↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Sway
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 1
Print this entire topic · 
Small Clanger



Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 210
United Kingdom 
Sway
What causes a caravan or trailer that is being towed to start swaying side to side? Is it likely to happen to me towing a bike trailer (200 kilos-ish) with a bike onboard (180 kilos-ish)??

And what do you do if it starts happening? laugh and speed up? scream and slow down? crap one's self and bale out?
I have an ordinary bike trailer but with a BumpStop front wheel chock that holds the bike stable and with the weight slightly forward of the trailer axle. This allows me to raise the hitch off the tow-ball with the jockey wheel and move the trailer around with the bike still loaded.

Smile
Post #139858 17th Apr 2012 3:54pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ickle



Member Since: 22 Jul 2010
Location: South Vendee
Posts: 1786
France 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Alpine White
Is the trailer parallel to the ground when loaded and hitched up?

Keith
Post #139859 17th Apr 2012 3:57pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Small Clanger



Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 210
United Kingdom 
Hi Keith, not quite but only about an inch or so out of level (rear end down) along the length of the trailer which is about 7 or 8 feet long.
Post #139860 17th Apr 2012 4:02pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
WarPig



Member Since: 04 Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1748
England 1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi USW Bonatti Grey
Years ago folk would have said speed up if your trailer snaked, but nowadays the advice usually given is to gradually slow down.
Post #139861 17th Apr 2012 4:06pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
WarPig



Member Since: 04 Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1748
England 1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi USW Bonatti Grey
Deleted
Post #139862 17th Apr 2012 4:07pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
pom



Member Since: 01 Jun 2010
Location: Worcester
Posts: 1343
I think its the road surface that causes it, I had a cherry picker on hire that was towable. Probably 2 tons. Towed it fine and hit a streth on the motorway where it just snaked. Foot off the accellerater and let the vehicle slow down on its own and it righted itself. Never did it again so I put it down to the wind/road.

Pom
Post #139863 17th Apr 2012 4:10pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
rossy



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Co. Roscommon
Posts: 1296
Ireland 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Stornoway Grey
The caravan club advises that best practice is to slow down gradually (ie not using the brakes) to control the sway. I understand that this is often caused by incorrect loading ( too much weight at the back leading to a pendulum effect) or just too much weight period - tail wagging the dog etc

Pom, for someone who is vehemently opposed to caravanning you ain't half hanging around this section of Def2 Laughing I reckon you're considering becoming a "weekend Pikey" Just do it ! Laughing
Post #139880 17th Apr 2012 5:14pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Post Reply
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT

Jump to  
<  Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums