On the surface, the Australian RV industry is healthy. But underneath all is far from well. A great deal needs changing. There are lots to do. RV Books explains the RV industry changes needed.
Roll
Mechanical sway-control has little value at speed
The overhung hitch of a caravan tow vehicle can cause (not just permit) a caravan to sway. This sway annoys at low speed and is dangerous at high speed. Until recently attempts to limit such sway rely on friction to dampen and ideally prevent it. Unfortunately, mechanical sway-control has little value at speed.
RV Accident Data (Australia)
The number of accidents that involve cars towing caravans is no higher than cars generally, but the nature and physics involved in the now 400 or so a year that jack-knife (with many rolling over) are unique. No other on-road combination has this type of accident.
Tow Vehicle/Caravan Weight Ratio Explained
A caravan heavier than its tow vehicle is like a dog with an overweight tail, it may sway so much its tow vehicle cannot control it. Swerving strongly at speed to avoid a head-on collision induce this. So too may a strong side wind gust. That wind may be natural or from a close passing truck.
Overhung Caravan Hitches
Conventional caravans are towed via an overhung hitch attached to the rear of the tow vehicle. This is an inherently unstable combination. A side force on a caravan causes swaying. Caravan swaying is undesirable. Furthermore, at speed, it is dangerous The longer caravan hitches overhang the worse the effect. It is undesirable at low levels. It is dangerous at high levels. And even more so at high speeds. This RV Books article explains why.
Loading a Caravan Safely
Knowing how to locate mass correctly along the length of a caravan is vital. That applies both to its design and the owner’s loading. This article shows the safe approach to loading a caravan – and why and how it matter doing so is vitally important.
10 Tips for Safe Caravan Towing
Caravans and their tow vehicles have much the same accident rates as other forms of motor transport. Their main type of accident, jack-knifing and roll-over, however, are different. Here are ten tips for safe caravan towing.
Caravan Tow Ball Weight – how much
For safe towing, a caravan must be tow ball heavy. This article explains why and how to get caravan tow ball weight right.
Why Caravans Roll Over….and How to Prevent It
Why Caravans Roll Over...and how to prevent it explains in detail every aspect of tow vehicle and stability. Should be compulsory reading for everyone involved with : Design / Engineering, Marketing, Journalism (print & electronic),...