Caravan Hunting - help needed

[mjltigger]

just pace it out and check you don't need a long vehicle sign.. My van and estima were in the 'allowed but not required' region...

looks great....

[Purple_Wagon]

They always look big when hooked up Jim. What does it weigh?

810 Swanny with a Max load of 1060.

Well with-in limits of the bus


PW

[Swanny]

They always look big when hooked up Jim. What does it weigh?

810 Swanny with a Max load of 1060.

Well with-in limits of the bus


PW

Aww, that's plenty fine Jim. Obviously, the bigger it is physically, the more it is affected by wind (quiet at the back), but you'll be fine mate. Looking good, and enjoy!.

[snakeyes]

And the weather has turned out lovely for today for you going away. 
Good lick with your towing and dont forget to take the clamp off the caravan.

[mjltigger]

and the one off the towing hitch....

[normd]

things always look bigger when viewed from above

we thought about a new carpet for ours - 5m x 1.5 m so I'm away to ask for some overtime...

[Kernowman]

nice caravan...   bit of advice, if you do not have a anti-snakebar ( NO not to keep snakeyes out of it..LOL) ...then slowly accelerate until you reach 65/70 or until caravan starts to fishtail....
I do this with each new caravan I get to find it's snaking point, then I know to stay below it.
When rolling down long slopes you'll speed up, even though it doesn't seem you are...so safe to know limits before hand.

Before anyone comments.. .....  the speed limit for towing a caravan is 60 MPH.  but as quite a few estimas are still fitted with KMH dials, you can easily go up to 70 before you realise. 
I stay at around 80-90 kmh...will get my mph dials on soon...hopefully. 
96.56 kmh is 60 mph.

Here's a free convertor to help calculate..
http://www.mr2ownersclub.com/converter.htm

Have a safe journey and a great break...

[mjltigger]

in my experience (only 1 caravan but towed lots of other trailers including a 2 tonne show unit) anti snake devices are not all they are cracked up to be, in fact I prefer to tow without one and instead work with the unit to ensure it is always stable, side winds, overtaking vehicles, momentary lapses of concentration etc will all make the van wobble and being able to detect and stop that wobble yourself without an anti snake device is the most important skill you need for towing.. not a skill you don't have with a stabiliser but one you certainly practice less...

[Kernowman]

I agree...I have never owned an anti-snake device.....just rely on knowing the limits of both vehicle and caravan/trailer.   That's why I go up to 70mph so I know if I can accelerate to ovetake if required without having problems with unit.

My current one has a little wobble on at 105 kmh.... so I stay below that and have no problems..
my previous caravan wobbled at 95kmh...but was stable at 75mph when hooked up to 405 estate....
all down to air travel over towing vehicle and caravan as a unit.  :

[Cafe racer]

in my experience (only 1 caravan but towed lots of other trailers including a 2 tonne show unit) anti snake devices are not all they are cracked up to be, in fact I prefer to tow without one and instead work with the unit to ensure it is always stable, side winds, overtaking vehicles, momentary lapses of concentration etc will all make the van wobble and being able to detect and stop that wobble yourself without an anti snake device is the most important skill you need for towing.. not a skill you don't have with a stabiliser but one you certainly practice less...

Good advice, I have never rated these anti snake things, much better to improve your driving technique  Steady as she goes, no jerky reactions take your time and you'll be fine, if you do feel the van snaking, don't brake just back off the throttle, switching off the overdrive will help, if you feel the need to brake, do it gently.

[mjltigger]

my caravan on the esty was stable to it's top possible speed (about 75mph)- even downhill... on the mondeo haven't dared take it faster than the speed I reached by accident on the way to Devon but suffice it to say it is stable well past the legal towing limit - however being a lighter car it reacts a lot more to overtaking / being overtaken

plus I suspect the brake balance on the caravan is out as it wobbles and crabs a little on steep downhills regardless of speed... any suggestions as to how to fix that without paying a fortune for use of a rolling road gratefully accepted BTW...

[Purple_Wagon]

Well the sun is out and we are off 

See you all Sunday night

PW + NN

[snakeyes]

Bye 

[TeaserGap]

Have a great time PW, NN and boys.

[Swanny]

Yup, just what he said!. Have fun James!