Towing Speeds

[jims-terrano]

Has the maximum towing speeds changed?

When I passed my test it was 60mph for a braked trailer and 50 for unbraked?

Been up to York today and Drove home down the A1. Took me all my time to catch several caravans and trailers up and they certainly werent keeping to those limits.

One little trailer had some fence posts and a set of ladders tied on the top, as the ladders bounced the trailer was nearly tipping. Totally nuts people on the roads.

[Banshee]

I try to stick to 50-60mph braked or unbraked :nenau

Please correct me if I'm in the wrong

[jims-terrano]

100% agree with you Banshee

[Sweety]

I'm 99.9% sure it's 60 on duel carriage way & 50 on single carriage way for braked or unbraked:augie but know what you mean Jim have been on the A1 or M6 & people have flown past me doing 70 with trailers or caravans wobbling all over the place:doh

[Lazy-Ferret]

No, still the same, although I believe that they were thinking of changing them to bring us more in line with Europe at some time in the near future.

Basically,
Built up areas 30mph, came as solo cars.
Single Carriageways, 50mph, 10mph less than solo cars
Dual carriageways and Motorways, 60mph, 10mph less than cars.

Also a lot of people do not seem to realise that unless instructed by police, traffic Officers, or motorway signs, you are not allowed to use the outside lane on 3 line or more motorways.

I find the T2, and our Adria sits easily and nicely at 60mph, and sometimes, when downhill, wind behind, she will shoot up to 70mph if you are not watching the speedo. Luckily the whole outfit is very stable, but you do need to pull it all back into check.

[briggie]

when I had a tourer I used a sort of stabiliser bar that locked in place and prevented snaking ....... of course the problem was remembering to remove it when reversing onto a pitch :augie:lol

[don simon]

Isn't snaking usually a question of poor weight distribution (and speedd)? Solution to snaking is taking the foot off the accelerator, then gunning it to catch the snake and once caught simply control.
In my younger days I had to work my way out of a snaking trailer at 90mph on an empty M53. :cool:

[jims-terrano]

Weight distribution is one cause that is true.

I was trained to ease off the gas and to keep it steady and not to try and fight the snake. oh yeah and dont brake!

Apparently trying to accelorate out of a snake is not recommended.

Ive only experienced a minor snake and that was bringing a van home and not having a stabiliser fitted due to just collecting it.

A stabiliser will help to prevent a snake but not stop it happening.

Back on topic Im right about the speed but still no real confirmation about different maximum limits between braked and unbraked.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Back on topic Im right about the speed but still no real confirmation about different maximum limits between braked and unbraked.

I did not think there was one... had a look, and can't see one either.

Basically as far as the law goes, a trailer is a trailer. The limit is on weight. No unbraked trailer is allowed to have a plated weight over 750Kg, and the speed limit applies to any towed trailer up to 7.5 tonnes.

Forgot to add, remember an unbraked trailer must never weight more that half the car weight either.

[Banshee]

I've always accelerated out of snakes!!!

Advice I've always lived by since Clarkson said it on Top Gear :thumb2

[Lazy-Ferret]

I've always accelerated out of snakes!!!

Advice I've always lived by since Clarkson said it on Top Gear :thumb2
You should never trust anything Clarkson says if it involves saving the life of a caravan... :lol:lol

I must admit, the only bad snake I have ever had, I ended up accelerating, as by that point the car and caravan were nearly swinging 180degrees on the M5, and I had run out of "other options"... this happened before either the current caravan or car, and was very scary.

[don simon]

You should never trust anything Clarkson says if it involves saving the life of a caravan... :lol:lol

I must admit, the only bad snake I have ever had, I ended up accelerating, as by that point the car and caravan were nearly swinging 180degrees on the M5, and I had run out of "other options"... this happened before either the current caravan or car, and was very scary.

Once you've got to the point of 180º swings, I'd be praying to JC and not questioning his opinions on caravans...
I trust in the way I undestand the physics. foot off the accelerator to give a bit of slack and the foot down to pull the trailer back in line.
Better not to put youself in a snake in the first place though.
Back on topic: Seeing the towing limit as being 10mph lower that cars makes a lot of sense (in one way).

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

currently run our outfit without stabilizer as know how to load it and how
to handle it on road. mind the patrol was more stable still, weight ratios etc.

follow our old Plank's wisdom on tin tents, well he had a few in his time.

keep speed down, and slow down at top of hills. need to look after the house
on wheels, as will spoil your day if have to pick it up if becomes fire wood.

felt the cross winds on the a64, a1 and m18 today coming back from east coast
and whats a few minutes extra taking your time - and that of your family.

[solarman216]

my outfit tows rock solid at over 80, but most times limit it to 60ish cept were the cameras are, tried it with my daughters discovery, could not do more than 40 and it was most unstable, T2 is the best motor I have ever had for towing, well in the domestic class, Magirus Deutz 6 wheel was top notch hauling 32 ton artic plus the 11 ton of the mag and still restarted on a steep hill in second, fond memories, Rick

[Lazy-Ferret]

Once you've got to the point of 180º swings, I'd be praying to JC and not questioning his opinions on caravans...
I trust in the way I undestand the physics. foot off the accelerator to give a bit of slack and the foot down to pull the trailer back in line.
Better not to put youself in a snake in the first place though.


Very true, have to say it was not a good experience. I did what you said, foot of accelerator, willing my whole body not to touch the brake, when inside every part of you is saying, "Just stop the ride, I want off", then accelerated to get it back in line. I pulled onto hard shoulder and sat there with hands glued to the wheel shaking like a leaf.

Mine was caused by a slow puncture in the cars rear wheel, and a sudden cross wind. I was only doing 50, and that was with a stabiliser on.

For what they cost, and the fact that there are no real negatives to using one, I will always use a stabiliser, just for the little extra peace of mind. I even have a stabiliser on my little Erde, when I tow it on the motorways, just to be safe.

[firebobby]

We used to use the snake bar stabilizer bars, but our Lunar has a built in one and that works fine.
Only ever got into trouble once while towing our then ABI caravan, we had a Volvo 850 TDI and were overtaking a lorry going down the cutting on the M40 by junction 6, the van was not loaded correctly and we got into a hell of a snake, a person behind, said one wheel was actually off the the ground when the van was at full swing :eek:
Being an auto, I floored the car and it steadied up enough to stop on the hard shoulder, both kids crying in the back and we were shaking, but bloody lucky.
I never overtake going down hills now.

[Lazy-Ferret]

We used to use the snake bar stabilizer bars, but our Lunar has a built in one and that works fine.
Only ever got into trouble once while towing our then ABI caravan, we had a Volvo 850 TDI and were overtaking a lorry going down the cutting on the M40 by junction 6, the van was not loaded correctly and we got into a hell of a snake, a person behind, said one wheel was actually off the the ground when the van was at full swing :eek:
Being an auto, I floored the car and it steadied up enough to stop on the hard shoulder, both kids crying in the back and we were shaking, but bloody lucky.
I never overtake going down hills now.

It's amazing, you gain a whole new outlook to towing once you have had a "Real" snake. I thought I had had the odd snake in the past when a lorry passed, or some such, but once I had the one like yours, I knew what a real snake was.

[firebobby]

I find large Sprinter type vans flying past can make the van fidget, the worst things I find are car transporter lorries, as these leave a very unbroken slip stream and you can feel the van moving until I get out to overtake.

[Banshee]

I find are car transporter lorries, as these leave a very unbroken slip stream and you can feel the van moving until I get out to overtake.

They are horrid!!!!!! They make my motor snake on it's own without a trailer, it's one of those that made my empty Williams car trailer snake recently :eek:

[micktheshed]

Unless things have changed recently (well the past 10 years then LOL).
50mph on 'normal roads & duel carriageways with no central barrier
60 mph on M/W & D/C with central barrier.

Since I got 'done' for speeding (36 in a 30 limit) when i first had my auto Terrano (I blame the auto as I'd lost the road speed/engine noise to judge by, & the uselessly inaccurate speedo ) I tend to be watching the satnav for a true speed. Not that I consider this any safer!

I've noticed that the 3l auto gives better consumption at around 55, & stays in lock-up longer, so that's the speed I tow at (when permisible, or if I can get away with it LOL).

[Blocky10]

I've noticed that the 3l auto gives better consumption at around 55, & stays in lock-up longer, so that's the speed I tow at (when permisible, or if I can get away with it LOL).

I've found that in mine too. An indicated 60mph (actual 55mph ?) suits our van. As long as I can match hgv's speed or just better them I'm happy.
The biggest problem is the overhang on our van. The wind off the big vans screaming past or the hgv cabs, push the back of the caravan across and you feel it pull the rear of the truck one way then the other. Was awful to begin with but used to it now.
The last caravan was a lightweight 14ft! Didn't even know it was there.. 7127

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

had starts of snakes with various caravans all smaller than current one.

do our believe the twin axle holds road better than others.

only real bad snake had was towing an exhibition trailer, had a ring coupling,
we had a twin wheel transit with jaw/ball. transit was empty. trailer had to be
encouraged down on nose to engage coupling.

open road out of harrogate, cross wind and transit was lifted off its wheels so
rig ended up at 90 degrees, only damage was one rear light cluster on transit
oh and my pride of course. then carried on 40 or so miles on more sheltered
back roads back to Darlington.

Once trailer was fitted out our Glasgow office picked it up with a crew cab hilux,
wished em luck, one trip to Scotland was glad didnt have to do.