Swaying caravans

lostnluvinit · Newbie

Swaying caravans

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Firstly, check the weight distribution on the towbar.

Secondly, what were the towing vehicles?

I don't believe any of the modern sedans were designed to tow big (or even medium) vans or are remotely suitable, even if they have the 'rating'.

poppah · Newbie

I have a hayman reese towing rig with sway bars etc., and have found this to be a necessity for smooth towing.
Also it has been noted thatmost swaying of vans is caused by trucks/semi passing from behind causing a vacum effect.
My action is to slow down as a truck/ semi approaches from behind and then increase speed slightly as truck comes level with me. I continue at this speed until truck has passed safely. This action loads my 4wd and rig Iam towing and enables a straight line drive to be maintained throughout truck passing.
You must always be aware of the trucks/semis on the road with you .
happy towing, poppah

carpaidiem · Veteran Member

Hi all confuse new to this site.

We have a Coramal 604, van is just under 20' (1,900kg's) towed by a 2006 diesel Prado.

Question does anyone have any knowedge on sway controllers. I have fitted an Eaz-Lift WDH but with this van I find a little side sway with big rigs overtaking and cross winds. I'm thinking of buying sway unit matches the hitch. Any Thoughts thanks

Boroma577 · Guru

Can't answer your question carpaidiem (sieze the day...love it) but sure can give you a big WELCOME to the forum.

One or more of the members will be along shortly to respond to your question.

Cheers B.

carpaidiem · Veteran Member

Thanks Boroma577

Joe · Senior Member

lostnluvinit wrote:
Just recently I have had the opportunity to speak to some people who have had the misfortune to have had their van set swaying by a passing truck. In two instances the result was that the driver was unable to get the sway under control and in the end it was a case of the tail wagging the dog. In one instance the van tipped onto its side and took the car with it as it slid to a halt in the scrub at the side of the road, in the other the whole rig spun through 180 degrees and ended up facing the following traffic. Talking with these people, it raises the question of what is the best way to take control of these situations

Does the old adage of gently accelerating to endeavour to pull the van out of the sway stiil apply? (never touch the brakes)
What about using the electric brake controller?

Does anyone have any thoughts?

Lostnluvinit

I have been fortunate in never having suffered any sort of sway when towing (so far anyway), so I can't advise you from experience, but if I did have a van that swayed i would be checking a few things to try to understand why it swayed in the first place.

I'd be checking the obvious stuff like the ball weight (is it reasonable), the wheel bearings (are they loose), the tyre pressures, the suspension bushes (are they worn) and the shock absorbers (are they stuffed - are they even fitted) before I started looking at ways to stafle the sway.

Then I would be looking at the hitch and whether weight distribution bars are required - for may vans they should indeed be fitted although I don't bother with them as they introduce too many additional stresses when used off road.

However, if your question was in relation to knowing how to control the sway when it does happen then all I can say is that I would be looking to brake the whole rig (tow tug AND caravan) gently to try to restore some stability. I understand the theory of "stretching" the rig by either accellerating gently or by just applying the van brakes using the controller, but for my money using the brakes allows you to slow the whole rig down which will make any ensuing action (such as crashing!) a much less damaging affair as well as damping down any instability.