D4 sway when towing heavy caravans

[DiscoChris]

20180217_062243.jpgHello Guys,

I am new to this forum and I hope I am posting this query in the right forum.

I bought my LR D4 in 2012. I have had a lot of fun with it 4wd in the Victorian High Country, taking it across the Simpson Desert (twice) without issues.

I have recently ventured into caravanning having purchased our 2014 Evernew E900 in November last year. I am looking for feedback on towing.
In my first trip out to Barwon Heads, I experienced unnerving sway when I exceeded about 80/85kph. In my second trip out (to Moonambel), I rebalanced my load putting more weight on the Draw Bar and experienced significant improvement. However on the return trip with empty water tanks and very windy conditions I again experienced significant sway. My friends towing a similar caravan behind a popular Japanese 4WD with anti sway / load levellers,felt no sway.

I am told that Anti Sway/Levelling devices are counter intuitive to the D4 Air Suspension and therefore are not recommended.

I do believe that the nose of the draw bar might be about 40mm too low and so that will be my next adjustment but while I expect some improvement, I am not expecting it to be significant.
Does anyone have any suggestions for minimising sway when towing ~3000kg? Your advice much appreciated.

[Tombie]

Hello and welcome..

Balance is essential. If you haven’t got that van level to the vehicle you’ll be on the back foot.

You’ll need to be methodical here.

Tyre pressures on D4 and Van
Ball weight
Van loading (where and how)
Design of your particular van plays a big part.

[Tombie]

And check - where are your water tanks..
If you empty them you need to redistribute the load..

There are significant numbers on here towing big gear without issue..

The Jap brigade with their WDH/AntiSway gear really are rubbing bandaids to poor designs...

[Tins]

Tombie is 100% bang on in both posts. It isn't the car, it's the load it is towing. The D4 is a magnificent tow vehicle.

Without wanting to start another turf war, everyone needs to learn about load distribution before they should be allowed to tow anything.

[Chops]

G'day Chris (?),

As the guys say, loading,,, looking at your picture, although it could be an illusion due to where you've parked, the front of the van seems to be substantially lower at the front. When on flat ground, the van should be sitting virtually level.
We tow a new New Age 21' van 3.2t loaded, and I had to buy a new tongue to suit, re height, but it tows beautifully in all conditions.

My wife who's 5' nothing is about to tow the van some 1500 Klms. Although probably a bit nervous because I wont be in the car, feels quite safe in doing so, and if I thought there was going to be any difficulty or danger, I wouldn't ask her to do it.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

With that much distance from tow hitch to front van axle it shouldnt sway in a hurricane,,,,

Tyre pressure on the van isnt a load thing,, its to stop the sidewalls flexing, (which is the first part of a van that "sways")

[Graeme]

Don't forget that the van's front tyres need to be a little softer than the van's rear tyres. You might want to get the van's wheel alignment checked too if it has independent suspension.

[Fatso]

When you get the nose up a bit and if not much inprovemnt , then loading/ball weight and tyre preasures need to be explored .

Evernew build a good design and mt or full tanks should not come into play all else being equel .

Weight distribution usualy only counter ,s vans too heavy for the tug or bad loading , the EAS on the D4 will automaticly adjust the tug height front and rear to its propper position .

I fliped my tow hitch upside down to get extra height on my towball and was enough to get the van in a slightly nose down position .

[Kandy]

Weight distribution is critical no matter what fancy distribution gear you use . The D4 needs none, but, weight distribution is still important. Invest in tow ball weight scales, around 50 - 70 $, that number when you use one i.e say about 190kg -200kg should be less than 10% of the total weight of the van loaded with all the crap we carry around. I had sway once when forced off the road by uncle Tom in his hay truck on a small country road and coming back on from the soft to bitumen with a bitumen ridge caused sway and blow me down all this brake stuff started happening ( similar to electronic terrain response ) and smoothed out beautifully. The D4s anti sway works, something else is a problem. Cheers

[bobk]

Agree with everyone else re weight distribution. From my experience I would recommend that you start with ensuring the van is level and you have at least 10% on the ball. Have been towing a van with 2008 D3 for almost 10 years now and believe that these are the two most important basic requirements to hassle free towing.
Cheers