Thread: Towing larg(er) caravans

We use to get a noticable bounce with our 3000kg plus Lotus van. On just about any road surface there was considerable feedback from the van.

We had our suspension changed from simpicity to control rider coil shock suspension (long story). We no longer get bounce or feedback from the van.

I think the biggest difference is the simpicity has 2 leading arms which don't like going up when the hit bumps so the whole van jolts. The new suspension has 4 trailing arms this design by its nature goes over bumps better. It also helps that there are coil springs and shocks.

Thanks Mowog.
When your van is hooked up, would you get a "springing" motion if you jumped on the drawbar of your van, or is the rear of the car quite rigid?

When I first towed my 650kg campervan a couple of weeks ago there was a lot of pitching up and down in the car on all but smooth surfaces. I don't think air suspension works quite as well as Landrover would have us believe when towing. If there was a bit of bounce towing 650kgs there would be quite a lot towing something a lot heavier.

Garry

Gday...

Obviously not a D4, but I have 2.7TDV6 D3 Auto. I tow 2600kg tandem axle black-top tourer - only suspension is leaf springs. Puts 260kg on towball.
I only tow on sealed roads, although some unsealed roads for maybe 20km at a time into a campsite.
I can jump on a-frame of van when hitched with no movement - nice and firm. On the road the van does not give any indication of being there - does not transmit any pitch or sway on any road.
I have travelled about 10,000km on 'outback' QLD roads (and you all should know what they are like) - narrow, dippy, rollercoaster (down on one side of road while other side of road is up), floodways and rough surface (not necessarily potholed - just rough). Good example is the road from Broken Hill to Silverton.
No problems at all. I had towed the van with another vehicle with WDH and the van sits much better behind the D3 without WDH. And I would never have believed it when I began.
Cheerss
John

It just goes to show John that our D3's are far superior to RR Sports and D4's...

You guys might have to trade down if you want a good tow vehicle ...

cheers,
Terry

Originally Posted by davman

Thanks Mowog.
When your van is hooked up, would you get a "springing" motion if you jumped on the drawbar of your van, or is the rear of the car quite rigid?

Once the D4 self levels it stays there.

Feedback from a van or trailer being towed is mostly because of poor setup. This is not always the owners fault. In my case with the Simplicity it was ok but noticeable. But with the Control Rider system the difference is just incredible. There is a bit more ball weight as well because one water tank had to move forward.

Not a D3/4 owner but a D2a with SLS. Given that the SLS reacts to re-establish the ride hieght by pumping more air into the springs you effectively get an increased spring rate. Therefore the heavier the ball weight the stiffer (bouncier as opposed to compliant/wallowing) the suspension will get.

I don't know that it accounts for the extra resistance of the WDH.

I think the common thread coming through, is the set-up of the van/trailer, being the most important factor.

I've only towed with my 3.0SE a few times....a very small 'toy' trailer and a pretty large camper.....both seemed very neutrally balanced and were almost un-noticeable when driving along.

I took the camper to Benarkin State Forest, which is hilly, windy and rough in some spots......no issue at all.

Cheers,

Kev