Caravan sway and bouncing.

R and B · Member

Caravan sway and bouncing.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

How fast were you going . How much weight is in van ? Tow ball weight ? Over speed bumps etc . Need to slow down way more .. Tyre pressure what they should be ? Have you towed before ?

meetoo · Guru

Hi R and B.

I had stiffer rear springs (Pedders) put into mine. Fixed that same problem.

Cheers, John.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

When you have your 'van attached to your MUX and both are fully loaded up as if youre travelling, is the tow ball lower to the ground - ie does your caravan look level (a longish spirit level is good to carry for use even when you arrive on a site so you can level off your 'van and not feel you are going to fall over sideways when you walk or the liquid in your cooking pots are not at a huge angle).

Also while both are connected, measure the distance between the ground and the lowest part of the front and back wheel arches. If the back measures less than the front it means your rig is not balanced (the rear of your MUX is dragging) and this will contribute or even cause your swaying problem. Just make sure you measure it on a flat surface like a shopping mall carpark

PeterD · Guru

R and B wrote:
I have just purchased a Jayco 16 footer and I am towing it with an Isuzu MUX. When were taking the van home from the yard it was bouncing about quite a bit. By bouncing I mean to say the there was up and down movement between the car and van.

A 16' Jayco towed by a MUX possibly does not need WDH.

Vans on their delivery trip behave a bit differently than when they are loaded. Generally the ball weight will increase when the van is loaded, this will make a difference. One thing that will upset the towing characteristic of a van in the nose of it being too high, the front of the van should be 25 - 50 mm lower than the rear, if you are using the standard tow bar on a 4WD then the ball will possibly be too high. You may need something like this to bring the ball down.

WAssa41 · Senior Member

Have a look at this site it will give you some good info on how to set up your van. Don't take to much notice of the sales pitch

Wassa

Bill B · Guru

WAssa41 wrote:

Have a look at this site it will give you some good info on how to set up your van. Don't take to much notice of the sales pitch
Wassa

Well come on wassa don't keep us in suspense, what is the site biggrin

Delta18 · Guru

WAssa41 wrote:
Have a look at this site it will give you some good info on how to set up your van. Don't take to much notice of the sales pitch
Wassa

Which site? confuse smile

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I reckon this van does NOT have shock absorbers?

Cheers,
Peter

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Springs in van MAY travel better with weight ? Also tug vehicles tow better with up graded suspensions .. Firmer shocks and better variable rate springs .

R and B · Member

Many thanks for all the replys and idears to solve my problem.

In answer to one of the replys I was travelling at no more than 85 ks at the time. The van has a tare of 1790 kgs. and it was empty we werehad just picked it up from the yard.

And john it dose have springs smile

Jaahn · Guru

Hi R & B,

There has been some sensible answers and some things to think about. But here is my two cents worth.

You said that you are a newbe to towing. Perhaps you might not know what to expect towing a caravan. Some people think that you get it all perfect and it is just like driving the car normally with no noticeable effect. That is not true. Coupling on a big lump to the back that is the same weight or more that the tow vehicle has a very noticeable effect. It does not feel the same as just driving the tug alone. Perhaps that is the only problem so far ??

Jaahn

WAssa41 · Senior Member

Very sorry, should have checked before I posted. I seems that I carnt copy and paste the link, how is it done?

The site is Hayman Reece

macka17 · Guru

Take rig over local weighbridge when empty. Then again when loaded.
See where you at b4 you start playing.

If you have normal towbar. stepped hitches are avail. Normally straight swap from agents.

I have around 4 different heights in garage. Rotate up or down for adjustment too.

HR rigs are good for ALL vans. spring rates to suit. they really do help.

Springs etc.
Ask a suspension bloke if you not experienced.
EFS do good shockers, Bistein/Koni Top line. King are around the best springs.

H.R. hitch first, along with 2in Extended Stronger rated shocks.

Then worry about springs.

That weight shouldn't be too much of a problem unless your rears already shagged.

HR will control hobby horsing t'ween vehicles plus swaying.

Van Shocks control the van springs bouncing, but watch angle of fitment
IE restricting piston travel.

DO NOT go too light on drawbar. Probably around 120/150kg to control that van.

Have fun it's all an experience in life.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 6th of June 2016 11:50:37 AM

hako · Guru

I'm with Jahhn - possibly what you are asking about is normal. Looking at the van when driving through the rear view mirror it's more or less normal to see it swaying and going up and down in the mirror. This is simply due to you tow vehicle wheels and the van wheels being on a different bit of the road.
You probably will find it worthwhile to fit a WDH (weight distribution hitch) which will improve handling.

Good Luck.

Vince · Senior Member

R & B you experienced the same as what we had after picking up our first van. As posted by Jaahn we were told that and thought ok this is how it is.

Not happy with the see saw motion I sought some advise from Hayman Reece rep, connect my van loaded to my tug and it's a 20mm drop.

Not enough to worry about WDH he says. Well I went against his advise and put a Trojan Load Leveller device on, but, I tossed the supplied brackets and chains away and

bought the Hayman Reece brackets, chains and shackles. so it's a bitza WDH but easier to connect.

The Trojan uses springs instead of bars and what we have now is 95% of the see saw motion gone, very happy with how it tows now.

Cheers
Vince

macka17 · Guru

Basically the same thing. one is differing thicknesses of spring steel rods.
T'other are a coupla leaf springs clamped together.

I'd say the H.R would be less problem long term.
My 750 unit is 18+ yrs now. Used every yr with heavy (6 ton rig on lotsa corrugations
and all I've done so far is rebuild up the interior cups for rod ends with Hard facing rods.

Smaller 500 model is 12ish yrs. all it's had is coupla repaints.

Either will do same job.
Just remember to have each vehicle properly load balanced in itself within it's rated limits.
Before you connect them together.
DON'T use Hitch to modify bad loading.
Measure front and rear wheel arch distance from top/bottom of rim to bottom of arch. Front and back.
Both sides. and have less than (hopefully) 1/2 to 1 inch drop at rear of car when you on flat.

Also. whether your van is more, or LESS than the 2 ton the law specify's. And you have electric brakes.

It's a good idea to fit a Breakaway switch to it. Around $120ish on Ebay.
can get for less but remember it needs it's own battery

Your van can break away. Jump off hitch, Whatever. whether it weighs 1 ton ot ten ton.

All extra safety.

PeterD · Guru

WAssa41 wrote:
Very sorry, should have checked before I posted. I seems that I carnt copy and paste the link, how is it done?
The site is Hayman Reece

For starters, don't use the "Quick Reply" box at the bottom of the messages. Commence your reply by clicking on the "Reply" or "Quote" buttons in the top RH corner of one of the messages. When you are ready to insert the link type a heading or title for the link. When you use the cursor to highlight the heading you will see a chain symbol up the top will become visible. Click on that symbol and a box will appear. If you have not copied your link URL go and copy it. Paste your link in the appropriate place in the box and click on "Insert." I also click on the underline symbol at the top to underline the link to make it more visible.

-- Edited by PeterD on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 07:51:32 AM

Cupie · Guru

I wouldn't worry too much about lack of shockies if just doing black top.

My 1999 Jayco Westport has done >200,000 km so far.

Tows behind the Patrol beautifully.

Just fitted third set of tyres due to age not wear.

Kitchen appliances, jug & toaster etc. sit on the shelf held in place by non slip matting only.

The load sharing rocker leaf spring suspension works well.