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Caravans crashes Australia
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ธ.ค. 2021
- Caravan crashes and how they happen.
Dash Cam Owners Australia
Caravanner merges into truck - Tiaro QLD
Jeep towing caravan loses control and destroys caravan - Bruce Hwy Qld
4MK Mackay
Caravan rollover
Sean Gosling
Wobble Box cant let the 44 ton truck overtake
I've worked as a safety manager on a very large mine site where there are humongous CAT 789 haul trucks in operation.
Of the many traffic incidents that I've had to investigate, there are a few common triggers:
1. Speed
2. Failure to establish POZ COMMS (Positive Communications) with the haul truck or other vehicle
3. Fatigue/lack of attention/distractions
4. Low or poor visibility
5. Not understanding your vehicle and the other vehicles limitations (speed, manoeuvrability, blindspots etc)
6. Assuming the other driver(s) know you are there AND know your intentions.
7. Equipment failures.
When giving a safety brief, I say to the operators, "Do you want to think you are right?, OR do you want to live?
I'd rather be extra careful, radio through twice to get the truckies attention and be thought of as a defensive driver and arrive a bit later in a calm manner than watch my insurance premiums go up as I'm sitting on the side of the road, explaining myself to a copper.
A lot of these sorts of videos can be traced back to the ego, impatience, arrogance, anger and apathy of the driver that caused the accident. Rarely is it equipment failure....
Slow down, think, stay calm and arrive alive....at least for your family's sake.
Every one should think and say "Do you want to think you are right?, OR do you want to live?"
I like that. I going to try put it in one my videos.
Slow down, think, stay calm and arrive alive....at least for your family's sake.
I put both in.
@@tezthetruckie All good - it sounds like a plan. I definitely DON'T have any intellectual property rights over the saying and it was told to me by my safety instructor decades ago, so I'm obviously not the first to say it...
Unfortunately the human condition means that accidents will occur next week, next year and next decade..
Cheers AB as an ex mine worker you’re so spot on!
I could swear i've read the exact same comment somewhere else
@@ThePr0Br0 Yes, you would be correct. The principles behind the comment aren't exclusive to one particular worksite and are adopted across a range of mines, construction sites etc.
As long as workers are safe...that's all I care about.
Have a great day.
Even in a caravan, the mentality ‘don’t let trucks overtake you’ still prevails
When i lived in Queensland i experienced many times someone travelling at 80 k's on the no-overtaking sections, as soon as there was an overtaking lane, the same person would speed up to 120 in some cases. Terribly arrogant egos! Same in NSW but to a much lesser extent.
@@adamseabrook6455 they’re on a petty power trip
all the time.
"That's the end of the holiday!" Wonderful narration Terry. 🥇
Thank you kindly!
I enjoyed that comment too, but it's the stone cold, "Well done mate, well done" that is the icing on the cake.
I pull a 19' / 2.200Kg caravan behind my Ranger ute. It can pull over 100 kph , but the handling starts to deteriorate when unsettled ( wind, truck turbulence, huge holes in Victorian rural roads etc.) My preferred speed is 90-95 kph where the van feels more planted and fuel economy is reasonable 14-17 L/ 100 Km.
During my recent trip to Darwin I was surprised by the number of caravan owners who passed me like I was standing still. I usually caught them up at the next fuel stop! I have a rear camera fitted to the van, but the fish eye lens allows me to see what is immediately behind ( say 50 m) especially if they have the headlights on. The extendable rear view mirrors ( replacement for OEM mirrors) are a worthwhile investment for van owners. The alternate strap on style are a PIA in my view. I have been told that manually activating the electric brakes on the van stops the van trying to overtake the tow vehicle. I hope I never have to find out if this works. I feel sorry for the occasions when a truck is stuck behind my car/van. I try to maintain my speed and pull off the road, onto a sealed road turn off and then back off the throttle once I can see the truck is overtaking. It makes the whole process safer for all.
I am very respectful of trucks.
I have been towing caravans around this country for nearly twenty years and it never ceases to amaze me how some caravaners think they are Peter Brock (RIP) with a 3.5 tonne weight swinging off a tiny spindle attached to their 2.5 tonne vehicle. 🤬
Should all have HC Licences and learn how to safely distribute the weight properly. They are driving state of the art late model 4x4s and towing state of the art Caravans and crawl along at 80/85 kph, many driving underpowered 4x4s towing overloaded caravans and inexperienced at towing. They travel in convys of up to 4/5 at a time and by law should be spaced at a minimum of 60mtrs, no way, all doing the normal 80/85 kph 5/10 mtrs apart. Sit on your 90/95 and have the decency to let heavy vehicles pass safely. Then and only Then, you will start to get a bit of respect from the Transport Industry.
Robert, I agree 100% with your first sentence. About 40 years ago I hauled a 12 foot, full height, caravan Melbourne to Cairns and back in two week with a 2 litre Tarago. with level rides. I would spend up to the first 30 km getting the balance in the van and the tension on the level rides right, then I was able to drive up to 100 kph on the open road. Nothing of any weight in the top cupboards, and most of the heavier stuff distributed along the floor. With the minimal back overhang on the Tarago, it left my later 3 litre Skyline for dead as a tow vehicle.
mtrs?
Spot on Rob! Over here in WA most of the "wobbly convoys" seem to have VIC plates!? :D
80/85 kph? To be honest, that sounds really illegal to drive that fast while towing a huge and heavy load for a pickup truck.
Good grief, it's comforting to know that it's not just here in the UK there are shed draggers, they seem to be a new form of pandemic😂😂😂😂
Thanks Terry a good message. Small light weight vehicles towing big vans at highway speeds is a formula for a bad outcome. Towing a van should be a licence requirement.
Very good to see some ACTUAL knowledge about towing when the dreaded 'wobblies' occur! The number of posts I have seen on social media saying "power out of it" or "Accelerate when it starts to sway" show quite plainly how CLUELESS many people are that share our roads! #1: Back off #2: DO NOT brake #3: loose hands on the wheel. #4: Pull over when safe to do so to: Sort your load / speed / WDH. Have a great Christmas Terry. All the best from the West !
Thank you
Or use the electric brake controller as it was designed and apply the trailer brakes to stretch out and control the system (also slows you down). I think the driver from the UK is the only one that actually did that. If you watch closely the trailer straightens up and slows suddenly with out brake lights. Brake lights don't typically light up when the over ride is activated. Slowing would not have caused that caravan to stop swaying so rapidly.
@@scottsummers819 Good point! Redarc Tow pro systems and GSL ETBC's do light up the brake lights when the over ride function is used. Not sure about other brands.
I'll have to check my Redarc again, not something easy to do by yourself. I've had 4 different controllers over the years and I don't recall any of them lighting up. I vaguely remember the sparky telling me about it when he first installed my Prodigy system 15 years ago. The Controllers typically take a signal from the existing switch on the brake pedal, then do their thing and sends an appropriate amount of power to the magnets on the brakes. The over ride just sends out the power to the brakes. Apparently there is some trickery you can do with relays and such off the control wire for the brakes to make the lights work but it's not a standard thing on the installs, unless it has changed recently.
My latest controller is an Elecbrakes system which is about 3 years old now and is actually mounted on the van and runs via Bluetooth on your phone. It most certainly has no way to light up the brakes when over ride is on, there is no output wire from the unit other than the blue control wire to the brakes, although it does require 2 inputs, tail lights for main power (yes you have to drive with you lights on, a good thing) a signal from the stop circuit and optionally power from another source such as the vans on board battery. This option is especially handy if you pushing your van around by hand as you can operate the main brakes if it should get away from you (via your phone).
You forgot two things
---- apply the caravan only brakes and put your foot down on the accelerator
I have seen it from both sides one as a truck driver and two towing a van the worse event is towing a van on the road between Port Augusta and Port Pirie i pulled into a passing lane to let cars pass but right at the end of the passing lane a truck decided to go around me leaving me no where to go at the end of the passing lane. It ended well but a left most of my tyres on the pavement and had a wife with PTSD but we live other day. Stay safe out there cheers keep up the good work TERRY
That in the passing lane have happen to me in a road train. It still not fun
The last clip (UK) I call it the 'Tractor Beam' effect (sci fi fan) every time you try to pass someone -they automatically speed up to match you....
lol
Thats how it works .. follow some tosser for miles doing 80k .. come to an overtaking lane and start winding up to get around and all of a sudden the asshole goes out to about 110 ... then after the lanes go back to one .. back to 80 ....
Love it! 😂
Yep and then when you break free of the beam they vanish in the mirrors.. classic case of people not concentrating and instead just match the speed of vehicles around them.. even more so when it’s a larger vehicle/truck.
From both a truck driver and caravan tower. Its pretty simple really. If a car or truck catches up behind you they are obviously travelling faster than you, just let them pass and especially let them pass in an overtaking lane FFS.
The guy in the first clip clearly would not have a bar of getting passed by a truck he was coming over before the vacuum effect would have taken place. I've heard the truck drivers commentary on that one. Drivers have a phobia about being stuck behind a truck or caravan, they pull out in front of you or cut you off just so their not behind, and most of the time hold you up anyway. There's a lot of shit people out there
I like being behind trucks , most are predictable professional drivers, they keep a constant speed when they can and they don't slow down or speed up depending on whether there's an overtaking lane. I don't get people's weird fears of it to be honest. Caravans are a totally different kettle of fish. I avoid them like the plague.
Know what you mean.have driven mobile cranes and they only do 80km at max speed.came around a corner at ravensthorpe WA in160 ton crane almost running over a light Ute with camper. They wouldn't have been doin more than 40_50
Some of these people driving these caravans have no business driving them.
The bloke in the Pajero just had to back off and he may have saved it. Typical result of no fucking idea of what to do. I tow an 1800kg caravan with a Land Cruiser and with trucks I keep in mind that he is at work, I’m not. He needs to be somewhere, I don’t. He has a deadline, I don’t, so as far as I’m concerned I just want to get out of his way. My Cruiser has radar speed control so I’ll tend to find a truck moving along at a speed that suits me and just sit at a comfortable distance behind him. The truck is keeping an eye on what’s ahead and my car is stopping me going up his clacka. It can make for a relaxing break. Also, it’s not just some caravaners that go slow on the winding bits and put their foot down on the overtaking lane. I travel caravan free to Melbourne from Canberra a bit and turn off at Benalla and nearly every time there is some arsehole in a car doing just that. Cheers Stuart.
Thank. You make some good points.
The 'holiday over crash ' experienced turbulance from the vehicle being overtaken , similar to Stirling Mouse when was going for his second truckie and must have hit the turbulance from the front of that truck so he backed off . Thanks , you make people look and wonder with these realities , professional drivers see hour after hour.
Thank you
Good video thanks, as an ex truckie who now tows a 20 ft caravan the answer is simple. Give the trucks room to get past you and do not try and keep up with them. Most trucks are running 500 to 700 hp and suvs run about 100. You can’t compete with them and you will lose if you try.
From one ex truckie to another, I wonder why it is so hard to understand that.
Well said!
Nice to watch an informative post without abuse and the "C" word for every second word
Well done champion 🍺👍
Thank you Steven
Always enjoy seeing caravans taking a tumble. Amazed at how they turn into matchwood.
hi Terry, thanks for the video. in a way your educating many people about these issues, good on you mate.
The Old Wobble Box dance of death.
I'm going to sound like a grumpy truckie but I have to write this.
I like (well not really) the overtaking lane trick that caravaners play with us. Firstly, here's the thing, practically no one in this idiot country knows the rules. They're so simple (see links bottom of my rant, sorry post).
1) If there's an overtaking lane that ends and it has a white segmented line across the end of the left lane where 2 lanes become 1, then LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT.
2) If overtaking lane ends and 2 lanes become one and there's no dashed lines on the road indicating which lane ends, then whoever is in front has the right of way. There's one of these in western Vic on the east side of Horsham eastbound.
I don't make the law but caravaners do. Caravaners either just illegally move over on you when there's a truck halfway up along side them, or drive down the bloody road with one side of their vehicle and van in the dirt and the other side on the road honking, flashing their lights and abusing me on the radio FFS!
Essentially they're blaming me for their behaviour. Again I don't make the law, the law is for all road users to follow including me.
Same thing happens with just about all motorists at freeway on ramp merges. If the left lane ends then LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT.
Overtaking lanes ends, and freeway merges; what happens? LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT.
At freeway on ramps I'll courteously move into the right lane if I can but if I can't then the law says LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT so you have to go behind me and not drive into the safe zone in front of me then slam your brakes on like a petulant teenagers because you think I'm blocking you out - I'm not; I'm following the rules.
I'm under no obligation to slow down and hold up traffic behind me to let you in because the law says LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT.
I don't make the law, I just follow it. You need to go behind. I choose to not be courteous when that courtesy requires me to slow a 62.5+ tonne B-Double just to be courteous to you. You go behind as the law requires. If I'm in my car (yes we truckies occasionally drive cars too) I'll slow slightly to let you in if I can because I can see in my rear view mirror what's behind me but it is ridiculous for a motorist to expect a truck to brake to let you in, a) the law is clear about merging b) I can't see what is behind me in my blind spot 25m behind me. I'm not doing it!
If the left lane ends indicated by those dashed white lines though, LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT.
It's very obvious because the right lane has no lines across it and the left lane does, showing to drivers (except caraveners who decide the law themselves) LEFT GIVES WAY TO RIGHT.
National law but QLD site:
www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/road/lanes
This one from Vic same deal:
th-cam.com/video/hNlP8saxnD8/w-d-xo.html
Two points: Towing a trailer? Learn to load it correctly. Towing a trailer? Make sure you know where the brake pedal is.
Man, im not a truck driver, just a regular driver, and this 1 rule pisses me off to no end, well not the rule, the idiots who do not know it, and the wankerism that comes from people who speed up to cut you off.
So often I am tempted to just keep driving and let this monkey minded idiots crash, but I need my vehicle. And the abuse these idiots hurl, like they know the rules, every dam time.
Although I will say having to different endings to these lanes is a pain in the butt.
Stay safe.
and then there are the cowboy truckies as well. Usually carting gravel, Mud Carters we call them. Plenty of idiots in all camps; unfortunately. Don't get me started on 457 visa drivers.
@@rossatkinson3160 Yeah I had a pig in an A-Double the other day doing 90km/h in the left lane that was ending. I'm doing 99 and coming up on him and he doesn't have his indicators on so I'm thinking that he's staying left to the very end of the lane to let me by because he's doing 90. NO! Wrong.
I pass and he didn't see me or expected me to stay behind if he did see me. He abuses me on the radio for lacking courtesy, calls me out as a cowboy and a typical arrogant steerer. I quietly tell him, "left gives way to right there mate - it's all on film anyhow." He starts screaming on the radio, I let him go on and then he finishes by telling me to go back to sleep.
Then there's this sheila in the semi horse float - almost the identical situation as the A-Double. Again no indicators just driving along then she looks as she indicates and there's a B-Double next to her. She gets up me and I just say the same as I always say, left gives way to right there. Then I said BTW are your mirrors painted on? She goes on about carry horses and shit (like wtf??) and I ask her, "Are you sure you should be driving big trucks considering the type of cargo you're carrying?" I can forgive her because she probably doesn't do it everyday like we do, particularly since the truck was spotlessly clean. Sometimes you have to cut people some slack. I think she got the fright she needed and probably won't make the same mistake again. Should check your mirrors 3x a minute. It's not hard it's your job.
The lack of professionalism out there is worrying but I will say there is nothing worse than one truckie effing over another truckie. Mostly other truckies are OK but there is definitely a heirarchy where everyone thinks they're on top and the rules don't apply to them. Interstate overnight B-Double drivers like to think they're it. A-Double drivers of any sort like to think they're it, caravanners think it's them, P platers them, motorcyclists think it's them, speeding cops doing 130 with no lights or sirens them, 70 yo women them, SA drivers in Vic them and all WA drivers them LOL.
I love that the trailer is heavier than the tow vehicle. Doing Mr Cododan proud!!!!
I note the speed limit for towing a caravan in Australia is 100 km/h. Over the ditch here in NZ it's 90 km/h (same limit as trucks). I can't see any reason a car towing a caravan needs to be doing 100 km/h. Perhaps if they slowed down a bit they'd be less inclined to get the tank slap. Everybody is in such a damn rush to get somewhere.
Yeah, it's 100kph for caravans because lots of highways have 110kph speed limits and they dont want caravan towing vehicles holding up traffic and causing accidents that way, WA and NT have 110kph open road speed limits and NT even has the main highway from WA into NT at 130kph speed limit , I know , I drove over the border and got the shock of my life when I saw the sign, thought it was a joke and took a while to not feel guilty doing that speed.....
Most caravaners foolishly believe that by speeding up when a truck overtakes them, they will stop getting the old death wobble up caused by the wind being pushed by the truck. This is a dangerous practice and the safest thing to do is to let the foot off the accelerator a bit.
In the first video, the truck driver knew the caravan driver had to merge, so because we all know that truck drivers think they own the road couldn't slow down to let him in so decided to make a bad situation worse and cut him off.
Thats what I thought. Entirely the fault of the truck driver.
no it was an ego trip. the author advised that the car and van were doing 90 kph and sped up to 100 when they reached the overtaking lane.also note the the other vehicles following closely behind. this points to the car and van holding up a number of travellers. They were lucky that they didn't kill themselves the truck driver and the small sedan coming the other way.
Just another self entitled caravaner,can’t let the semi get in front .the brain dead idiot could have just sat a safe distance behind the semi saved fuel,enjoyed the drive and made it to his destination
Just a pity there isn’t fines for total stupidity
Your comment was idiotic a year ago & guess what.
It's still idiotic today & always will be !!! 🤯.
If you were to talk to people who have towed caravans most of their lives they probably would tell you to stay under the speed limit
We have them in the USA too! Can`t speak for all states, but my home state of NJ did not require a road test towing a trailer or for a motorhome. So the weekend Yahoos can just jump into their 40 ft motorhome and hit the road with no test other than the standard one with a car. Just lunacy!
3:47
That’s the way to do it, take your foot off the accelerator. Take it off your foot.
Told people before, will continue to do so. (Even though have got stick for it)
Will continue to do right.
The third accident with the Jeep and the totally demolished caravan is an interesting example of different towing hitches. He probably had a D035 hitch installed. This allowed the caravan to keep on rotating during the incident and not take the vehicle with it. If it had a conventional hitch they might not of survived this accident. The Jeep would of been totalled and I shudder to think what would of happened to the occupants. Sobering footage.
I saw caravan accident on the M1 Sydney to Newcastle few years ago land cruiser towing a caravan lost control in front of semi I drove through the carnage there was nothing left of that caravan it was smashed all over the freeway.
1:55 I reckon the guy drifted into the right hand lane and jerked it back when he woke up to it. So the jerking on the steering wheel started the death wobbles I reckon.
Exactly. Either snoozy or playing with a device.
The second caravan could have been saved by slamming the emergency brake for ONLY the caravan...pulling the rig straight...no braking or steering the tow vehicle...
Problem is, is where is the control located and having to overcome the desire to keep two hands on the wheel when things go bad. In my old vehicle, I had the old slide version in a good place and used it for different reasons and could access it quick without looking if needed, in my new vehicle the Redarc is in a bugger of a spot and isn’t progressive like the slide… I doubt I’d use it in an emergency.
useful video thanks, was trying to find something liked this for research purposes
The first one, from the original audio, he had been going slow and not letting him pass. Half way through an overtaking lane and he pulls over on the truck. He knew he was there for sure.
People are always in a rush for nothing...the wife and kids can wait,work can wait,the girlfriend/boyfriend can wait,the social gathering with friends can wait,the public holidays can wait,getting home can wait...geez whizz good vid mate
It never gets old see it all time
I keep saying people who tow caravans should have a license to tow them
Most people hate having a truck overtake them or be behind them. New drivers should learn to drive with either a trailer or a caravan attached. So when it comes time to do so they understand the implications of it. That first one did everything wrong.
Hi Terry, not sure why you would suggest 'backing off' at 1:24...
When towing a heavy load, you never 'back off' if the load starts to steer the tow vehicle (death wobbles).
When the caravan started swerving in this incident, it was in fact steering the car in front, the driver was trying to retake control from effectively being shunted.
Whenever towing a caravan or car trailer, if the trailer starts to wobble and in turn, starts controlling the tow car, the tow car needs to accelerate to pull it back in line.
When you accelerate, the trailer is then returning to a state of being pulled and leaves its state of pushing.
Once it is back under control and the tow vehicle/trailer is stable, then the driver can slow down.
Remember, death wobbles occur when the trailer takes control.
Slowing down only exacerbates the situation.
The most common onset for death wobbles is rapid acceleration followed by immediate deceleration. The car begins slowing, while the caravan is still accelerating.
As that forward motion cannot be transferred forward (due to the car) the slightest angle on the hitch is where the force will transfer to and will cause the left/right movement. Trying to counter-steer then adds to this and the death wobble begins.
So, for this situation, the car would have jumped in the overtaking lane and aggressively accelerated, then let go of the throttle suddenly once he reached a speed sufficient for getting past. This caused the death wobble.
To avoid it, he needed to put the power on to pull the trailer straight.
In summary...
NEVER EVER back off when a death wobble is starting!
"Power out, then stabilize and slow down".
To avoid death wobbles.
Ensure SMOOTH transitions from acceleration to deceleration.
Ensure smooth steering inputs.
Just like if you blow a steer tyre.
You do not slow down as this transfers weight onto the front axle and the vehicle will be more prone to lose control as a result of the imbalance in force from the blown tyre.
You instead add power until the vehicle is stable, then start slowing down.
Shifting weight and force rearward is often the best way to regain control of most LOC situations (excluding hoon-related driving).
I agree. My Navara experienced the death wobble towing a large trailer loaded with a toyota 4x4. I was lucky I could accelerate out of the wobble due to absence of traffic.
Please don't post up dangerous theories. Had you tried this yourself you would have shit yourself at best, crashed and probably taken out other motorists in your stupidity. Makes me cringe when I see "power out" theories about towing. Turns a controllable situation into a potential multiple fatality VERY quickly! (Perhaps Terry's ACTUAL experience on the road would be an indicator you think?)
@@mjhmech4903 Lol...
Maybe YOU should get yourself a clue...
Terry isn't the ONLY truck driver in Australia...
I own and operate trucks and have over 26,000 hours worth of driving experience on all types of roads within Australia.
"Power out" doesn't mean dump the throttle...
It means adding a little bit of acceleration to shift forces being put on the combination.
Remember, death wobbles are caused by the towed vehicle asserting force on the tow vehicle... So braking means the towed vehicle has more force (pushing) on the tow vehicle.
I get that someone with an IQ as low as room temperature would misread my comment (hint hint), but nonetheless, instantly transferring all weight forward by panic braking or slowing down when the trailer/caravan/fucken dumb cunt in the boot is pushing the tow vehicle, is just stupidity.
Cheers very informative narration
Thank you
Hilux's are not good towing utes. They are under powered and do not handle rear tongue weight very well.
Interesting you say back off under wobbles yet we've always been told to actually increase speed temporarily to correct this. Cheers
Most tow vehicles don't have the horsepower to do that in 5 to 6 seconds.....all the time available..
maybe a Hellcat towing a light van...
but otherwise..
emergency heavy braking by the caravan ONLY will save the day...
dont speed up. Only if you are putting on the trailer brakes only.
Which is correct and so is gradually decreasing your speed is also correct, and how the weight is distributed in the caravan that can be the difference between rolling and not a roll over, also keep your speed down. There is plenty of content showing this online, don’t just take our advice until you do your own research.
One of the problems people have towing caravan's, boat's or trailers is they often get told by other's if they get the wobbles to accelerate! If they can brake the trailer. This is often a huge mistake! When usually all they have to do is back off the pedal to about 80kmh to regain control. People take advice from their mates like it's gospel.
Wrong. Dead wrong. The coupling needs to remain under tension and you *gently* accelerate to pull the trailer into line and reduce the frequency of the sway. Don't accelerate aggressively, and don't brake aggressively.
Gentle trailer braking is okay.
Only if you're already in an emergency situation - you're actually crashing - then, hit the brakes as hard as possible.
Watch and listen: th-cam.com/video/eQUt5FMPa64/w-d-xo.html
Was involved in a head on, basically the first incident showen caravan merged in to a truck for No reason I was coming the other way had almost no time to react I drove through the van and hit the truck at 100kph the only reason I think I walked away was the fact the van softend the impact acted as a shock absorber. Completely wrote of my 100 series land crusier. Something seriously need to change with the laws around towing vans, especially with the amount that are on the roads now days its almost just a matter of time these days till they crash instead of if they crash
I used to tow a 24ft van. Easily managed 100-110 but would hover between 95-100 mostly. If I needed to get moving I would to not block trucks in. If I could cruise and there was overtaking room I’d back off and get on the UHF and talk to nearby faster moving trucks I’d let them go. Courtesy flash once he’s clear and I’m cruising again. It’s ain’t rocket science. Oh and a tip for controlling sway, light trailer brake over light power = stretches the combo and then back off both. Cheers
That made my heart go pitter-patter!!
Caravan drivers need to remember they are towing a heavy weight. Just because their car can go fast doesn't mean it's a good idea to drive that fast. The cat and mouse game is also far too common in Oz. Please guys, slow down and enjoy the trip.
Should there be a Driving lessons for anyone wanting to tow a Caravan and pasts then it on your licence ? Something like that ? Cause some people should not be towing Caravans.
I have said this in one my live stream. "Yes" I said why in that stream
Do these people not know "anti-sway bars" exist? That's the second thing I bought after the trailer!
I think most grey Nomads have some sense when it comes to towing ,the biggest problem people get into is impatience for one ,another is loading of the Caravan, Just because you have 3.500 kg rating or even more you shouldn't go near this limitation ,as people buy and acquire things ,weight will add up, other thing I notice in these accidents is many times while overtaking trucks the Airflow disturbs the Caravan and things start to happen ,just slow down and be patient is the best policy.
The first one fell asleep at the wheel.
Good Onya Grey Nomads.
At 1.37 you are so right. Lift your foot off the gas and it will more than likely settle down straight away. It always amazes when you see cars spin out in the wet, and they STILL have their foot on the gas ! It's just a recipe for disaster.
Not really. Letting off the accelerator causes the engine compression to put pressure on the drive axles to slow the vehicle which will make this worse. The biggest way to fix this is not bumper pull a trailer with too small of a vehicle, not go too fast with a trailer that is a sail or proper weight distribution. Ive had a very minor issue with this and witnessed an extreme case. I fixed it by accelerating which causes the trailer to straighten up, the other guy fixed it with pure dumb luck after stomping the brakes and wiggling across a couple lanes into oncoming lanes luckily without traffic.
I should also add, both situations were with the same truck and trailer, i was pulling about 10k lbs and the other guy had about 2200 lbs loaded like crap
@@caesiumzombie I .really think that caravan only brakes have been invented
Caravan driver here, Just like to say what happens a lot is e.g. pulling a van say at 95kph on a single lane, truck comes up from behind doing 100kph, comes to an over taking lane, truck starts to pass, unfortunately most overtaking lanes are uphill, truck slows down as he is heavier, cant blame truckie as he wants to pass. I really suggest if this happens slow the van down and just let him pass.
people should have an extra driving test if they want to tow any thing, another one for the humongous caravans they sell today including road hazards, spacial awareness , maintenance of vehicle and trailer and also all aspects of highway code for the same.
Saw a Guy learn a big lesson last Summer heading south on the Forrest Hwy from Perth. 2 full lanes of traffic heading south, 110kmh speed limit, and he was in the right lane, dual cab full of Family, towing a shiny new caravan, and doing under the speed limit. Didnt have proper extended side mirrors and as he was creating a log jam all the frustrated drivers started streaming past on the left lane (not illegal in WA) and he knew he had screwed up.
When he finally got to the left lane I looked across as I passed and he looked absolutely shattered.
There were a bunch of caravans, possibly all together and half didn't have the proper mirrors.
Idiots, no other word for them.
Well, good for you writing this big story. You've NEVER made an error in your life I take it.
@@dunco1955 was that you? were you the driver?
@@noelwhittle7922 no.... and you didn't answer my question.
@@dunco1955 No, I didn't answer it. Rhetorical questions don't require answers.
Question for you. This youtube clip is all about drivers screwing up, so are you going to get all hostile towards the Guy who posted this video?
Chill.
@@noelwhittle7922 both drivers were at fault
I would expect a professional to act so as to minimise the chance of these amateurs hurting themselves and others. I've been driving for over 40 years and I too can recognise the bloody mindedness in some from a mile away and back off or whatever it takes to minimise pushing them into stupid mode if at all possible. As others have pointed out, its not just the amateurs and caravan drivers causing the accidents.
I like following trucks because they all communicate with each other. Most trucks sit a little over 100 on the highways which is fast enough anyway. It also helps to avoid speed traps.
It's also not just trucks that some dangerous old bugger doesn't like to be over taken by. Old mate is having a convo with the passenger and doesn't realise he's dropped below the speed of the other traffic. Then as soon as they notice , it's bam must speed up because someone's trying to overtake me. Twits.
If you can see his mirrors he can see you. The first guy didn't signal or look.
Good video Terry......
I watched another truckers channel where he constantly showed car, car/caravan drivers speed up in an overtaking zone then back off when back to a single lane.......frustrating for truckers wanting to get through.
That happens all the time
And would be frustrating to all drivers
We had a 27' 9000# trailer pull. We had two sway bars. We had airbags. Our Dodge Ram was the HD, the one with the extra leaf, and the one ton rear end. We had the $1000 set of shocks.
Still, towing was frightening.
I had a gooseneck installed, and it worked perfectly.
Problems start when the salesman tells the buyer it will tow safely. And people tow a trailer with a SUV. And then drive 70, and make sudden moves like they weren't towing.
One thing I see in every trailer crash video is they are going too fast.
You want a tow vehicle that will CONTROL tons of trailer?
BUY ONE, and not some flaccid SUV!
At 2:15 odd, that is on the Bruce Hwy south of Caloundra, wind shear through the forest through there. Guaranteed. It pushes even cars around at times. I am ever so aware by looking at the trees to see what the wind is doing through that stretch of road.
Thanks for this video
😎👍
In my experience towing badly balanced trailers, if you drop the throttle it's all over.. use trailer brakes or keep it straight and back off slowly.
Exactly right!
There should be a mandatory course on how to pack and tow a caravan.
Yep when I was deriving BDoubles on the mainland , hated meeting these amateurs towing caravans , most have no idea of what's behind them and they think the Big Rig is going to give over for them , "Wrong"!
Blame the license system. There should be a test for everyone to be able to tow anything.
Good to know what to do when towing a van, if it gets the wobbles, back off. Not that I ever see me towing a van, but informative just the same
Thank you
You don't EVER take your foot off the throttle. Most likely the trailer has electric brakes and he pressed the manual override to slow the caravan down. That's the only way you can safe a sway. Taking your foot off the throttle will increase the sway as the caravan is pushing the tow vehicle.
Appreciate the video. All I want to see on the road is consistency. Speed up slam brakes on, indicate when it doesn’t matter and don’t indicate when it does matter. Speed off like it’s such a hard world being at a traffic light for less than 2 minutes. Change lanes for no reason at all, people going slow in the middle lane of highways. This applies to everyone. Not just caravans.
A lot of caravan owners don't dump their water, it makes the caravan unstable 😳
A light rectangular box on wheels is not designed to do high speeds.
The first Truck driver could have avoided that crash if he chose to. He chose NOT to, and put peoples lives at risk.
Just an asshole.
Towing anything over 1 tonne or bigger than a 6x4 trailer should require a special license like a truck driver requires a license. Everyday I see people with over loaded trailers or caravans and they can barely drive in a straight line let alone reverse one.
Licence is just a bit of paper - how about a half-day course covering a minimum of 1. weights and towing limits, 2. relevant legal issues, 3. loading vehicle and trailer, 4. reversing with a trailer.
I'd also include common sense issues, but how you teach that I have no idea.
@@adrianhobbs7553 exactly right, same as when I went to get my heavy combo license. A day course driving with the trailer and doing special techniques and procedures etc and then the following day have a theory and practical test.
Government will be happy more money in the kicker and extra funds to hold said license plus more safety on the roads potentially
KEEP ON TRUCKINGGOOD 👍☠️☠️👍 Terry - - - - I'm a truckie (ozzy) in the UK, these idiots are everywhere 😵
In the first video, the arrogance of a so called professional truck driver could see the inexperienced caravan tower and had to make a bad situation worse.
My uncle sold me his caravan. He said: never ever stack all your gear at the rear of the van.You want all that weight at the front. You'll always be in control. So by having too much weight at the rear, is this the main reason a van succumbs to a violent snake?
All weight in the front isn't good too - ideal you load a trailer (it don't matter if it is a caravan or a flatbed trailer for transport) with the center of gravity of the load above the trailer wheels, and with the center of gravity as low as possible. The vertical load on your trailer hitch typically should be between 50 and 100 kg, depending on your car and the trailer weight. A negative load on the hitch is a no go and is dangerous. Don't overload the trailer.
Also you should have proper tire pressure. Trailers demand a reasonable speed, if you speed with them they still can start to skid.
I've experienced caravan wobble myself while towing with an old Disco 1. I think the reason its so hard to save is because as the van moves left, it actually pulls the rear of the car to the right making the front of the car go left, this makes the driver instinctively steer right. So far this is just about ok, but if the driver keeps the right lock on past the point when the car and van are in line, it flicks the van the other way which starts the whole thing again. This all happens fast enough that there's little time to think about whats actually happening.
You need a powerful vehicle to accelerate out of the wobble or touch the brakes when the caravan or trailer is inline with the car for a second
Backfired on the caravan driver,he got What he needed!!.
These no way that the first driver couldnt see the truck
Great analysis
Thank you Bryan
I have towed for more than 40 years and find that most van accidents are caused by either the van being too big for the car or going too fast for the rig or conditions.
It only takes a stray gust of wind from mother nature or the truck you are passing to turn it all to s**t.
Road conditions play a huge part, smooth flat roads are fine but undulations and steep downhills bring things unstuck very quickly.
All vans should be speed limited depending on their size and none permitted to travel at more than 90kph.
I know this will set things on fire but what would people rather have, getting to their destination a half hour later or risking themselves, their kids and other road users?
And please don't start the ban vans argument, the speed limit is the maximum, going slower is not illegal!
I agree
I love these vids
Thank you Luke
I did a lot of car transporting on a double axle trailer, back in the 70s and 80s. A lot of the wobbles are started by windage from other vehicles and they can overtaking or being overtaken by you. Of course there's also mother natures winds and they can be deflected by buildings, woods, cuttings etc.
There a notorious stretch of the M5 near Bristol, UK. Driving west caravanner's come up a rise and then start to descend through a cutting topped with trees. Once clear of the cutting a westerly wind that's hits the hill then comes sideways and contacts the vans, empty high sided artic also suffer and many get flipped over.
Another one is the bump on and off an overpass or other type bridge, it's where the earthworks meets the concrete abutment of the bride and it settles over time.
Then there's the main problem the van sits at the side of the house most of the year, gets loaded up with holiday gear, the balance is not checked. The towing vehicle has changed and the family charges off down the road. Maybe the van did get a wash but were the brakes, tyres, lights checked did the joints get a squirt of grease. Or was it left to chance, An accident looking for some where to happen.
Beg to differ here but, that truck was out there in the passing lane loitering and not passing with the flat deck actually pulling away from his soooo, the caravan driver was quite right in maintaining his speed. Big rig should not have been out there if he didn't have the power to pass efficiently. Caravan tower was not at fault here.
The Queensland Government is to introduce tough new laws that will mean that any Queensland driver wanting to buy a caravan will probably need to buy a new tow vehicle as well.
Under the proposed new codes, to come into effect in two weeks, the towing capacity of 4WD vehicles will not be able to be upgraded after purchase. The upgrades affected include improved suspension and shock absorbers which often provide a more stable, safer ride and quicker stopping, while increasing towing capacity.
The Courier-Mail reports that Queenslanders who need an increased carrying or towing capacity will instead soon be forced to buy large, powerful, expensive and fuel-inefficient imported utes and trucks.
The weight of accessories such as water tanks, extended fuel tanks, bull bars and winches force many vehicles over their legal weight limit, which also makes upgrades necessary.
The Courier-Mail says that vehicles operated in excess of their legal carrying capacity will be declared unsafe and are not covered by insurance.
The ban will mean that many caravaners will be lucky to fit two people and a full load of fuel into their vehicles before they are over the legal towing limit.
The vehicles most affected include the most popular 4WDs on the market, including the Toyota LandCruiser, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Patrol, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D Max.
The new laws will affect up to a million 4WD drivers and 200,000 grey nomads.
Australian Caravan Club treasurer Graeme Tree yesterday said the ban meant any Queensland driver wanting to buy a caravan would probably need to buy a new vehicle as well.
“If this was about safety, it would apply to all vehicles on the road,” Mr Tree told the Courier-Mail. “But these are modifications that are fitted to Queensland police, emergency services, fire and parks vehicles to increase safety in towing … they are already on thousands of private vehicles in Queensland and are perfectly legal in other states.”
Mr Tree said the proposed changes to Vehicle Codes LS11 and LS15 would decrease safety on Queensland roads and unwittingly put drivers of 4WDs in breach of their insurance.
“Modifications to most 4WD vehicles are essential for legal towing, so from September 4, most Queenslanders buying a caravan will also need to buy a new vehicle,” he said. “It is inconceivable that Queensland would stop people improving the safety of their towing vehicle when the modifications are allowed under federal laws and before registration in Queensland.”
Grey nomads Ray and Lynne Friis said their Bog Lap plans have been thrown into disarray by new State Government laws.
“It almost feels as if this government is targeting grey nomads,” said Mrs Friis. “It’s definitely about revenue raising.”
Mrs Friis said the new law was ‘silly’ and meant that if they wanted to buy a bigger caravan they couldn’t.
“We have worked hard all our lives to enjoy our retirement and travelling with the caravan is a big part of that,” she said. “Now we are hit with these extra charges to make sure we can tow, it makes no sense whatsoever.”
Will this affect you? Comment below
I did not know about this. I have to look in to for myself. Thank you.
Road authorities need to grow a set and introduce a towing endorcement for towing anything over a ton ..
That first guy was blocking the trucky.
He didnt want a truck in front of him on his journey.
It plain to see.
With over 3 million miles driving in the US I don't readily recall ever seeing a wrecked Fifth wheel camper all have been what they call bumper hitches.
Caravans Australia - we don't spell tyre as tire
Some car drivers with caravans got no idea what they are doing
I think Terry is bored being flooded in .....
Seen a caravan bore past me and one of Lindsay brothers going up aeroplane , big hill south or Tarcutta, flew past watch him go down the other side, qt 100 mile an hour, with the death speed wobbles up , I still don't know how he didn't roll the whole lot he was moving when he past me
there is lots of comments saying the truck driver was n the wrong on the first video
jeep video he did a quick jerk of the wheel just before it stared to sway
@2:08: on the phone, bit more to the right, .... overreacted> snaking. ... My guess. nice video, mate, relaxing thing, its your voice I guess
Fourth vid..as the overtaking tow vehicle and caravan drew alongside the cab of the truck ahead of the DC, that Bernoulli Effect from the truck cab "sucked" at the front half caravan enough for the tow vehicle driver to back off the accelerator and still retain control.........
If I am on holiday I am not towing a van at suicidal speeds. I don't get some of these holiday makers, they must not understand that one word.
Wow, just amazed at the male ego in Australia on the road. Lessons in courtesy is definitely needed.
Just another thing that we can blame on Covid. Can't travel overseas, and flying interstate has been a tricky exercise, so for the sake of a family holiday, lots of newbie caravaners out there that have never towed anything in their life before.
Problem with caravans is when one dies five are born.
After 12 years on the road with a caravan,don't blame the trucks its their living, caravaners problem to control is THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS.
Sucked in to the first caravan driver, he must be bored in the left lane
Well spoken, I have come across that many self inflicted accidents be caravanners there really should be a separate licence for them as some are just a bloody death wish waiting to happen.
Why is the trucks speed not showing. Trucks know full well the suction they create overtaking a van
@1:29 if he had backed off he may have saved his caravan and his car, but he didn’t. Like you said @1:54 he destroyed their holiday the caravan and his car, well done, well done. Maybe some lives as well considering where the roof line of his car ended up. Well done.