Thread: Towing larg(er) caravans

Originally Posted by mowog

I have towed 2 vans with my D4 now.

The current van is a Lotus Trackvan Extreme the ATM is 3500kg the traveling weight will be around 3200-3300kg.

I may have missed it but which engine do you run Mowog- 2.7 or 3.

I am looking at a new tug myself but cannot afford the 3l, so very interested if you have a 2.7!!!

thanks

I have the 3.0L others here tow with the 2.7 and also report great results.

Any one out there throw some light on an incident I experienced recently.
My first 'Tow' experience with D4 3.0L. Good road conditions, on my way to Somerset Dam up here in QLD. Road reasonably straight, with slight curves, and at a speed of 90-95 Kph, I got onto a 'Sway' situation, and I felt that the car had lost control, and was taking me from one side, to the other, in my lane.
There was no oncoming traffic, and I can't remember if I had actually crossed the centre line. It really frightened me. The Dam I camped at is only 85 Kms from home, but the return trip was full of worries that it could happen again.
I have been towing this 3.0T Caravan for more than 6 years with my 100 series L/C, and weight distribution bars, with never an incident like the one I experienced. I just wondered if it was the vehicles 'Sway Control System' that was doing it's thing? A very unnerving feeling!
Cheers all, Don.

What were the conditions like? Windy?

You talked about using a WDH were you using it with the D4 at the time?

On a recent trip south and north there were certainly times when the side winds caused a bit of sway. How bad that sway can get depends on how you respond to it. Another clear lesson was the suspension type in play. When my van had Simplicity fitted it was most certainly easier to upset and move around in cross winds. There was a marked reduction in this with the new Control Rider suspension.

But when any sway started I never added to the issue with steering or brake inputs. The D4 always managed it.

On last years road trip my Coromal van got pushed sideways big time by a rut in the road. The D4 responded and corrected long before I had a chance to react.

Hi Don,

Were you using a WDH system (you shouldn't be)? Is your van wired up to the car correctly (ie does the little green trailer icon come on when you use a turn indicator)? If not, your trailer-stability control won't function.

Also, check that the van is level when attached to the car and after the car has "self-levelled".

Cheers,

Gordon

Originally Posted by But 'n' Ben

Any one out there throw some light on an incident I experienced recently.
My first 'Tow' experience with D4 3.0L. Good road conditions, on my way to Somerset Dam up here in QLD. Road reasonably straight, with slight curves, and at a speed of 90-95 Kph, I got onto a 'Sway' situation, and I felt that the car had lost control, and was taking me from one side, to the other, in my lane.
There was no oncoming traffic, and I can't remember if I had actually crossed the centre line. It really frightened me. The Dam I camped at is only 85 Kms from home, but the return trip was full of worries that it could happen again.
I have been towing this 3.0T Caravan for more than 6 years with my 100 series L/C, and weight distribution bars, with never an incident like the one I experienced. I just wondered if it was the vehicles 'Sway Control System' that was doing it's thing? A very unnerving feeling!
Cheers all, Don.

Gordon.

I thought the trailer stability system worked even if the little green trailer didn't flash?

Hi Mowog, and Gordon, thanks for getting back so quick.
No, I wasn't using WDH bars, and it was 'Breezy' rather than 'Windy'.
I didn't need to muck with the 7 pin plug, and I do get the green trailer icon when indicators are used.
The whole 'Bushtracker' fleet uses Simplicity suspension, without any complaints over years, and the vans have a very low C of G. I have never suffered from 'Gusts' such as when a Road Train goes by, but I have observed vans in front of me sway when large trucks pass, but I get no such effect.
It is very difficult, when in the 'White Knuckle' situation, not to try and correct, with either/or both, steering and brakes. I can assure you guys, that I thought something more serious was about to happen.
I did phone L/R Sydney, but they were hopeless, and transferred me to Austral in Brisbane, who said that I should have my ACE system checked. What ever that is???
My dealership is at Maroochydore, and they are on day off today.
Any way, thanks for your input.
Don.

The Simplicity is a good system no doubt. My van towed well with it. However when the Control Rider suspension went on it was just a stunning difference.

On the way south on the simplicity there were moments when my wife noticed the van sway but trusting in the D4 to do the right thing worked out for me. On the way north with the new suspension the van just tracked behind us. It was less affected by trucks as well.

You are clearly not a novice to this so I assume all the bases were covered like load distribution in the van to ensure a good ball weight.