|
Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
|
The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
05-05-2007, 07:21 AM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,150
|
Well yesterday arvo was a fun trip back from Brisbane to Hervey Bay,A Mate and I borrowed a nice tandem trailer that we have used before with no troubles as its well maintained and well ballanced,picked up My XY ute which has no motor or front panels,for a split second i thought we should put it on trailer backward so more weight is at front,stupid stupid me, when will i learn your first thought is always the right one,well you guessed it,we had one hell of a wild ride scareing the crapper out of us and the other cars that were near,it TOSSED my mates 4x4 F100 from one side to the other across two lanes,now we had at least 350kg's in back of the effy,with my tools,spare,and one clevo engine block,made no diff maybe even added to the huge sway-up we got into.after pulling the car more forward (as far as we could)we set off again got 10kms down road saying its much better now,when it did it again only worse,i really thought we were going into the scrub on the roof,as it pulled the F100 hard to the left at the same time we were going side to side, we crawled home the last 250km's at 70 to 80 kmh ,
so to anyone caught behind big tandem and bright orange F100 last night im sorry. cheers Nick p.s. if your tow car does not sit a bit lower in back when trailer is loaded then you have got it wrong.
__________________
Hervey Bay QLD Great trades recently- GILMORE BOSSYONBIKE Last edited by OLDFORDNUT; 05-05-2007 at 07:28 AM. |
||
05-05-2007, 08:20 AM | #2 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central West, NSW
Posts: 396
|
Poorly designed car trailers are very susceptible to this problem. I remember having my XD backwards on a service station rental years ago and having a maximum of 50/60 km/hr before it started rocking.
My brother’s car trailer tows perfectly with cars on backwards or forwards with or without a motor. Generally the trailers from big hire places are better made/designed. You do need some weight on the rear of the car though; if there is no weight it will be a bad ride. |
||
05-05-2007, 09:05 AM | #3 | |||
MIGHTY MAGPIES 2010
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: yarram se vic in the shed listening to pinkfloyd and rubbing panels
Posts: 3,081
|
Quote:
|
|||
05-05-2007, 11:25 AM | #4 | ||
Fiat POWAAH!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 2,309
|
crawling back at 70-80?? how fast were you going when it started to sway?...personally i'd be picking a speed not much faster than 80
|
||
05-05-2007, 11:27 AM | #5 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: yandina sunny coast
Posts: 211
|
yep ... it sure is .. and the more u corect it the worse it gets ..
__________________
Daily Driver ... Deja Vu F6 Typhoon build 555 Tow Car 2006 TX Territory Race Car ... 82 Group C Turbo Bluebird For Sale QLD Number Plates 06-XRF $550 PM me |
||
05-05-2007, 11:36 AM | #6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,150
|
yeah barrell of laughs,doing about 100 when it decided to play up.
__________________
Hervey Bay QLD Great trades recently- GILMORE BOSSYONBIKE |
||
05-05-2007, 11:55 AM | #7 | ||
windsor user
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Geelong
Posts: 13,123
|
loaded right you can tow at 100 no problems...
the old no engine trick........bugger... the moment she started to pendulum, i woulda pulled the car off and put it on the right way........but then hindsight is a wonderful thing |
||
05-05-2007, 12:47 PM | #8 | |||
Dirty ute club member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Playing silly buggers in the gravel
Posts: 580
|
Quote:
Who cares if people get ****ed off cos your going slower. Better to go a bit slower then to cause an accident. And Ive seen some real dodgy stuff with trailers that could have been real dangerous. But as long as the XY is ok then its all sweet and something to laugh about while having a few drinks.
__________________
2000 AU2 XLS Daily 1992 Toyota Celsior: 4ltr quad cam goodness UZN106 Hilux: Absolute mongrel bitsa also with 4ltr quad cam goodness...Forced induction in the planning |
|||
05-05-2007, 05:18 PM | #9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 7,291
|
Had the same prob once in my brothers car. he had an old LTD (the one with pop up headlights) and we picked up an old panelvan he wanted to do up.
We were in a country town about 200kays from Perth and the trailer swayed dangerously. Too dangerously actually and we'd only got about 20 kay so we dumped it in the bush, we got it for free so what the hell. That was a hell of a wild ride, no way we were going to make it back without killing some poor bugger coming the other way.
__________________
jaydee351 4DV8 |
||
05-05-2007, 07:24 PM | #10 | |||
Fiat POWAAH!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 2,309
|
Quote:
|
|||
05-05-2007, 07:50 PM | #11 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ipswich, Qld
Posts: 132
|
Had that happen to me many years ago. One XR Fairmont on a tandem trailer being towed by an XA ute - trailer started whipping at around 80k's, then quickly spun us around in a 180 across the Hume Hwy, just missing an 18 wheeler. Whew!! Turned out that the RH front spindle on the trailer was bent (old damage so I found out later), causing the violent reaction. Lucky we didn't flip the whole rig. Gotta love those rental trailers....
__________________
GT 0909 - 2004 BA MkI GT - Citric Acid with Stripes, Sunroof, Reversing Sensors, Premium Sound, Sat Nav, FPV Steering Wheel & Mats. |
||
05-05-2007, 08:59 PM | #12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: QLD
Posts: 4,446
|
HHHhhhmmmm...
__________________
FORD RULES OK The more I know ppl the more I love my DOGS. 2011 SY Territory Limited Edition TS 2000 AUII SE ute IL6 |
||
05-05-2007, 09:11 PM | #13 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 7,291
|
Quote:
__________________
jaydee351 4DV8 |
|||
05-05-2007, 09:20 PM | #14 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In A House
Posts: 2,467
|
want a prefect disaster story read up about the guy on streetcommodores and his experience with car trailor
300k medical bills sold his house refinanced etc had to rebuild his XPIGGY mobile etc all from towing a car trailor his VN bunout car with a EF falcon should quadruplite check the vehicle and you towing device and trailor before going on long trips as they are the mosat dangerous ones. glad you made it home ;) |
||
05-05-2007, 10:27 PM | #15 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 30
|
I found that by rocking the steering wheel (in opposite direction to sway) while backing off helped to counteract the swaying
|
||
05-05-2007, 10:50 PM | #16 | |||
What's green is gold
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Shepparton
Posts: 3,079
|
Quote:
__________________
EF XR8 - Koni's - Cam and Headwork -3.9s - Ex VIC TMU - 1982 Nissan Patrol - 460 ci Big Block soon - Semi Gloss Black - Dark Tint - 4x 6" Infinity Kappa Perfect Splits - 5" Kappa 2 ways - Kappa 6x9's - 2x12" Kappa perfect subs - 2x4 Channel and 2x Mono Kappa amps- |
|||
06-05-2007, 02:18 AM | #17 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sitting on the Dunny , Contemplating "What to do Next".
Posts: 505
|
Had the same happen to me once with the FC (racecar) on the Highway at St.Mary's (NSW) coming back from Silverdale Hillclimb doing less than 80 k's , I had the spare wheels , jack and tools in the boot and back seat of the FC . Then I remembered what dear old Dad told me " Don't touch the footbrake , it makes it sway more .... just pull the hand brake on slowly " . Over-ride brakes on the trailer helps it pull up straight . Worked a treat , loaded the excess in the back of the XD wagon (where they should have been in the first place) and cruised home .
When we did stop there was a timely reminder right along side us , St.Mary's Cemetary .. :
__________________
XB Futura 302 , Wife ED Fairmont ,1994 Polynesian Green. Daughter No 1 KJ Laser , Daughter No 2 KH Laser Keeping FORDS in the family (Embarressment :yeees: , Son now has a "Camira" : ) "Look Right , Look Left , Look Right , BEFORE crossing Roads"
|
||
06-05-2007, 07:48 AM | #18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,150
|
i can tell you accelerating did not pull it out of death throws like all motoring experts tell us,so maybe the handbrake trick might of worked,i hope i dont find out ,as i never want to test the theory out,lol
__________________
Hervey Bay QLD Great trades recently- GILMORE BOSSYONBIKE |
||
06-05-2007, 09:28 AM | #19 | ||
V8 wannaabeee
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southbank, melb
Posts: 2,575
|
i had same problem towing an NC fairlane with an EF (and hired tandem) .. could only go no more than 80kmh .. NC was facing forward
also what normxb said don't touch the foot brakes he he.. well it helped for me anyway |
||
06-05-2007, 09:57 PM | #20 | ||
Never late with a V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Carrum Downs, Vic
Posts: 2,903
|
i personally am extremely fussy when it comes to putting cars on trailers... it doesnt matter about engine being or not in car ALWAYS put a Front engine car on a trailer FACE FIRST and have the car set centre on trailer, Take a step back and have a look at the angle of the rear of the tow car you always want the front of the car being towed slightly forward on the trailerbut only SLIGHTLY theres nothing worse than those people out there who run the car right up the front of the trailer so the **** of the tow car is draging along the road or vice verser. The rear end of the Tow car should sit between 1 and 2 inches LOWER with the loaded trailer attached. Ive towed tandems with cars half way accross the state behind cars with superlow suspension etc and never had a problem stickin to these simple rules
Cheers Dan
__________________
My Rides (Daily)2004 Explorer V8 Limited (Project/Cruiser)XE Fairmont Ghia- 351 Cleveland, Toploader (Work) 2014 Kenworth K200 Aerodyne (Classic) 1969 Mini K, 1340, twin SU's The beginning is near!!! Body by Ford. Soul by NudgE
|
||
06-05-2007, 11:24 PM | #21 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,150
|
Quote:
__________________
Hervey Bay QLD Great trades recently- GILMORE BOSSYONBIKE |
|||
06-05-2007, 11:46 PM | #22 | ||
What's green is gold
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Shepparton
Posts: 3,079
|
I dont know if this is the right way of doing it, but it works for us...
__________________
EF XR8 - Koni's - Cam and Headwork -3.9s - Ex VIC TMU - 1982 Nissan Patrol - 460 ci Big Block soon - Semi Gloss Black - Dark Tint - 4x 6" Infinity Kappa Perfect Splits - 5" Kappa 2 ways - Kappa 6x9's - 2x12" Kappa perfect subs - 2x4 Channel and 2x Mono Kappa amps- |
||
07-05-2007, 07:50 AM | #23 | ||
Never late with a V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Carrum Downs, Vic
Posts: 2,903
|
__________________
My Rides (Daily)2004 Explorer V8 Limited (Project/Cruiser)XE Fairmont Ghia- 351 Cleveland, Toploader (Work) 2014 Kenworth K200 Aerodyne (Classic) 1969 Mini K, 1340, twin SU's The beginning is near!!! Body by Ford. Soul by NudgE
|
||
07-05-2007, 08:01 AM | #24 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 514
|
we towed an XW ute from ballarat to melbourne on a hire tandem. we (dad and i) were worried because the last time we had a tandem we were fishying across the westgate. But we had no problems. sat on 90k's the whole way. car was driven on forwards.
I think the lower the car sits on the trailer the better. lower COG |
||
19-11-2010, 11:21 AM | #25 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,150
|
seems its all being discussed again,do a search fella's there is threads with good advice all over Ford Forums
__________________
Hervey Bay QLD Great trades recently- GILMORE BOSSYONBIKE |
||
19-11-2010, 06:00 PM | #26 | ||
Greys tuf too :-)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Perth, SOR
Posts: 596
|
This doesnt just apply to cars guys, when towing anything single axle, tandem axle trailer, furniture trailer, caravan etc, always should have a decent amount of weight on the drawbar. if the bum of the tow car isnt down you havent done it right (unless its like the above cruiser with heavy duty springs). I go with as much weight on the back of the cars as i can but without affecting the steering (lifting the front too much). That fairlane looks spot on.
Sway normally only happens going down hill where the weight of the trailer starts to push the car. Couple of good tips are to try and keep the trailer in the wheel ruts, this helps keep it in line. I agree with not using the breaks just try to decelerate with the engine and slowly. Another thing is if your at the bottom of a hill, by the time you get hlaf way up the other side it should stop the swaying, as the car starts to pull the trailer again it will come good. Then you can pull over and reload it properly. |
||
19-11-2010, 06:32 PM | #27 | ||
.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 6,197
|
A sway should have happened to anyone who tows a car trailer... if you haven't driven through it you can't appreciate that moment of terror when you think "oh F&^k".
It's only happened to me once or twice... my wife was driving once. Towing a tandem with a Pursuit on it with a 5.0ltr EF Fairmont. She had the power on hand to pull it straight (which did work very well for us I might add) and she had to sort it out several times on our 30km trip. When we got home she had aching shoulders and arms from being tense the whole 30 min trip lol. Anywho, pull your towed car up enough to sink the backside of the tow vehicle an inch or two and see how she travels - if it isn't right, either travel at a safe speed or stop and sort it out. Ahhh the terror Last edited by GTP006; 19-11-2010 at 06:38 PM. |
||
19-11-2010, 06:35 PM | #28 | ||
BURN RUBBER NOT OIL
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Rylstone, NSW
Posts: 2,461
|
I borrow a trailer from just up the road and its awesome to tow with.. I make sure to load the car so it makes the trailer sit reasonably level. I can usually sit on 100 no probs.. Even got up to 120 overtaking one car before I noticed the speed and slowed down. Not encouraging speeding but when the trailer is empty I can overtake cars no problems and very rarely be overtaken lol.
Have only ever had the wobbles bad once going down a massive hill and the brakes heated up like a mofo. The brakes were almost non effective and i slowly coasted it to a stop. Scariest thing ever. Safe to safe the car now has some heavy duty slotted rotors and decent pads lol.
__________________
[TUFF4L] EF Fairmont Ghia build thread - http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11381891&highlight=tuff4l [SMOKES] FG XR6 build thread - http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?p=4795218#post4795218 |
||