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Post Info TOPIC: Towing Tips to help make Towing a Caravan easy.
Santa


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Towing Tips to help make Towing a Caravan easy.
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Attempted to post this yesterday and received a message that my post had been flagged as spam and would be reviewed by a moderator.confuse

 

We seem to read about another caravan/towing vehicle rollover/incident almost daily.

 

I suspect that if van owners followed a few of the tips in this link http://www.travel-australia-online.com/Towing-tips.html we would read far fewer of these news stories.

 

I'm sure most of our members have experienced a vehicle and van heading toward/away from them developing a severe case of the ryegrass staggers, extremely worrying when they're coming toward you, loading distribution and vehicle set up will go a long way toward solving the problem.

 

If your caravan begins to sway, remain calm and resist the natural urge to slam the brakes on. Instead, you can manually apply the caravan's electric brakes, or gently accelerate, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes, depressing your car's brake pedal slightly can activate the caravan brakes enough to stop it swaying. Sensible driving, loading heavier items over the caravan axles (and as low as possible), and sway controls all help to lessen the chance of caravan sway developing.wink



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Cheers,

Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.
Delta18


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Have a read of this page to see just what happens when towing and why.  If every vanner, regardless of size of van read and understood this there would be much much fewer van crashes.

Link courtesy of ExplorOz forum.

 

Cheers Neil



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Ontos45


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Thanks or the link.

Peter

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Cloak


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If your caravan begins to sway..... get a 5th wheeler.

Jokes aside many thanks for the link.

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way2gokev


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G'day,

Totally agree with the engineers report on towing and would add that cab chassis (utes) set up are on par with the 5th wheeler set up infact I would say that utes are far better for towing heavy loads than cars/s/wagons as they have a lower hitch point, can be loaded to actually have more weight than what is being towed, this to me is a far safer than a tow vehicle that is lighter than what is being towed. Electric brakes are there to help the push from the rear they do not compensate for weight. I have no trouble towing my van fully loaded between 2.5 and 2.8 tons, the Patrol ute loaded is 3.1 tons. So I'm on the road with a footprint of nearly 6 tons, although hills slow me down a bit I can tow quite comfortable and I feel quite safe towing at 90 to 100klms at 2500 rpm. Just my thoughts.

Cheers

Kev  



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Wombat 280


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The positing of the brake controller presents a problem on most tugs I've seen it's mounted on either the transmission tunnel or low down on the dash making any adjustment hard unless stopped and no at all easy when already in the do do In this day and age and the high cost of a half decent tow vehicle why don't manufactures put the control wring into the steering wheel like all the other electronic functions then the sparky only has to plug in and run a wire to the van plug

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my van


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Cruising Granny wrote:

Many of the new larger vans now have the heaviest stuff right on the rear. The bathroom mould and its fittings, the toilet and its plumbing, the vanity, the washing machine and a dryer. All heavy appliances. Rear kitchens have the stove allocated to the rear wall.
I also added a split system airconditioner to the rear bumper with the outlet above the stove where the range hood used to be. I don't have the big bathroom, toilet and vanity set up. I carry the heavy stuff in the back of the car.
The tug must always be heavier than the van or trailer. Then the tug must be up to the task of tugging its own weight and that of the van, and stopping neatly when required.
My brake controller is within easy reach alongside the steering column.
Driving safely, within driver's capabilities is more important than everything. Just because the speed limit is 110 doesn't mean it's compulsory.

 You are soooooo  right  Granny I am so much supportive 

of people (drivers) who drive to the  road conditions,  vehicle type/load   and their ability

and a educated  driver . A responsible driver does not necessarly drive at the indicated speed on the roadside  speed sign

ie. 110  or even  100 km .

Every driver must weigh up the  consequencs of their on road situation if things go bad.

Not all speed signs   are for everyone  and every circumstance.

The joys  of arriving home safely is such a thrill



-- Edited by my van on Sunday 12th of May 2013 08:59:03 PM

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   Paul    CENTRAL QLD.   Solo
Cruising Granny


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Many of the new larger vans now have the heaviest stuff right on the rear. The bathroom mould and its fittings, the toilet and its plumbing, the vanity, the washing machine and a dryer. All heavy appliances. Rear kitchens have the stove allocated to the rear wall.
I also added a split system airconditioner to the rear bumper with the outlet above the stove where the range hood used to be. I don't have the big bathroom, toilet and vanity set up. I carry the heavy stuff in the back of the car.
The tug must always be heavier than the van or trailer. Then the tug must be up to the task of tugging its own weight and that of the van, and stopping neatly when required.
My brake controller is within easy reach alongside the steering column.
Driving safely, within driver's capabilities is more important than everything. Just because the speed limit is 110 doesn't mean it's compulsory.


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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment.
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Renfrew


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Morning All,

2 major websites prominent in the "Caravanner's iKit" in the first column, "Basics" is:-

1. TOWING GUIDE   http://www.towingguide.com.au/ 

2. DRIVING IN THE OUTBACK  http://tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Driver-guide/Driving-safely/Driving-in-the-outback.aspx

Both websites created by very reputable organisations

Worth reading,

Renfrew



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my van


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Thinking about where the weight is  in the rig is a good thing   , some may call it " taking five " 

five ninutes  for a safety check.



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Retirement is  when one makes the best of what one has got left.

   Paul    CENTRAL QLD.   Solo
Cruising Granny


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My motto while driving has always been, "Drive as carefully as you know how, according to the conditions, and allow for the other idiot's stupidity."

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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment.
Transport has no borders.

Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
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