I read a lot of posts on here and elsewhere related to van weights. From what I have read the general consensus is dont tow a van more than ur vehicle weighs , i reckon in the van category of 20' plus that wud apply to 90 percent of vans I see . Are there any actual figures relating to accidents involving vans where weight was an issue ? I'm not talking about people that have loaded their vans incorrectly , ie too much weight for or aft . Just their overall weight.
Delta18 said
10:04 AM Jan 27, 2017
You will never see any figures on this because, after crashes involving a caravan, weight of the van is not an issue, they are NOT weighed.
In a serious crash there is more often nothing left to weigh anyway.
Hey Jim said
10:07 AM Jan 27, 2017
mezza56 wrote:
I read a lot of posts on here and elsewhere related to van weights. From what I have read the general consensus is dont tow a van more than ur vehicle weighs , i reckon in the van category of 20' plus that wud apply to 90 percent of vans I see . Are there any actual figures relating to accidents involving vans where weight was an issue ? I'm not talking about people that have loaded their vans incorrectly , ie too much weight for or aft . Just their overall weight.
Hi Mezza,
You could try Google the government web site: The Bureau of Statistics, They may keep the records your interested in.
Let us all know how you get on.
Cheers Jim
Desert Dweller said
11:28 AM Jan 27, 2017
We've see a plethora of tails wagging dogs on our travels. Some find it difficult to get off the mark, hate to think how they'd go in an emergency stopping situation.
Fringe Dweller said
04:44 PM Jan 27, 2017
I KNOW We all have to get experience . BUT Until we get the experience . Why not just take it easy.
I know several people , if their weight is wrong . They just back off . They don't take the time to readjust the weight.
As we have seen with certain videos , at speed when the tail wags the dog , resulting in rollover . Panic or inexperience.
Like , me northbound out of th new St Helena tunnel , getting to the end of the tunnel at a $ overtaking a B double.
Out of the tunnel I started to "pick up my wind" & I wobbled a bit . I gently accelerated until I was past . THEN Gently
backed off . But going downhill I got to 120k's before I backed off . YES I Had to keep the dog away from the tail.
And Keep my nerve . No I did Not think I would hit so much wind coming out of the tunnel at 95kph . We were both taking it easy,
as there was a "hazard" shooting n/bounders up th rear at th bottom of the hill . Yes , now I go down Helena like I go down s/bound Mt Colah.
macka17 said
12:18 AM Jan 28, 2017
Next time it starts wagging.. Starts..
Try accelerating lightly while applying brake lever slightly at same time.
(That little lever on Controller by your knee)
I practice with mine all the time, Towing and not.
so I can hit it without thinking OR looking.
KNOW. Where it is.
NORMALLY it'll pull van back into line. Unless you gone past that point.
Though if you heavy in rear. A prayer is the way to go.
Then boot it. and hope you got room.
Rear set suspensions specially tandem. with long drawbar. and van balanced.
Are probably the better type.
It's virtually Impossible to sway them. They just follow.
That's why I always had\Have. rear sets.
Look at side profile of your van.
Rear to centre of axle\s, and centre of, to front of drawbar.
The longer that front triangle is. in relation to rear one.
(when balanced)
the safer they are.
BUT. If it ever lets go on you.
Have your seat belts on. It really goes.
Unlike the centre axles which tend to roll.
they tend to slide like a semi.
Being Similar configuration.
We hit some potholes going North a few yrs ago.
Too soon for the police\highways signs to be up.
Cruising at 110ish.
Bang. whoops.
swung and swerved round and between around 1\2 km of them
while slowing down. Never missed a beat.
Van followed like a little puppy.
Mate behind with centre axles rig nearly shook his to bits.
"No way I could swerve like that" he said.
Not without rolling it.
Missed some. Hit some.
iana said
10:06 AM Jan 28, 2017
mezza56, I guess the answer to your question is "no".
Hylife said
08:46 PM Jan 28, 2017
Delta18 is right. After a crash there is usually not much left.
How do you weigh the likes of this?
-- Edited by Hylife on Saturday 28th of January 2017 08:47:08 PM
You will never see any figures on this because, after crashes involving a caravan, weight of the van is not an issue, they are NOT weighed.
In a serious crash there is more often nothing left to weigh anyway.
Hi Mezza,
You could try Google the government web site: The Bureau of Statistics, They may keep the records your interested in.
Let us all know how you get on.
Cheers Jim
I KNOW We all have to get experience . BUT Until we get the experience . Why not just take it easy.
I know several people , if their weight is wrong . They just back off . They don't take the time to readjust the weight.
As we have seen with certain videos , at speed when the tail wags the dog , resulting in rollover . Panic or inexperience.
Like , me northbound out of th new St Helena tunnel , getting to the end of the tunnel at a $ overtaking a B double.
Out of the tunnel I started to "pick up my wind" & I wobbled a bit . I gently accelerated until I was past . THEN Gently
backed off . But going downhill I got to 120k's before I backed off . YES I Had to keep the dog away from the tail.
And Keep my nerve . No I did Not think I would hit so much wind coming out of the tunnel at 95kph . We were both taking it easy,
as there was a "hazard" shooting n/bounders up th rear at th bottom of the hill . Yes , now I go down Helena like I go down s/bound Mt Colah.
Try accelerating lightly while applying brake lever slightly at same time.
(That little lever on Controller by your knee)
I practice with mine all the time, Towing and not.
so I can hit it without thinking OR looking.
KNOW. Where it is.
NORMALLY it'll pull van back into line. Unless you gone past that point.
Though if you heavy in rear. A prayer is the way to go.
Then boot it. and hope you got room.
Rear set suspensions specially tandem. with long drawbar. and van balanced.
Are probably the better type.
It's virtually Impossible to sway them. They just follow.
That's why I always had\Have. rear sets.
Look at side profile of your van.
Rear to centre of axle\s, and centre of, to front of drawbar.
The longer that front triangle is. in relation to rear one.
(when balanced)
the safer they are.
BUT. If it ever lets go on you.
Have your seat belts on. It really goes.
Unlike the centre axles which tend to roll.
they tend to slide like a semi.
Being Similar configuration.
We hit some potholes going North a few yrs ago.
Too soon for the police\highways signs to be up.
Cruising at 110ish.
Bang. whoops.
swung and swerved round and between around 1\2 km of them
while slowing down. Never missed a beat.
Van followed like a little puppy.
Mate behind with centre axles rig nearly shook his to bits.
"No way I could swerve like that" he said.
Not without rolling it.
Missed some. Hit some.
Delta18 is right. After a crash there is usually not much left.
How do you weigh the likes of this?
-- Edited by Hylife on Saturday 28th of January 2017 08:47:08 PM