Myles1970
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willie.macleod
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That's the exact opposite of what Land Rover do and sounds like a recipe for disaster. Asymmetrical braking to stop the oscillation and a reduction of power is a whole lot safer than calling for more power, plenty of situations where that extra power (if its available) could just get you to the scene of the accident quicker.
Weaving with road caused ruts might be different to weaving with incorrect load balance, and might well stop as soon as you get back on smooth tarmac.
The reason the weave stops on acceleration is due to the force pulling on the drawbar . . . but at some point, acceleration will stop - and now you are going faster, so the weave will happen at higher speed, for longer as you slow down from the higher speed.
I'll stick with the instruction to back off and gently slow down, only braking when its back under control. Has always worked for me.
I was sort of okay with some temporary swaying of of my 300kg tailer with a 500kg car on it, tied to the back of a nearly 2 tonne car with 400bhp as I cruised up the A1 a year or two ago . . . the car wasn't though - it upset the traction control which cut power . . .
The reason the weave stops on acceleration is due to the force pulling on the drawbar . . . but at some point, acceleration will stop - and now you are going faster, so the weave will happen at higher speed, for longer as you slow down from the higher speed.
I'll stick with the instruction to back off and gently slow down, only braking when its back under control. Has always worked for me.
I was sort of okay with some temporary swaying of of my 300kg tailer with a 500kg car on it, tied to the back of a nearly 2 tonne car with 400bhp as I cruised up the A1 a year or two ago . . . the car wasn't though - it upset the traction control which cut power . . .
sako243
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The point of accelerating is to straighten out the trailer and vehicle combination and cancel out the "harmonics" that have caused the weave in the first instance. Once you've stopped the weave you can decelerate. There is no point continuing to accelerate one the weave has stopped.
If you brake you ideally need the trailer in a straight line behind the tow vehicle for the quickest way to cancel the weave (which is difficult to do because of the inherent nature of the weave).
sako243
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There in probably lies the difference between accelerating and decelerating. 2t tow vehicle and 800kg load vs. 2t tow vehicle and 3.5t trailer.
A weave of a 750kg trailer behind the 2t Land Rover is hardly noticeable, get a trailer + load combination of 3.5t then you definitely notice it.
willie.macleod
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The whole accelerating out of a snake technique may be appropriate with older vehicles in some situations, but things have moved on and braking while snaking is not a problem for a modern vehicle with their multitude of sensors working out what way the driver wants to go and able to brake each corner of the vehicle individually very quickly to achieve the desired result.
Lots of anti sway hitches in use now with built in brake pads as well as reasonably priced active trailer braking control boxes to apply trailer brakes alone to help bring the outfit back in line.
Top gear video demonstrating electronics at work
Lots of anti sway hitches in use now with built in brake pads as well as reasonably priced active trailer braking control boxes to apply trailer brakes alone to help bring the outfit back in line.
Top gear video demonstrating electronics at work
8ob
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None of which are needed if the trailer is in good order,loaded correctly and driven at a sensible speed. The gadgets are just masking and luring a driver into a false sense of security , god help the driver if he has to use a car and trailer without any of it. I remember reading an article about ABS when it was first introduced , German`s noted that the only change to the accident stats were that there were just as many accidents but the cars with ABS were all involved in accidents at a much higher speed.
Bob
sako243
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All very helpful when you've got an older vehicle with non of that on board...
Don't know about the current state of affairs but when I looked about 5 years ago if you needed 3.5t towing capability your options were well LR, very specific Toyota and Nissan products (non with the biggest engine) or an older vehicle.
Cato
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and also unlucky.
I had a crash years ago on the M6 caused by an OSF blow out when I was in the outside lane driving a Laguna estate. I was very unlucky because the blow out was the OSF tyre of the 17 tonne truck in the middle lane that I was overtaking.
Being squashed between a truck coming through the passenger side and an Armco barrier coming through the driver's 'A' pillar is somewhat unnerving. There was sufficient force for the Armco to start lifting, which allowed the Laguna to start sliding it's nose under and out the other side. Fortunately (it's all relative!) it stopped rather abruptly when it reached the Transit sized lump of concrete that the end of the Armco sloped down into. It stung a bit to be fair, but I was much relieved that it didn't continue through into the oncoming traffic having removed my head. I swear the bloke's eyes in the oncoming Mondeo were bigger than Humber headlamps.
Myles1970
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There must be a prize somewhere for the best understatement on the internet
Cato
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It really was one of those surreal moments that seem to happen both in the blink of an eye and take forever at the same time. I suppose that goes for accidents generally.
My version of that was in the 1990's coming down the M6 from Manchester in lane 3 doing 70 when there was a sudden cloud burst of torrential rain. I decided to move into lane 2 and slow down some what, trouble is the Volvo 240 Estate started aquaplaning and I drifted in a very neat semicircle right round the nose of a huge petrol tanker in lane 1 and I ending up facing the wrong way on the hard shoulder totally unmarked. This obviously happened in a fraction of a second but seemed to take forever, and I can remember thinking 'You'll be OK you've got your seat belt on' !!
Now we need to do a quick 99 point turn on the hard shoulder to face south, and it was then that I broke the rear light on the Armco barrier !
willie.macleod
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I'd say the T5 accelerates because its FWD and the Land Rover brakes because its RWD/4WD. i.e. the powers at a different end of the tow vehicle.
I doubt that the T5 accelerates at all the more I think about it, it just doesn't make sense. Can anyone provide any evidence from VW that this is how their trailer stability program operates? Or is it a case of Internet hearsay?
Could have been, was weird almost might have been 10 seconds but it wasn't, felt like a long time as so many things happened so quickly maybe ?....0.4 of a second perhaps?
Stu
(I looked in my diary and it was exactly 3.26 seconds)
Myles1970
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Reminds me of the time I met a car coming in the opposite direction on the overtaking lane of a motorway one festive period. Xmas music blaring, cruise control set, how I managed to swerve out of the way, inbetween two cars on the lane to my left, and back out to the overtaking lane, only to question what had actually happened! The music was still blaring and the car was still travelling at the same speed as before (cruise still set).... I was shaking though! (and I may have done a little poo )Could have been, was weird almost might have been 10 seconds but it wasn't, felt like a long time as so many things happened so quickly maybe ?
Stu
(I looked in my diary and it was exactly 3.26 seconds)
Barking Mat
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Hmm, fish tailing trailers, frightened thé hell out of me, I believe you should accelerate, but I paniced, and slowed it down.
premmington
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Trailer Assist | Volkswagen UK
Find out how our trailer assist maneuvring system can keep you in control of your trailer when steering at all times. Discover more at Volkswagen UK today
www.volkswagen.co.uk
A newer T6 will park a trailer for you!
Volvo 4wd has the only "stabilty program" I know about.
You would need a 4wd transporter to do it...
James1979
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I believe the new VBG couplings as used on wagon and drags have some voodoo in that stops trailers when they start snaking.
I do know and have fitted induction sensors on them to give trailer position so it’s not too far removed.
Anyone about in the 80’s remember the mongoose?
I do know and have fitted induction sensors on them to give trailer position so it’s not too far removed.
Anyone about in the 80’s remember the mongoose?
redlig
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It will polish out.
