How to stop caravan sway before it starts
If there’s a single safety issue you want to avoid in your caravan, it’s having it begin swerving uncontrollably while you’re travelling down the highway. What can start as a little wobble can soon turn into a serious, and dangerous, problem. As it intensifies, tyres can lose grip on the road, affecting both car and caravan, leading to jack-knifing and even rolling. It’s a catastrophic way for your holiday to end. Luckily, there are measures you can take, both before you head off and while you’re on the road, to ensure it’s full steam ahead yet steady as she goes.
Built-in safety
If you’re buying a new caravan, many will be fitted with technology to help prevent sway out on the road. Mounted on a caravan’s chassis, it uses motion sensors to continuously monitor movement that can occur from sudden gusts of wind, passing trucks and emergency manoeuvres. When any side-to-side motion is detected, the system intervenes by applying brakes to restore an uneven drive.
The technology has several names: electronic stability control (ESC) is the most common, but Dexter and Tucson are two of the more advanced anti-sway systems that apply braking to individual wheels to counteract sway with minimal speed loss.
If you’ve got an older caravan, mechanical anti-sway bars fitted between the tow vehicle and caravan will improve stability. Another excellent option is a weight distribution hitch that ensures an even balance across all the axles of the towing vehicle and the caravan. “But never use anti-sway bars on the van when you are going off-road,” says Crusader Caravans founder and managing director Serge Valentino.
What to do before you leave
Loading the caravan correctly is an important preventative measure and one of your first lines of defence against sway, says Jayco product innovation and sales manager Scott Jones. “Keeping heavy items low and close to the axle makes a noticeable difference to stability,” he says. And always ensure the back of the van is never heavier than the front.
“The rule of thumb is that once the van is loaded, make sure the tow ball weight is between eight per cent and 15 per cent of the ATM [aggregate trailer mass],” adds Valentino. “And never exceed the tow ball hitch compliance – either 350kg or 450kg, depending on the tow hitch and suspension installed.”
You can check this at a weighbridge or using your own tow ball scale, available from most camping and equipment stores. You should also check your tyre pressure when the caravan is loaded because flat tyres can cause sway.
How to stop swaying when it starts
If you’ve done everything correctly and you still start to feel your caravan begin to shake or sway, you can regain control by slowly decelerating. Both slamming on the brakes and speeding up can lead to bigger problems, causing either jack-knifing or rolling.
Slowing down and gently applying your trailer brakes, while keeping the steering wheel still, will pull the caravan back into line.
Driving for caravan sway control
The main aspects to remember while driving with a caravan is to take your time. The CMCA’s rvSafe campaign lists a number of tips for towing.
- Allow for longer stopping distances and for slower acceleration. You’ll need to allow more distance between your car and the one in front than you normally would, and more time to take off at an intersection. You’ll also need to take a wider swing when going around corners.
- Avoid quick, sharp turns to prevent instability and roll-overs.
- If you feel as though your vehicle isn’t driving smoothly, check the weight distribution of your load, the total weight of your load and your tyre pressure.
- Use a low gear when going down a steep hill. Riding the brakes can cause them to burn out.
- Learn how to use your electric brakes correctly. Consider enrolling in an RV driving course to build skills.
