RV FEATURE
We see a similar action when a caravan gets the wobbles. It builds with increasing speed, distance and momentum to the point where the tyres of the trailer and the tow vehicle can no longer keep the vehicle upright and on the road.
This all sounds pretty horrible, and you may be thinking it’ s just a matter of time before your caravan suffers this fate, but it doesn’ t have to. Mechanical resonance doesn’ t just happen without the input of some energy. With the Tacoma bridge, that energy came from the wind. With your caravan, it predominantly comes from the speed at which you’ re driving, as well as external forces. The faster you drive or the stronger the wind blowing against the caravan, the more likely the vehicle will begin to sway with increasing resonance.
Using a public weighbridge to check your weights are within limits and correctly distributed will go a long way towards avoiding the wobbles.
Having all this weight on the back of your caravan will almost certainly result in sway at some point.
Here are a few common factors that will contribute to trailer sway:
1. Incorrect weight distribution. This issue contains an article about correct weight distribution and how important it is for trailer stability. Again, there are plenty of videos showing how having most of the weight positioned in the centre, over the axles or towards the front of the trailer, makes it less likely to sway. But if you put that weight at the extreme front or rear of the trailer, a slight push on the side causes the trailer to sway violently.
2. Trailer length. For any number of axles on a trailer, the longer it is, the greater the lateral force that can be exerted upon it by winds from the side. It also means that any weight towards the extreme ends creates a pendulum effect. This type of swinging or swaying is extremely difficult to control because of the momentum it creates.
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