Trailor wobble

[KerryS]

When I got my BJ Minno I loaded the car on, engine at the towbar end, and moved it forwards and backwards until noseweight was 75kg. I then bolted a wooden chock to the base plate so noseweight will always be correct with car's front wheel to chock.

I presume you have checked all tyre pressures, Paul?

We towed the caravan back on Sunday without a wobble at all and wind will have more effect on a huge lump like that

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

If you get a wobble on DO NOT ACCELERATE all that will happen is YOU WILL GO INTO THE HEDGE AT A FASTER SPEED.

Balance the trailer, ideally the nose weight should be about 75kgs, you can buy a noseweight gauge from any Caravan shop (wear a disguise when you go in so no one recognises you)

Do the back seats of your car fold down? if so put heavy items in front of your car rear axle line, DO NOT LOAD UP THE TRAILER TILL IT'S HEAVIER THAN THE TOWCAR, ideally the laden weight of the trailer should not be more than 85% of the cars unladen weight.

I have towed a caravan at some silly speeds without a problem on French and Spanish motorways.

If you get a wobble on something is not balanced properly and you are going too fast, very gradually you must slow down till the trailer steady's DO NOT BRAKE

HTH  

Kerry where are yer...tell im will yer  

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Mutter mutter ...must type faster  

[Crazy Eddie]

If you get a wobble on DO NOT ACCELERATE all that will happen is YOU WILL GO INTO THE HEDGE AT A FASTER SPEED.

Balance the trailer, ideally the nose weight should be about 75kgs, you can buy a noseweight gauge from any Caravan shop (wear a disguise when you go in so no one recognises you)

Do the back seats of your car fold down? if so put heavy items in front of your car rear axle line, DO NOT LOAD UP THE TRAILER TILL IT'S HEAVIER THAN THE TOWCAR, ideally the laden weight of the trailer should not be more than 85% of the cars unladen weight.

I have towed a caravan at some silly speeds without a problem on French and Spanish motorways.

If you get a wobble on something is not balanced properly and you are going too fast, very gradually you must slow down till the trailer steady's DO NOT BRAKE

HTH  

Kerry where are yer...tell im will yer  

Great advice especially on the over laden trailer and on the don't brake but ease off.

However sometimes you can pull the trailer straight by giving a bit of gas especially if the wobble is just after changing lane for example a bit of gas then straightens it up. Not always best to slow down IMHO  

[KerryS]

Mutter mutter ...must type faster  

   

[pete g]

If you get a wobble on DO NOT ACCELERATE all that will happen is YOU WILL GO INTO THE HEDGE AT A FASTER SPEED.

Balance the trailer, ideally the nose weight should be about 75kgs, you can buy a noseweight gauge from any Caravan shop (wear a disguise when you go in so no one recognises you)

Do the back seats of your car fold down? if so put heavy items in front of your car rear axle line, DO NOT LOAD UP THE TRAILER TILL IT'S HEAVIER THAN THE TOWCAR, ideally the laden weight of the trailer should not be more than 85% of the cars unladen weight.

I have towed a caravan at some silly speeds without a problem on French and Spanish motorways.

If you get a wobble on something is not balanced properly and you are going too fast, very gradually you must slow down till the trailer steady's DO NOT BRAKE

HTH  

Kerry where are yer...tell im will yer  

Great advice especially on the over laden trailer and on the don't brake but ease off.

However sometimes you can pull the trailer straight by giving a bit of gas especially if the wobble is just after changing lane for example a bit of gas then straightens it up. Not always best to slow down IMHO  

i have always found if you get wobble ,dip the clutch quickly . works for me

[Tigger]

Tyre pressures are fine (according to the handbook) but as mentioned, the towbar itself is quite low so I would presume that loading up the boot will make it worse (obvously) Soooo........

Does that make the nose weight heavier or lighter? My thinking is that if it's being pulled down below it's ideal height, it would make the nose weight lighter?

Pete: Got home at 7:45 mate, went all the way to the end of the M1 and even stopped for fuel. Which way did you cut across country - towards Wales ?

Tiggs

[Crazy Eddie]

If lower than it should be then it would give the same effect as a heavier nose weight IMHO therefore a bit further back on the trailer should help again IMHO  

[stu999]

If you get a wobble on DO NOT ACCELERATE all that will happen is YOU WILL GO INTO THE HEDGE AT A FASTER SPEED.

Agreed. Especially as even though it is primarily caused by weight/inbalance issues, speed is nearly always the trigger that sets off the snake in the first place. Going faster is likely to make it worse  

Besides which, you might not be able to go any faster  

[Crazy Eddie]

Depends on what has caused it mate IMHO  

If it has started when going round a corner or changing lanes for example it could just need a little gas and it will pull out of it. If you easy off and your revs are high the slowing effect could in fact make it worse.

If you are driving in a straight line and it starts to wobble ease off as this is unbalance or wind causing it.

Does that sound right ?  

[stu999]

Kind of. Easing off has to be done gently - or will compound the problem. However, the right balance of 'easing off' will work to suppress the weave *every* time, whereas accelerating may not  

Even if changing lanes etc has caused the weave, speed is nearly always a contributory factor - I've never had a weave at 5mph    

Worth bearing in mind when you get a towbar on the Fezza

Tigger, also worth checking security of the towcar and bracketry on the car, and drawbar on the trailer as well as the condition of shock absorbers on the car, and any that might be fitted to the trailer. All rare-ish stuff to go wrong, but can and does, and may also contribute to being spat in the hedge/armco

[Tigger]

Tigger, also worth checking security of the towcar and bracketry on the car, and drawbar on the trailer as well as the condition of shock absorbers on the car, and any that might be fitted to the trailer. All rare-ish stuff to go wrong, but can and does, and may also contribute to being spat in the hedge/armco

Good advice, cheers mate. I will check them over asap

BTW: Have you ever thought of going professional, you singing is great when you've had a few beers  

Tiggs

[stu999]

BTW: Have you ever thought of going professional, you singing is great when you've had a few beers  

But how sober were you?

P.s. - towcar should actually say towbar

[dombanks]

i think you guys are over estimating accelerating with 2 tons of horse and trailer and a frontera. (trialer is 980kg, smaller horse 400 larger 750)

even burying the throttle will put on less than 5mph on a flat windless motorway. less if there is a head wind.

so like you said it depends on how it started. most of the time i get wobble it is on a motorway on the rest of the roads im not going fast enough. and it is usually due to gusts of wind changes of direction.

i dont have the luxury of being able to distribut the weight that is done for me as and when they please. at least a 500kgwestfield does not take umbridge to stopping or changind direction wich is abother thing i cant do abruptly.

anyway surely whilst doing anything the most important thing is to try and keep the towing vehicle as straight as possible.

[stu999]

QUOTE

so like you said it depends on how it started. most of the time i get wobble it is on a motorway on the rest of the roads im not going fast enough.