As I have mentioned before on this forum, when I collected our used Pathfinder from Gosport, I had a steadily increasing swaying while passing a tanker (not downhill) at about 55mph on the M27. It didn't recur, even all the way up the A34 past lots of lorries. But when we unpacked it all when I got home, it was loaded wrong, with a fair bit of weight aft of the axle. He sold it to us with loads of extras, including even a small vacuum cleaner. Pots, pans, crocks & cutlery, it was all there, so we can't complain. Since then, we have redistributed the weight and left a good few things out, like the winter cover. I took it up the road for a test of the mirrors I had bought, and it was a different animal, very stable (mind you, I had fitted a bulldog stabiliser) The point about the sink & hob storage is a valid one though; when I get the camper out again I will be selecting my own method of distribution to keep all the heavy bits over the axles. Our Rover has a good nose weight, and we will be getting this up to the max. I have Graystons fitted (were on when I collected it) but, shame on me, I hadn't increased the car's rear tyre pressures. I did this when I took it out again to test the mirrors and stabiliser, and it seemed just fine up to the limit (infinity.... and beyond...)
We had a challenger for a few years at it towed brilliantly behind our Rover 400. In fact you could forget it was there.
When we got our Cruiser I made sure the noseweight was correct and that items were over the axle where possible - not that easy. We have had very little problems and the unit tows great behind out Touran with a Thule Atlantis box and 2 bikes on the roof, two bikes on the rear, one bike inside + dog + 3 kids + wife etc.
Yes, I am anal about the way the trailer is loaded and balanced - but I don't get the grief towing.
I still think snaking has alot to do with the tyres.Radials have flexible walls and are made so that there is more comfort to the vehicle and more tread on the road, but why does that matter to a trailer? Crossply tyres, on the other hand ,are much more stable as their walls are solid,and i believe have more tyre pressure and will stop a trailer snaking.
------------- Corpogreen esq
dead horse
and
donkey buyer
I fitted an ALKO stabaliser to my 575TC last year, I encountered snaking while passing a lorry the first time I used it. As pointed out in a previous post last year by Jan P (thanks Jan) if you don't follow the correct procedure by tightening up the damper THEN pushing the lever down, it won't work, therefore you may encounter snaking.
Quote: Originally posted by corpogreen on 18/9/2008
I still think snaking has alot to do with the tyres.Radials have flexible walls and are made so that there is more comfort to the vehicle and more tread on the road, but why does that matter to a trailer? Crossply tyres, on the other hand ,are much more stable as their walls are solid,and i believe have more tyre pressure and will stop a trailer snaking.
Good point that. So is there a tyre that would be 1) suitable while 2) not invalidating one's insurance?
I think if you ask the RAC or the AA, they will be able to tell you the answer . I think you will find that there will be a cross ply tyre to fit the rims you already have. Trouble is you will have to buy 3 tyres , as you can't mix radials and crossplys on the same axle.But personally I can't see it being any problem with your insurance, as cross plys will make you safer. There may be a problem with insurance if you bought remoulds or retreads ,but not at the speeds we do with folding campers in this country.
------------- Corpogreen esq
dead horse
and
donkey buyer
My Pennine Fiiesta has ordinary radial car tyres from new.I have never had any snaking other than the turbulence that occurs when you overtake a large vehicle or one overtakes you, this is expected.Until i get any problems of the camper trying to overtake my car I'll leave it as it is.
------------- Corpogreen esq
dead horse
and
donkey buyer
I was thinking of on the bigger heavier FCs like Pathfinder and Crusader, which are the ones folk seem to be having problems with. They're as heavy as small caravans, so it would appear logical to fit the same tyres to them.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
Quote: Originally posted by richosimon on 14/9/2008
With our old Pathfinder we found nose weight was critical. It needs to be as close to max as possible. We allways used to run with at least 70KG on the nose and it was as steady as a rock .(unless you are driving well over the speed limit)
Just read on another website (http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/towing.shtml) that the nose weight should be 7% of the laden weight of the trailer. (That'd equate to a laden trailer weight of 1 tonne.)
I have found the answer! I have just returned from South West France and Spain with my 2007 Pathfinder and after reading variuos comments on here decided to experiment trying different ways of packing down. Originally I packed down as recommended by Pennine pulling with my x trail but as soon as I got to 60-65mph there came the snake. Eventually I moved the water butts under the table and brought the cooker and sink as far forward as the wardrobe would allow and folded down. What a difference! Obviously by doing this the majority of weight was now directly over the axle. I towed safely and happily like I used to at 75-80 mph! I did place the awning in the car. We also used better use of the space in the bathroom for placing heavier goods, again altering the nose weight. I cannot believe that such a simple alteration could cause such a huge difference. Many thanks for all the help and advice on this forum and I strongly recommend that you try it- I feel as though I have found a miracle!
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Topic: Snaking problems with Conway and Pennine
