How to Reduce Sway When Towing a Caravan
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How to Reduce Sway When Towing a Caravan
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How to Reduce Sway When Towing a Caravan

When towing a heavy caravan behind a towing vehicle with significant weight of its own, some sway is only natural, however there are several steps you can take to reduce caravan sway and create a much smoother towing experience. What’s more, reducing sway and increasing the control you have over you caravan can massively reduce the chances of an accident occurring and help prevent damage to your caravan.  Find out below how to reduce sway when towing a caravan:

 

1. LOWER THE HITCH HEIGHT

If the towing hitch between your vehicle and your caravan is too high it will cause the front of your caravan to be raised which makes it much more difficult to handle. Lowering your hitch height will help to stabilise your caravan making it much easier to tow.

 

2. INSTALL A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH

A weight distribution does exactly what you would think it does: distributes weight. A weight distribution hitch is combined with your coupling to link your caravan and tow vehicle.  The hitch will help distribute weight evenly across the front and rear wheels of your towing vehicle which not only reduces sway but will also make it easier to steer, accelerate and brake.

 

3. HAVE AN ACCURATE TOW BALL WEIGHT

An adequate tow ball weight is imperative to low-stay towing… so be sure to use a tow ball that’s compatible with your caravan’s nose weight.

 

4. LOAD YOUR CARAVAN CORRECTLY

When packing your caravan, you definitely have to be strategic when it comes to distribution. Keep the heaviest items in your van as close to the axle as possible and place lighter items at the front and the very lightest items at the back. With the majority of weight centred in the middle you’ll be able to maintain more control of the caravan and reduce the range at which the rear can sway.

 

5. REPLACE YOUR TOWING VEHICLE TYRES

Did you know that caravan sway depends more on the tyres of your towing vehicle than on those of your caravan? Therefore, by replacing your towing vehicle tyres with ones with stiffer walls this will help reduce sway when towing. Also, remember to ensure that your tyres are inflated (or deflated) to the correct pressure.

 

6. INSTALL DEDICATED SWAY CONTROLS

By installing electronic stability controllers you’ll have the ability to automatically activate your caravan’s brakes if the swaying action exceeds calibrated limit. This will reduce the overall caravan sway and prevent you from losing control. If you own a Windsor caravan or you’re thinking of purchasing one, we offer

 

7. REDUCE YOUR SPEED

The faster you drive, the more your caravan will sway. It makes sense if you think about it, you probably don’t have much problems with swaying when you’re towing your caravan at 40km/h. Always obey speed limits when towing a caravan and when necessary drop below the speed limit. Caravanning is all about enjoying the journey anyways so there’s no need to rush!

At Windsor RVs our caravans are designed using the latest in engineering technology which helps to ensure that you have as safe and smooth a journey as possible. Check out our range of caravans online today and discover you Windsor Way! If you have any questions, get in touch with our friendly team for a free consultation.

 

Interested in purchasing a Windsor Caravan? Click HERE to check out our listings on Apollo RV Sales.

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