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Subject Topic: Dangers of Towing
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PersonCarrievan69
15/6/2014 at 11:23pm
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Although we own a motorhome, I would like to remind all you caravaners about the risk of towing. Twice now this week we have come across an accident involving caravans. Although they were seperate incidents, they both looked like the caravan had "snaked" causing the tow car to flip over and one even pushed up an steep embankment, causing both, cars and caravans to be write offs. Obviously I don't know exactly what caused them, but they were not good to see. It made us more aware of caravans and noticed the amount that were speeding and without the "anti snake device". One even overtook us on the motorway, and we were doing 70mph..They must have been doing easily 75-80mph..I am not preaching or "having ago" at caravaners at all ( I used to be one ), but just warning you about the dangers of snaking....

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A war does not decide who is right , just who is left..


PersonBob61
15/6/2014 at 11:59pm
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I was following a beautiful caravan being towed by a 4 x 4 along the M3 today. It was travelling at just under 70 mph and seemed to be set up correctly but every now and then the rear of the caravan visibly twitched as if about to start snaking. It was scary to watch. I don't know if the driver could feel it twitching but it certainly didn't slow him down. It was an accident waiting to happen and would have caused a multiple pile up as the motorway was very busy in all 3 lanes.

Speed is one of the main reasons for caravans starting to snake and a stabiliser won't stop it. Living close to the A303 and the A34, both main routes to the south, I see this quite a lot. I am surprised there aren't more accidents than there are already.


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Persontango55
16/6/2014 at 12:00am
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Also some caravanners don't have much respect for other caravanners either as I was travelling with my caravan in tow doing just under 60 mph. on the M1 southbound today when a Honda CRV with a Bailey Pageant in tow passed me doing about 70 mph. Their caravan snaked slightly as the rear end drew level but then the driver decided to pull in instantly in front of me and narrowly missed the front offside of my car by about 4 feet. The result could have ended up with not just one but two cars and caravans in a collision due to just one inconsiderate tower so many are not only risking their own lives but others too.
We hear identical horror stories quite frequently on this forum about speeding caravanners and we can't tar everyone with the same brush but if the irresponsible driver of the Honda CRV reads this then he ought to hang his head in shame for reckless towing.   


PersonRamette
16/6/2014 at 6:55am
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Hi.

We've just got our first caravan, second hand. Can you explain snaking to me please? We've only taken ours out once, this last weekend. We were very tentative and I hope drove responsibly never exceeding 50mph. I have in the past seen many caravans and cars flipped over and it scares the Hell out of me!


Personmillermicm
16/6/2014 at 7:33am
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Snaking is when the caravan starts swerving from side to side and ultimately becomes uncontrollable. It is not caused by speed per se but a badly driven or badly loaded caravan will do this and it is more likely and harder to control at speed.

Towing, like driving, is perfectly safe if done correctly.

It's a bit like using a chainsaw. If done correctly it is safe. If it is abused it can turn into a bloody mess.

-------------
Steve


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PersonRamette
16/6/2014 at 7:41am
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Thank you. I think we drive quite safely, we did joke with each other that we've started driving like old folk then realised we've actually become old folk! But what do you mean about badly loaded?


Personfixings
16/6/2014 at 8:28am
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Caravanners who understand why snaking occurs will know that snaking is not caused by excess speed, neither will a stabiliser be of any use on a badly loaded outfit that is likely to snake.

Tbf your post is pointless. Those us who do know will just find your post patronising & those who don't know will learn nothing new & in fact if they take your advice to fit a stabiliser thinking it will make an unstable outfit stable will discover that your 'advice' is in fact incorrect.


Personfixings
16/6/2014 at 8:43am
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...& obviously while you were carefully checking passing outfits for stabilisers one hopes you were the passenger, not the driver....


Personsunshinetours
16/6/2014 at 8:58am
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Quote: Originally posted by fixings on 16/6/2014
Caravanners who understand why snaking occurs will know that snaking is not caused by excess speed, neither will a stabiliser be of any use on a badly loaded outfit that is likely to snake.

Tbf your post is pointless. Those us who do know will just find your post patronising & those who don't know will learn nothing new & in fact if they take your advice to fit a stabiliser thinking it will make an unstable outfit stable will discover that your 'advice' is in fact incorrect.


Guess that make two pointless posts then....

A reminder every so often is always worth while and if people are going to ignore weights, tyre pressures, loading etc then they are going to ignore it. One can only hope they keep their speed down so any eventual resulting incident is minimised

Many motohomes can travel at 70mph legally, doesn't mean they should as high winds, heavy loading etc can all make a difference to them also, (plus having seen what happens to a motorhome shell in an accident I wouldn't want to be any where near one yet alone inside on if I was in an accident).

Point is excessive speed can be dangerous in wrong circumstances for all outfits


Personmillermicm
16/6/2014 at 9:05am
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Quote: Originally posted by Ramette on 16/6/2014Thank you. I think we drive quite safely, we did joke with each other that we've started driving like old folk then realised we've actually become old folk! But what do you mean about badly loaded?


Typical badly loaded maay be too much weight in the back of the caravan causing the van to be light on the front. excessive weight on the front exceeding to recommended nose weight or just plain overloaded.

Caravans will have a recommended load limit as well as noseweight. Your car also will have a manufacturer's maximum tow limit but the caravan club recommendation is that inexperienced towers should not exceed 85% of the weight of the tow vehicle.

It all sounds a bit complicated but given a basic understanding that your car and caravan is a good match then a common sense approach to loading heavy stuff over the caravan axle or in the car should be sufficient.

You don't need to drive like old folk (god forbid) but you do need to drive within speed limits. On a motorwaydual carriageway this is 60. Other roads it is 50 unless otherwise indicated.

-------------
Steve


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Personmisterg
16/6/2014 at 9:34am
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HGVs and buses drawing alongside can unsettle stability. Over the years I have felt snaking but once it starts ease up gradually.

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Mister G


Personmillermicm
16/6/2014 at 9:50am
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Quote: Originally posted by misterg on 16/6/2014
HGVs and buses drawing alongside can unsettle stability. Over the years I have felt snaking but once it starts ease up gradually.


Shouldn't really "unsettle stability" in a correctly matched & loaded van. They more cause some buffeting from wind & bow wave. Virtually all HGVs are limited to 56mph. There should be very few passing unless you are driving slowly under speed limit. Coaches are do have a higher maximum speed limit at 70mph.

-------------
Steve


Personfixings
16/6/2014 at 10:12am
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Quote: Originally posted by sunshinetours on 16/6/2014
Guess that make two pointless posts then..

The only point in posting on this thread is to draw attention to the incorrect information in the op....If you have an accident while towing as a direct result of excess speed, a stabiliser would not make the slightest difference to the outcome.



Personsunshinetours
16/6/2014 at 10:35am
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Quote: Originally posted by fixings on 16/6/2014
Quote: Originally posted by sunshinetours on 16/6/2014Guess that make two pointless posts then..

The only point in posting on this thread is to draw attention to the incorrect information in the op....If you have an accident while towing as a direct result of excess speed, a stabiliser would not make the slightest difference to the outcome.




That wasn't their point - highlighting excessive speed was, and is worth highlighting and therefore wasn't a pointless post


PersonCarrievan69
16/6/2014 at 10:44am
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Quote: Originally posted by fixings on 16/6/2014
Caravanners who understand why snaking occurs will know that snaking is not caused by excess speed, neither will a stabiliser be of any use on a badly loaded outfit that is likely to snake.

Tbf your post is pointless. Those us who do know will just find your post patronising & those who don't know will learn nothing new & in fact if they take your advice to fit a stabiliser thinking it will make an unstable outfit stable will discover that your 'advice' is in fact incorrect.


No where in my message did I say about caravaners should have a
stabiliser fitted, And no where did I say speeding causes snaking, I was pointing out about the dangers of Towing, speeding and snaking....
If you found it patronising, then good, because you sound like the sort that knows everything and never does anything wrong, well done to you ....       
      Also in your quote, you state that speed is NOT a reason for snaking....
Really? ..... So It is safe to travel at over 70mph is it?.
Surely by me highlighting the dangers it can only be a good thing. Because one person on here has enquired about it after my comment, and if it saves one life at the expense of you being patronised, then so be it...Safe Towing everyone

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A war does not decide who is right , just who is left..


PersonCarrievan69
16/6/2014 at 10:56am
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Quote: Originally posted by fixings on 16/6/2014
...& obviously while you were carefully checking passing outfits for stabilisers one hopes you were the passenger, not the driver....


No I was on my own, talking on my mobile with a beer in the other hand, whilst trying to undo my seatbelt so I could get to my packed lunch, but I was only doing 99mph... hahaha



( For all of you that can't take a joke
Yes I was the passenger, and in a car not a motorhome..)

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A war does not decide who is right , just who is left..



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