Snaking when towing??

[AlanP]

Hello everyone, only had my surf for the past year(3.0 td 130KZN) and love it, had a (sorry) 2.3td frontera before I saw the error of my ways, but been caravanning for 3 years.
The crappy vauxhall had no problem towing (until it died), lovley and steady, even up to 75-80mph,but since having the surf, I have been having problems.

As soon as you go over 50mph, it starts snaking, (truck seems a bit 'floaty' even on it's own) the loading is the same as when I had the frontera, nose weight is fine, I have tried different vans, with a couple of different stabilisers, still have the same problems. I have recently changed the rear springs for the 20% with a 2" lift from Roughtrax, a little better, but still not right
Could it be the shocks?, I have also tried tyre pressures from 30-55psi and still no good...any ideas?
The current 'van is an Elddis Crusader Superstorm twin axle, fitted with a winterhoff stabiliser, bit of a heavy bugger at 1600 empty 1900max - - - - -but nice hhmmmmmm!

cheers, any help would be great

[TOC]

are you sure you have the weight in the caravan balanced.. sounds like to much weight at the back of the van, try shifting the stuff inside it towards the front.

[Tallyman]

Are you getting snaking with the caravan fully loaded to the 1900kgs limit? If so, that may be part of your problem, as you'll be towing at about 100% of the Surf's kerbweight.

First thing is to check the noseweight on your van. The Surf ought to take around 100kgs without problems (but depends on your towbar). Is the towball sitting at the correct height, so that once the van is connected the tow hitch should be slightly nose down or level? Never tow with the front of the caravan nose up! And make sure, because it's a twin axle, that you do ave a positive noseweight before you hitch up.

As previously mentioned, check the tyre pressures on the caravan are all at the recommended limit. The Surf tyre pressures should be around 33-36 psi, depending on the make of tyres and you should tow with the shocks on Hard setting.

If your caravan has an Alko stabiliser fitted, have you got the correct Alko compatible towball on the car and is it grease free (as should be the inside of the Alko hitch)? If not, get it changed/cleaned etc. If you have a standard hitch (not Alko), what stabiliser are you using?

If checking all that does not cure the problem then I'd seriously look at getting the caravan checked over by a dealer workshop, as you could have a problem with the axle alignment on the van.

Still not sure, e-mail or PM me and I'll see what else we can sort out.

Oh, and let us know which model / year Surf you have.

[Hazzo]

I towed last year, heavy van with awnings n other accessories stowed inside, also rear seats in the surf were down and loaded to the hilt at speeds up to 65mph with no probs whatsoever, forgot the stuff was there to tell the truth. I'd have both looked at if I were you. H

[AlanP]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look and let you know.

Alan

[fatfires]

there are few things that the vehicle can do to make a trailer snake (unless you steer badly) esp as you have done the rear springs, I would be looking at the loading on the axles, the attitude (level not bad!) of the van when hitched, van wheel bearings for excess play, binding brakes, uneven lining wear, muck in the drums and nose weight can all contribute to your probs
I think look at the van first!

[TonyN]

I'd look at the shocks, if the back can bounce, it'll upset the handling.

[marky]

Check rear springs,shocks steering idler & pitman arm balljoints also front & rear anti roll bar bushes.

[steved]

I had the same problem with mine the old shocks looked ok but after changing them the handling and towing was much better.

[mud skipper]

had the same prob myself
easy fix i got the tyres changed as my old general grabbers had loads of sideways flex. bfg's have stiffer side walls
ideally if you dont use the surf off road go for road biased tyres with a lower profile.
to check for side flex just stand beside the car and push it side ways.
there again i could be completly wrong as usual

[AlanP]

Thankyou all, That's my weekend under the truck sorted ! I'll let you know how it goes.