1st time tow feels Jerky?

[AlexHaden]

Ok,Picked up my new bailey ranger 470/4 today :-) and while the towing
was easier than i thought (appologies to the people stuck behind me).
While towing it sometimes felt as if the car was being "jerky" or that
the caravan was braking? it only happend for a short few times,
during my journey home.


Could it be that im not used to towing, and the overrun braking system
was nudging my car and then trying to slow the caravan down? or is it
that im doing something wrong.

The Caravan is only 950kg's and my car can tow 1100kg(kerbside weight
is even more than this but max tow is 1100) and i know that im well
within my 85% limit.....


Is there something possibly wrong with the van??

Thanks Folks and if any of you see a Peugeot Partnet combi pulling a
bailey...its me!!!

Thanks for the help again!

[Uno Hoo!]

Post by AlexHaden
Ok,Picked up my new bailey ranger 470/4 today :-) and while the towing
was easier than i thought (appologies to the people stuck behind me).
While towing it sometimes felt as if the car was being "jerky" or that
the caravan was braking? it only happend for a short few times,
during my journey home.
Could it be that im not used to towing, and the overrun braking system
was nudging my car and then trying to slow the caravan down? or is it
that im doing something wrong.
The Caravan is only 950kg's and my car can tow 1100kg(kerbside weight
is even more than this but max tow is 1100) and i know that im well
within my 85% limit.....
Is there something possibly wrong with the van??
Thanks Folks and if any of you see a Peugeot Partnet combi pulling a
bailey...its me!!!

I think you've hit on the answer already. Whenever the caravan starts to
'catch-up' on the car, the over-run brakes will be applied and this can have
the effect of temporarily 'holding back' the car. Under certain
circumstances this can give what you describe as a 'jerking' effect. If the
'van is new and has been standing 'idle' for a while then it is likely that
the brake drums would have had a surface coating of light rust and this
would have made the over-run brakes drag even more. This effect will lessen
as the drums become shiny with use. I'm quite sure that there's nothing
wrong with your outfit!

Kev

[Richard Murphy]

The caravan overrun brake is fitted with a damper which if it is working
properly will prevent the overrun brakes coming on under normal driving
conditions - even downhill (I remember towing a trailer without the damper
and forgetting to flip-over the collar before going down a steep hill -
absolute nightmare!) - it is unlikely to be the brakes therefore, unless you
actually apply the brakes on the car.

If the caravan has been standing there will be rust inside the brake drum
which will make the brakes snatch and squeal until it clears - but again
this is under braking. On a wet road of course this can lock up a wheel
(think about it...).

You might be talking about a slight "tugging" feeling that you simply get
used to, as long as there are no "clunks" at the same time (sign of a worn
or loose coupling or towball). You might feel it more on an uneven surface
such as an A or B road, or around town, more than on a flat motorway surface
in good condition.

With a 2 wheeled van you can get one wheel going over an imperfection in the
road causing a slight drag on one side but not the other, and the van will
try to "pivot". Try getting hold of a small trailer and pull it along by
hand by the coupling, pulling it so that one wheel goes over e.g. a small
stone or an imperfection in the road surface, and you will see what I mean.

Post by AlexHaden
Ok,Picked up my new bailey ranger 470/4 today :-) and while the towing
was easier than i thought (appologies to the people stuck behind me).
While towing it sometimes felt as if the car was being "jerky" or that
the caravan was braking? it only happend for a short few times,
during my journey home.
Could it be that im not used to towing, and the overrun braking system
was nudging my car and then trying to slow the caravan down? or is it
that im doing something wrong.
The Caravan is only 950kg's and my car can tow 1100kg(kerbside weight
is even more than this but max tow is 1100) and i know that im well
within my 85% limit.....
Is there something possibly wrong with the van??
Thanks Folks and if any of you see a Peugeot Partnet combi pulling a
bailey...its me!!!
Thanks for the help again!

[alexhaden]

Thanks :-)

I have to admit it was very strange towing for the 1st time, and i felt so
guilty dropping into 2nd and going round some bends a tad too slow....but im
sure i will get used to it .....hopefully ;-)

Post by AlexHaden
Ok,Picked up my new bailey ranger 470/4 today :-) and while the towing
was easier than i thought (appologies to the people stuck behind me).
While towing it sometimes felt as if the car was being "jerky" or that
the caravan was braking? it only happend for a short few times,
during my journey home.
Could it be that im not used to towing, and the overrun braking system
was nudging my car and then trying to slow the caravan down? or is it
that im doing something wrong.
The Caravan is only 950kg's and my car can tow 1100kg(kerbside weight
is even more than this but max tow is 1100) and i know that im well
within my 85% limit.....
Is there something possibly wrong with the van??
Thanks Folks and if any of you see a Peugeot Partnet combi pulling a
bailey...its me!!!
Thanks for the help again!

[Peter Milnes]

You may build up your confidence a tad quicker if you book onto a Caravan Club
towing course. It only takes about a day or two (sometimes over a weekend) and
is worth every penny spent on it.

Cheers, Peter.

"alexhaden" <***@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:c61f8i$hfm$***@sparta.btinternet.com...
: Thanks :-)
:
: I have to admit it was very strange towing for the 1st time, and i felt so
: guilty dropping into 2nd and going round some bends a tad too slow....but im
: sure i will get used to it .....hopefully ;-)
:
:
: "AlexHaden" <***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
: news:***@posting.google.com...
: > Ok,Picked up my new bailey ranger 470/4 today :-) and while the towing
: > was easier than i thought (appologies to the people stuck behind me).
: > While towing it sometimes felt as if the car was being "jerky" or that
: > the caravan was braking? it only happend for a short few times,
: > during my journey home.
: >
: >
: > Could it be that im not used to towing, and the overrun braking system
: > was nudging my car and then trying to slow the caravan down? or is it
: > that im doing something wrong.
: >
: > The Caravan is only 950kg's and my car can tow 1100kg(kerbside weight
: > is even more than this but max tow is 1100) and i know that im well
: > within my 85% limit.....
: >
: >
: > Is there something possibly wrong with the van??
: >
: > Thanks Folks and if any of you see a Peugeot Partnet combi pulling a
: > bailey...its me!!!
: >
: > Thanks for the help again!
:
:

[Dave Fawthrop]

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 01:42:47 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Milnes"
<***@btinternet.com> wrote:

| You may build up your confidence a tad quicker if you book onto a Caravan Club
| towing course. It only takes about a day or two (sometimes over a weekend) and
| is worth every penny spent on it.

The Camping and Caravanning Club do one as well, run by Institute of
Advanced Motorists. Probably little difference between the two.


Dave F

[L.S.Lamey]

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 07:27:42 +0100, Dave Fawthrop

Post by Dave Fawthrop
On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 01:42:47 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Milnes"
| You may build up your confidence a tad quicker if you book onto a Caravan Club
| towing course. It only takes about a day or two (sometimes over a weekend) and
| is worth every penny spent on it.
The Camping and Caravanning Club do one as well, run by Institute of
Advanced Motorists. Probably little difference between the two.
Dave F

You fucking idiots need to go to school to drive a motor home?

Man! The brits are dumb.

[Dennis]

Post by L.S.Lamey
You fucking idiots need to go to school to drive a motor home?
Man! The brits are dumb.

Instead of barging into things with gay abandon and arrogance, we like to do
things properly over here. It avoids us having parking lots full of trash
trailers. Your verbal eloquence suggests a redneck hailing from the Bronx?

[o***@search26.com]

http://www.zared.com/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Recreation_and_Sports/Transport/Motoring/Advanced_Motorists/