Light-weight Euro van blown all over the road...

[ROnEM]

Saw a sight that would make us all quake in our boots and make us break out is a sweat!

Heading out on the Calder Fwy this morning, saw a large 18' light weight European van being towed by a Commodore station wagon was being blown all over the freeway. It did not matter what speed the driver was doing, once he was moving, the van had a mind of its own! Going to make for a long and frustrating trip.

Noticed he did not have any WDH or sway control fitted either.

Something has to be said for trying to buy a large lightweight van so as not to have to upgrade the tug!

 

[relgate]

scary stuff. hope he's got some common sense.

 

[Xpandafan]

Scary, Ro. An accident waiting to happen. And usually some innocent bunny will get caught up in it, when it happens.
Tow vehicle and van should always be seen as a package, as I suspect most members of this forum would agree. Unfortunately there are some who think towing a van is just like taking their 6x4 trailer to the tip.
Some imported vans same size as ours and half a tonne lighter.
I've noticed some weird combinations and seriously unbalanced rigs recently, one with the drawbar angled upward about 20 degrees and looking like it was trying to unhitch itself!
It also makes sense that when extreme weather is forecast (like the wind in last couple of days) one exercises a bit of caution. If you really need to be on the road with your van no matter what the conditions – you haven't planned your trip properly.

 

[Bushman]

A lot of those new Euro light weight vans don't have the ability to fit any sort of weight distribution hitch nor is their electric brakes the same as standard, system we are all use to, they use a friction overide electric system in which the driver has no manual control from the cab, not my cup of tea. I'm surprised they were even past for use in Australia.

 

[ROnEM]

A 4 berth van with full ensuite and a tare weight under 1,000 kg.

Marketed as European luxury and "tow with a small car"

Sounds great, but then I remembered this little video....

[video=youtube;s8ChOMh4QdM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8ChOMh4QdM[/video]

 

[Burnsy]

Ro, my first chuckle for the day......classic thanks!

 

[Burnsy]

Of course it goes without saying that I hope no one was injured but it just looked like something out of a Mr Bean movie!

Cheers.

 

[Brad]

Wow!!
I was at a camp ground a couple of weeks ago. Beside us was this custom made van that the guy had ordered.
It was a 21 footer. Towed with a late model pathie. Which confused me because my understanding is that the later model pathies have a three tonne rating. Knowing what my expanda weighs at 18 feet the obvious question was how he kept this monster van under three tonne.
To my surprise he said that was not the hard bit, the positioning of axles was pivotal to balancing the van and he was told that he needs to make sure he positions some of his load at the back of the van and some to the front for balance.
The whole story just sounds similar to the startings of yours Ro.

 

[achjimmy]

Balance is the most important thing IMO. I think that's why product vans like Jayco tow so well because they make so many and get it right? All other aids can and are used to mask poor balance. Get balance right first.

Ro , xpanda you bring up a important fact re the wind. I was driving home from the camping show across the Nepean river, a drive I do regularly the wind gust that hit had me struggling to keep the fourby in the lane. I shudder thinking about a van on the back, well rigged or not.

 

[relgate]

Balance is the most important thing IMO. I think that's why product vans like Jayco tow so well because they make so many and get it right? All other aids can and are used to mask poor balance. Get balance right first.

Ro , xpanda you bring up a important fact re the wind. I was driving home from the camping show across the Nepean river, a drive I do regularly the wind gust that hit had me struggling to keep the fourby in the lane. I shudder thinking about a van on the back, well rigged or not.

Same. I was coming home from the show on Saturday and a Pantec truck got blown across into the next lane. Scary stuff.