14' Series ESC
- Thread starter alexvk2
- Start date
ESC is never overkill, it makes a BIG difference on any van. :eyebrows:
No safety items are an overkill @alexvk2 ... Just remember the ESC is not preventive for sway but controls it once it starts!
Most definately not!
IMHO it'll be standard on all caravans in the future....it's that good and certainly not overkill.
If you're new to towing a van....a lump of lead on the back of a car that usually behaves itself....and you meet a Bdouble coming towards you, you'll sway ...ESC sorts that out.
If you accidentally drive over something you really should avoid, it's good for that.
Safety in those situations shouldn't come at a price but it does. Anything that adds to safety is good, particularly when you're getting used to towing.
I wish I had shares in ESC as I can't help singing its praises! (But I don't, unfortunately)
IMHO it'll be standard on all caravans in the future....it's that good and certainly not overkill.
If you're new to towing a van....a lump of lead on the back of a car that usually behaves itself....and you meet a Bdouble coming towards you, you'll sway ...ESC sorts that out.
If you accidentally drive over something you really should avoid, it's good for that.
Safety in those situations shouldn't come at a price but it does. Anything that adds to safety is good, particularly when you're getting used to towing.
I wish I had shares in ESC as I can't help singing its praises! (But I don't, unfortunately)
as already said - anything for Safety is not over kill
a bit like that tyre add a few years ago
if it saves you once - its been a Goodyear...................
a bit like that tyre add a few years ago
if it saves you once - its been a Goodyear...................
HI,
As others have stated anything that improves safety is worthwhile. I think ESC should be standard fitment. You must remember ESC is a safety aid and will kick in after it detects sway. You still need to make sure that you load your caravan correctly. We have ESC fitted to our Journey and I'm happy with it.
Cheers
Nick
As others have stated anything that improves safety is worthwhile. I think ESC should be standard fitment. You must remember ESC is a safety aid and will kick in after it detects sway. You still need to make sure that you load your caravan correctly. We have ESC fitted to our Journey and I'm happy with it.
Cheers
Nick
We have ESC in our 14 and tow with a 120 series Prado.
Crossing Mooney Mooney bridge I had a B double pull out of the left lane with me in the middle lane. I took evasive action and with the right lane clear moved into there. The van swayed a little and the ESC kicked in straightening everything up when it felt like it was going to get a bit loose.
Crossing Mooney Mooney bridge I had a B double pull out of the left lane with me in the middle lane. I took evasive action and with the right lane clear moved into there. The van swayed a little and the ESC kicked in straightening everything up when it felt like it was going to get a bit loose.
thats what I like to hear
real life usage in situations
very glad it did not go pear shaped for you @MDS69
Get it mate. You'll never know how good it is until you need it.
We have it even though our van is a little bigger any safety item like ESC is well worth it .
Don't scrimp on safety your family may depend on it
Don't scrimp on safety your family may depend on it
Well done . ..you won't regret it but may not even notice it's there as it's almost seamless ....till you need it! I smile when I see a bdouble now, whereas i felt trepidation without ESC.
One thing to consider . ....and this is an individual preference only, not a requirement....if you're getting some 12v work done on the car and van, you might like to get a separate anderson plug for ESC so you can disconnect it on rough roads.
We're opting for that now (didn't even think of it on the previous van) and getting them to wire up the ESC to a red anderson plug on both van and car so it can be disconnected if needed. We had a really rough ride into Fowler's Bay (and a few other places) where we could feel it engage and realised the manual advises a disconnect in offroad conditions. I got out of the car to disconnect then realised I'd have no brakes if I did so ...it wasn't a major problem, more of an irritation but the new van setup will allow me to pull the plug and still have brakes.
One thing to consider . ....and this is an individual preference only, not a requirement....if you're getting some 12v work done on the car and van, you might like to get a separate anderson plug for ESC so you can disconnect it on rough roads.
We're opting for that now (didn't even think of it on the previous van) and getting them to wire up the ESC to a red anderson plug on both van and car so it can be disconnected if needed. We had a really rough ride into Fowler's Bay (and a few other places) where we could feel it engage and realised the manual advises a disconnect in offroad conditions. I got out of the car to disconnect then realised I'd have no brakes if I did so ...it wasn't a major problem, more of an irritation but the new van setup will allow me to pull the plug and still have brakes.
I think ESC or DSC is a good idea. We have DSC fitted to our van and it is very reasuring in high winds, though our van tows really well. We chose DSC over ESC because DSC is powered from the van and it has a feature that ESC lacks, which is that it has an extra sensor that detects rough roads and turns off the DSC then turns it back on when the surface improves.
The ESC is usually powered by the tow via a red Anderson plug and should be disconnected on rough roads to prevent activation of ESC when hitting bumps. This does pose the problem of when to connect and disconnect the plug. The extra sensor in the DSC does this for you, the DSC also works on one side at a time like car stability systems. The ESC activates both sides at the same time, like hitting the button on the brake controlled. Both methods work very well.
We like our DSC, but either system works and both cost about the same and are well worth fitting. They really should be standard on new vans. Car stability control systems have already significantly reduced single vehicle accidents and are required on all new cars. There should be a similar requirement for caravans. Also CIL insurance give a good discount for having either system fitted.
The ESC is usually powered by the tow via a red Anderson plug and should be disconnected on rough roads to prevent activation of ESC when hitting bumps. This does pose the problem of when to connect and disconnect the plug. The extra sensor in the DSC does this for you, the DSC also works on one side at a time like car stability systems. The ESC activates both sides at the same time, like hitting the button on the brake controlled. Both methods work very well.
We like our DSC, but either system works and both cost about the same and are well worth fitting. They really should be standard on new vans. Car stability control systems have already significantly reduced single vehicle accidents and are required on all new cars. There should be a similar requirement for caravans. Also CIL insurance give a good discount for having either system fitted.
Ask dealer how to turn off ESC in this set up when on rough roads. This is important to do.
Thanks for advice .... I noticed that AL KO say their ESC is suitable for off road except in very extreme conditions
Thanks for the tip
this line of thought has led me to checking out the Dexter DSC which auto disconnects on rough off road automatically (apart from a few other refinements)
thanks yabietol
I am now checking out the Dexter system - it does seem to be a bit more refined - and I am getting the Outback version for some offroad use - I would like to revisit the GRR and Kimberly again
Mmmmm.
Haven't tested the Dexter but, as said, very very happy with ESC. The limiting factors of having to disconnect in very rough conditions was something we only discovered when we finally read the destructions.
Our fault entirely and won't make that same mistake again!
In fact, I haven't even checked out the Dexter as I'm not going to move beyond what I'm confident with...but I will now be able to disconnect it if needed.
As a side issue, any road we've been on in the Kimberleys and GRR pales in comparison to the road into Fowler's ....the GRR was mild in comparison. Some of the remote areas on Kangaroo island also qualify!
But the ESC did work effectively even if it didn't get disconnected.
Haven't tested the Dexter but, as said, very very happy with ESC. The limiting factors of having to disconnect in very rough conditions was something we only discovered when we finally read the destructions.
Our fault entirely and won't make that same mistake again!
In fact, I haven't even checked out the Dexter as I'm not going to move beyond what I'm confident with...but I will now be able to disconnect it if needed.
As a side issue, any road we've been on in the Kimberleys and GRR pales in comparison to the road into Fowler's ....the GRR was mild in comparison. Some of the remote areas on Kangaroo island also qualify!
But the ESC did work effectively even if it didn't get disconnected.