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Caravan Sway Crash
Article by Steve Smith - Caravans PlusRead Time: 3 mins
See the spectacular video of poor weight distribution when towing a caravan...and what you can do to stop it.
Contents
2) What Causes Sway?
Sway can be caused by one or more of the following:
a) Poor weight distribution
b) Incorrect or uneven tyre pressure
c) Towing speed
d) Driving down a hill too fast
e) Suspension
f) Side Wind
g) Slip streams from large vehicles
3) How to Fix it
There are ways to stop sway once it has started, but these will not always work if road conditions and surroundings are working against the driver.
a) If you are going down a hill, manually apply the electric trailer brakes, this will cause the caravan/trailer to slow the towing vehicle down and almost instantly reduce the sway.
b) If you are going up a hill, you can accelerate slightly until the sway stops, then slow down and drive at a lower speed.
c) If you are driving on flat roads slow down gradually, without applying the tow vehicle brakes.
If your caravan or trailer is susceptible to swaying, it is very dangerous and must be corrected. There are specific solutions offered by the same companies that make hitches.
4). Weight Distribution Kits
Below: Too much weight on your tow ball means you might need a Weight Distribution Hitch.
Below: Weight Distribution Hitch added. Level van = Much safer.
There are a few choices for Weight Distribution Hitches, we have written good instruction on how to choose and listed the most common size below.
5) Sway Controllers
If you are getting sway and you do not need, or already have a Weight Distribution Hitch, then you may need a Sway Controller.
If you have a "Hayman Reese" hitch that is under 10 years old then the below sway controller will be best for you. Otherwise see the ones at the bottom of this page.
6) Further Reading
This is an abbreviated article. If you think you want to purchase something for Weight Distribution or Sway Control, I recommend you read the 2 full articles here:
1) "How To Choose The Right Weight Distribution Hitch"
2) "How To Stop Your Caravan Swaying"
Most Popular Towing Accessories
20 Comments
Leo Donovan
The video is excellent but the combination must be weight rated like caravan not more than 80% of towing vehicles GVM. And the GCM is not exceeded. Careful load consideration going over a weighbridge before travelling.
JOHN 25 year traveller.
Thank you for the honest video,but all the component fitting and weight distribution does not make up for the lack of knowledge of what to do when sway happens, and what to do to correct it .
Reg Maybery
I have been using a Anderson Hitch since 2013 towing a 20ft JB, I find that this is a far superior unit although at the top end of the price range but it incorporates both lift and anti sway, the concept was taken from the US military towing Howitzers behind lighter vehicles . There is a lifetime warranty on the bushes, no other manufacturer provides this. Google it to see how it's set up and operates.
Gordon
Great video and comments, but... when I was a child I had first hand experience of a similar incident - however in this case the issue was too much weight on the towball, making the car lose steerage on a downhill run. There are many parameters involved in towing, and getting ALL of them in a good range is important.
Hugh Spencer
An excellent video. A couple of driving tips Cruise control: very useful but in my opinion it should not be used in undulating country. It's critical that the driver maintains good safe 100% control. Cruise control doesnt recognise changing road conditions. So speed over a crest can accelerating after a climb when in fact the tow vehicle should be transitioning to engine braking. Driver sensitivity: as a driver you should know through feel what the load feels like. You can learn to feel what the level of stability feels like at different speeds. This will also help you detect especially when you have a load issue or when something changes e.g. a flat tyre Check and check, I have simple rule I always follow. After thinking I have done everything I will after 5 kilometres or so find a safe place and pull over and recheck couplings, hatches, chains, tyres, doors. Even a visual walk around. My background: heavy towing large caravans,
Richard
Very good, always wonder if it is more likely with single axle or if the dual wheels are central
Peter
As a truck and dog driver, I cannot emphasize enough to learn how to use your manual trailer brake control.
JOHN
Thanks peter,i agree with you 110%, it is only common sense.
Rob
Hey John, we want the people to get it right first up, not learn on their own experience at a cost of some innocent travellers coming the opposite direction, it’s about firstly being made aware of correct loading of their van.
JOHN
Thanks rob , it is good to know from your post that if weight is correct and all the weigh dist hardware is fitted,that the unit will never ever experience sway .
If your using weight distribution bars you are only compinsating for a problem that already exist. I have a 25 ft jayco slide out that's nearly 3 ton and I have no bars and can tow at 120 if I want no issues but I choose to sit at 95 for fuel economy and I'm in no hurry,
John J
Simple rule, tow vehicle hitch point and caravan/trailer/boat hitch points should be set up parallel. Flat level area and both vehicles level before measures. Remedy difference before you TOW anything. Adjustable vehicle tow hitch is best solution. Then for added safety attach you preferred anti sway mechanism. Trucker for 44 years NZ/Aussie
Bomurra
As most trucks travel at the posted maximum speed for towing vehicles, why would you try to pass one. ..? This driver showed complete ignorance of nearly all of the written and unwritten towing laws. What a shame he had to write his van off, and endanger himself and others, to learn the lesson that excess speed and poor loading practices can cause instability in single axle vans. Weight distribution hitches are a great towing accessory and possibly could have assisted in this situation, but maybe also could have contributed to the incident occurring at a higher speed with greater consequences. Electronic stability control would have avoided the accident in this circumstance, but should not be relied upon to counter act blatant disregard for the road traffic regulations and the laws of physics. It is the loose nut behind the wheel of the tow vehicle that was at fault here, I am reasonably confident that their journey would have been completed without incident, had they not tried to pass the truck and kept their speed down.
Carol
The tow vehicle must ,Must must must weigh more than the towed unit and have enough grunt to pull the thing the way you want it to go . Forget these little family suvs ( shopping vehicles) however common sense has to prevail at all times
Phil
If that truck is doing his 100 km/h (and they do), what the hell is a driver doing trying to overtake, faster than 100 ks, with a single axle van, coming off the gravel, swinging on the steering wheel like that? The guy has no feel whatever for his rig. The weight distribution in the van may have contributed, but the driver is 90% at fault.
Shane Clark NSW 2560
Thanks for the tip.....This should be common knowledge ? ..........Driving to a safe speed , so long as you get where your going safely and in one piece .........May be a bit more info on how to slow and correct this sway , would help other's not so knowledgeable or help new van or trailer owners ............just a thought cheers ...........
Iris
Hi we a 24 foot. Caravan, have Hayman & Reese sway bars tow with GMC and it still. Kick d
PAUL
I've seen fish tailing with disastrous results before and was the passenger in a car that got spun around by the car on the car trailer too. Down hill and driver inexperience! I've also had my share of fish tails and agree with other comments and would add that it is possible to correct a whip by planting the foot. My trouble, once was the tow car was gutless and so, I learnt to drive slow enough to have some "Wellie' left. I updated to a more powerful car and fixed that problem. From experience, I can say that timing hard braking when the trailer/van is straight behind the tow car, will quickly take out any wiggle, if there is no room to speed up, it's tricky but possible. In the video, the driver was clearly inexperienced and aside from pulling back in too fast, probably lifted their foot, accentuating the pendulum effect as we didn't see the brakes go on, a disastrous move at the best of times. Agreed, nothing can compensate quite like good weight distribution.
Roy
I am 85 years young and learnt to drive my father's Vauxhall towing many of the old British Caravans , in time with slow speeds getting the feel of the van and car your driving you start knowing the art of how to load a van correctly . The nut driving this unit in the video is just one of many nuts behind the wheel of cars , that think to get some where in a flying hurry is worth it but it's not . Great video lets hope the nuts take notice keep the speed down on the units and correctly level the van by pushing weight to front of van in a good distribution .
Darren
Don't forget speed. What is stable at 90km/h can become unstable at 110. Just throw in a bit of disturbance from the truck, and it's all over.