing down won't cure it either so then the driver pays the ultimate price of losing complete control.
Quote: Originally posted by AceMarauders on 17/8/2013
Slightly off topic but do the anti-snaking device's actually work? We were thinking of getting one for are little van but not sure if its worth it on such a small van. Its just as we start going further and using motorways we wonder if lorrys overtaking us would make it bounce around.
Lorries should never overtake you unless you are going to slow.
Yes I don't see why 4x4 drivers think they can tow any better than a car.
The biggest benefit you can have when towing is a vehicle that can carry a heavier load on the rear axle thus lowering the amount of bounch once a heavy item ( tow hitch ) is placed on the vehicle plus people and luggage.
This is way I prefer to tow with my transit van, it is designed to carry weight.
I think 90% of problems with towing is the tow car. Add the weught of luggage, people and nose weight of caravan and see if exceeds the maximum weight for the rear axle of your car.
I think a lot of people will find their car is overloaded when towing.
This doesn't exclude 4x4 as they can't carry much weight either.
Quote: Originally posted by AceMarauders on 17/8/2013
Slightly off topic but do the anti-snaking device's actually work? We were thinking of getting one for are little van but not sure if its worth it on such a small van. Its just as we start going further and using motorways we wonder if lorrys overtaking us would make it bounce around.
Anti snaking devices do work, but they are only a damping device not a complete control system. They will raise the threshold for the van to start swaying and correct slight movements but if a full blown snake starts they will not on their own stop it. They simply make the ride more comfortable, which is a worthwhile thing in its own right.
#
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Quote: Originally posted by firebasher on 17/8/2013
"And the reason why many 4x4 owners exceed the speed limit of 60 mph. is because they think they have a heavy tank and can tow anything behind. "
I take it you have spoken to many 4x4 owners that exceed the speed limit !!, or is it another guess.
Not directly but I have been reading and contributing to on line caravanning groups for 15 years or more and have read many many statements that give the idea that drivers of large 4X4s feel that because of the weight of their vehicle that they are immune from snaking problems because of the weight. Experience on the roads tells me that more than half of the outfits that go past me and disappear rapidly into the distance are towed by large 4X4s, experience also tells me that I have seen more overturned outfits or been told about them that are towed by large 4X4s than I have of medium to large saloon cars and estates.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Lorries should never overtake you unless you are going to slow.
What kind of ridiculous statement is that? I'm sorry but as a lorry driver myself that just doesn't make sense if you are going slower than the lorry of course it will overtake you!!! The problem arises when the lorry is half way past and then the vehicle being overtaken then speeds up leaving the lorry stuck in the outside lane,either go slow enough to be overtaken quickly or fast enough not to be overtaken...
"Not directly but I have been reading and contributing to on line caravanning groups for 15 years or more and have read many many statements that give the idea that drivers of large 4X4s feel that because of the weight of their vehicle that they are immune from snaking problems because of the weight. Experience on the roads tells me that more than half of the outfits that go past me and disappear rapidly into the distance are towed by large 4X4s, experience also tells me that I have seen more overturned outfits or been told about them that are towed by large 4X4s than I have of medium to large saloon cars and estates. "
As I thought then, a guess !!.
Many people contribute to forums without first ensuring that what they spout is in fact correct, the number of times I have seen false info given by "expert electricians" on these sites just causes me to shake my head and chuckle.
ATC or DTC (Traction control)is very good slows down which ever wheel is going faster than the other,Helps to stop the van snaking,But as said speed is the main factor of smash ups.
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
Quote: Originally posted by firebasher on 17/8/2013"Not directly but I have been reading and contributing to on line caravanning groups for 15 years or more and have read many many statements that give the idea that drivers of large 4X4s feel that because of the weight of their vehicle that they are immune from snaking problems because of the weight. Experience on the roads tells me that more than half of the outfits that go past me and disappear rapidly into the distance are towed by large 4X4s, experience also tells me that I have seen more overturned outfits or been told about them that are towed by large 4X4s than I have of medium to large saloon cars and estates. "
.
As I thought then, a guess !!.
Many people contribute to forums without first ensuring that what they spout is in fact correct, the number of times I have seen false info given by "expert electricians" on these sites just causes me to shake my head and chuckle.
Far more than a guess, if you think about what was said
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
ATC is designed to control snaking but it won't control any bouncing as the trailer wheels actually lift from the road surface so millions can be invested in making the ultimate safety product but it can't reduce speed. It will end up with only one solution and that's the highways agency reducing the current speed limit to 50 mph. on all roads and posing hefty fines to the 4x4 drivers who flout the law.