Why Is My Mkiii Snaking?

[dellybeanhead]

I have just been on my first caravan trip with my MKIII Galaxy

 

I experienced my first (and many) snakes.

 

It occurs if I go over 55mph and somebody overtakes me. Almost everytime. The rear of the unit get sucks out. then the front (as expected) but then it begins to snake.

 

If I am over 60mph then the snake possibility is much higher as is its effect.

 

I solve it by gently reducing speed and keeping the car in a straight line.

 

This is of real concern as my unit has not changed at all. My unit never ever snaked (not even a hint of it) with my old car (a Hyundai Terracan). The only thing that has changed is the car.

 

The load is good. both weight and distribution is good. I am perplexed and concerned.

 

Am I just an unlucky bugger who has found an incompatible unit/car/speed combination?

 

You may say, well stick to 55 mph, but that 5mph makes a lot of difference when you're on a long journey and when I am in Europe I tow a lot faster than 60mph.

 

I have another EU trip planned later this year and am now in 2 minds as to whether to change my car (again!!!!) before I leave. I really don't want to and hope that somebody can point out what is causing the problem.

 

thanks,

 

James

[tdi90]

Could be loads of different reasons

 

To high or low nose weight (max 85kg on the gal)

heavy gear loaded to far forward or back of the caravan axle

Heavy gear loaded to high inside the caravan

To much weight loaded one side of the caravan

Any water left in the toilet or water heater?

Tow ball height to low or high (van pitched forward or backwards)

Tyre pressures to low or high on the caravan

Tyre pressures to low or high on the car (dont forget to increase psi on the car rear tyres when towing)

Twisted caravan chassis (hope not!)

Knackered caravan axle ((hope not)

Wheel bearing faulty

Wheel nuts loose

Are all the fixings for the cars tow bar secure? (you may laugh but my cousin had 2 of the bolts work loose & drop out on hers!)

Is the van to heavy for the car ie car kerb weight against caravan weight (85% is recomended, but I've towed at 97% and not had a wobble) IIRC max tow weight on a Mk2 is 2000kg's.

Do you use a stabilizer? if so Leaf blade or alko/winterof? pads get knackered easily on the alko/winterof types and the tension goes on the other type.

If you do use an Alko type stabilzer, is the tow ball paint, rust and grease free?

[dellybeanhead]

Thanks for your reply.

 

Yes, Checked all of those things. Including the tow bar nut/bolt torque settings. Except the wheel bearings (will check those tomorrow) and the chassis being straight ( I think I can assume it is as it worked on my old car and hasn't moved since then).... unless somebody sneaked it out and crashed it and put it back.... thos epesky kids! I'll check that too!.

 

 

Yes I do use an Alko stabiliser and I did remove the paint from the new ball.

[tdi90]

Are the friction pads in the hitch within the where limits? Are they clean? are there any chunks out of them?

 

Before every trip away, I give the tow ball a scrub with a green scourer and a squirt of brake/ clutch cleaner. The Alko hitch gets a squirt with the cleaner as well. Every other trip, I rough up the pads on the hitch with a bit of sand paper then give them another squirt of cleaner.

[dellybeanhead]

The pads are still very new. Only used for 3 trips so far. So have loads of live left in them.

I wouldn't say that they are squeeky clean but they are as clean as I would expect.

 

I have just spoken to my dealer who has a similar problem with another customer where his car (and his car only) has snaking problems yet everthing is within correct parameters. he also said that this is not teh first time he's heard of a car/caravan combination that just do not co-exist well.

 

I am going to borrow a friends car just to prove this and I expect the problem to go away (as with my old car).

 

I am coming to the conclusion that I need to change my car. AGAIN!!! aghh... And I am terrified of buying another car that does not work with it.

 

If only all cars came with a tow ball and we could test tow them before buying.

[tdi90]

Have you checked the rear springs/shocks/bushes on the car?

 

Seems weird, as I've only ever heard good reports of Gal/Alham/Sharans as tow cars. Our van is light weight @ 1050kg all up, but I've known people to tow vans weighing upto 1800kg with a galaxy and had no probs with snaking etc

 

A mate of mine has an l or m reg tdi Disco and tows a Elddis superstorm twin axle weighing in at 1750kg and he cant get it to stop snaking. He's even paid

[dellybeanhead]

Rear springs/shocks seem OK. Not professionally checked though, just by me.

 

I have found a major problem though. When I bought my MKIII Galaxy I discussed it with Ford and the delear and opted for the 1.8 diesel. This is nearly as powerful as the 2.0 but is more economical.

I have since read of many people with thsi engine who get clutch burn when towing or hill starting. SMax and galaxy owners.

I have also found on teh v5 that depsite what I was told about it being OK for my car that, for some strange reason, the 1.8 has a max towing weight of 1400. My MTPLM is 1460 and we struggle to stay within that.

 

This is really weird as the maximum train weight of the car is very high.

It gets weirder still as all other variants of the MkIII the 2.0 and above all ahvea max tow weight of 1700.

And the 85% rule is still well within range.

 

However, the 1.8 and the 2.0 have very similar train weights. This suggests that with the 1.8 variant you shoudl load the car up to the gunnals to achive the max train weight whereas with the 2.0 you can distribute the weight more across car and trailer. Yet the only difference is the engine. Very weird.

 

So, I wonder why the 1.8 has this seemingly abitary figure of 1400 as a maximum when it has the same chassis and (almost) same kerb weight and train weight.

 

Either way, it is illegal to go over the manufacturers max tow weight so I am going to have to change the car.

 

I am not sure if I will change it for a 2.0 MkII or not as thsi still has the 80Kg noseweight limit.

 

If I go to 1500 in the caravan then using the 7% rule I should have a nose weight of 105Kg.

 

Does the MkII Galaxy have a higher nose weight capability????

 

Could anybody recommend any other car. I need 7 seats, good tow capability, high kerb weight and as good economy as possible.

Edited April 4, 2008 by dellybeanhead

[Smilge]

http://www.whattowcar.com/

 

Try the above link and see what a Mk 2 Galaxy 1.9Tdi 115PS comes up with against your van ... I think you'll be surprised.

[dellybeanhead]

Mmmm, yes, does look impressive. do you know the manufacturers nose weight limit for the MkII?

[7up]

Hi, I am looking for the mk111 Galaxy and also found that there was a differance in the braked tow weight between the 1.8 and the 2.0 and all other weights where the same so your post has help me. I have found a 2.0 tdci with a tow bar and if i get the chance i am going to try a tow test, dont know if the dealer(ford) will let me but when your spending so much money a cant see why not

 

I have just done a check on the whattowcar site with my caravan ,sterling europa 495 with the 1.8 and it came out as RED 49 kg over weight and when i done the 2.0 it came out as a perfect match so yes maybe your 1.8 is not up for the job

Edited April 5, 2008 by 7up

[tdi90]

Surely if the ford dealer was fully aware of the weight you were gonna be pulling, you can get ya cash back from the car as 'unfit for purpose', or a trade up to the 2ltr TDCi?

 

MK2 max towball weight is 85kg's

[tiny]

The moral of the story is-

 

" If God had intended us to drag our homes around with us, we'd all have been born feckin' tortoises!"

 

 

Im sure your Mk3 is a mighty fine car, the problem is with the caravan!

 

And if you dont believe me just ask Jeremy Clarkson..............

[7up]

Or you can pack your bags and go to a airport and pay to park there, then line up to get on a ferry bus, be driven to the airport to be dumped at the door, then fight for a trolley with a wonky wheel.

 

Then stand in an other line to get rid of your bags and hope you get a good seat on the plane and hope it goes on time. Then spend a few pounds in duty-free then go to get your bags if they ave turned up.

Out the airport to get on the coach to the hotel with the driver from hell for 2 hours or so. then to a room that you hate with beds that every tom ,dick and Harry has slept in and more.

 

I know what i would rather do

[mk2vr6]

yep we know, cause an 18 mile traffic jam as you drive at 45mph down the middle lane of the M5, dragging the plastic shed behind you, with everything but the kitchen sink packed into the car crushing the kids to death! mind you it's a quicker than the slow lingering one they have to suffer as they sit around the caravan park cafe dieing of boredem listening to all the other saddo's boasting about how they got 50mpg on the way down here and have you seen the new shower tray/urinal in the latest and oooh the beige pillows in the...... oh and then there is the joy of dragging a barrel of your own s##t half way across the site to empty every other day...... mmmm sounds like a Fun holiday where do we sign up? NOT!

[7up]

love it, i knew it would get someone going, it always does :wacko:

[gregers]

:wacko: :lol: really think your holding back a bit there vr6,GO ON try a little bit harder.

[dellybeanhead]

you're just jealous!

[searcher]

Well i love caravaning and the best bit of all is seeing all the non caravan twats :lol: getting all hot under the collar with thier blood pressure through the roof :D because they have to wait an extra 20 seconds.

Its at times like that i make sure i slow it down another 10mph

Hmmm i think its worth having a caravan just for that :rolleyes:

Edited April 6, 2008 by ?adrianf?

[mk2vr6]

Well i love caravaning and the best bit of all is seeing all the non caravan twats getting all hot under the collar with thier blood pressure through the roof because they have to wait an extra 20 seconds.

Its at times like that i make sure i slow it down another 10mph

Hmmm i think its worth having a caravan just for that

 

oooh aiddy such a cutting reply ! did you get an adult to help with the naughty word or was it all your own work?

Edited April 6, 2008 by mk2vr6

[7up]

No, We are able to get help from the caravan club, they have a big book of words to use on no- caravaning folk like yourself, comes from years of experience :lol: :rolleyes:

[searcher]

Well i love caravaning and the best bit of all is seeing all the non caravan twats getting all hot under the collar with thier blood pressure through the roof because they have to wait an extra 20 seconds.

Its at times like that i make sure i slow it down another 10mph

Hmmm i think its worth having a caravan just for that

 

oooh aiddy such a cutting reply ! did you get an adult to help with the naughty word or was it all your own work?

 

No no it was all my own work.

Most of which ive learnt from reading YOUR cutting replies to post put on here by other people.

Quite a good example is the original post about a chaps car snaking whilst towing his caravan, not what people thought about caravans.

Never mind though i think most people know what to expect now as theyve seen it that often.

[Smilge]

............... the slow lingering one they have to suffer as they sit around the caravan park

 

nothing wrong with that ...... more relaxing than a package holiday or worrying about how you're going to pay the credit card off when you get back ... ooh and there's the bed you're sleeping on .. mmmm ..... I wonder what skin diseases the person who slept in it before you had and how long has the mattress been there ... nice!

[wirral tourer]

The most common cause of snaking is a badly loaded caravan and too light on the hitch. Try and keep heavy items in the car or if in the caravan - on the floor over the axle. Check the caravan handbook for the noseweight, but ensure you don't exceed the car's limit (which I think is 75kg.) If you're too light then you'll almost certainly snake.

[joner]

got snaking with my mk2 gal moved weight nearer front ie the awning and this has improved

[dellybeanhead]

Thought I would feedback as I have solved the problem.

The issue was snaking whenever I got over 55 mph.

I tried everything, load adjustment. moved spare in caravan to middle of unit, tyre pressure (caravan and car), noseweight..... none of these made any difference really; only marginal. My caravan is very sesibly laid out with a middle kitchen so the weight shifting was neglible effect.

 

The one thing that made a HUGE difference is teh tow bar. I had a Bosal fitted with a swan neck. The problem was that teh tow ball is too high and although the caravan looked flat it was ever so slightly (about 2 mm) nose up. And when the air flow over the car hit the caravan (at the top) it tilted the caravan back so it was even more nose up. Hence the 55mph threshold problem. I have tested a different tow bar that sits lower (about level with the bevel in the bumper) and it was faultless. Towed at 60 mph rock solid. Accelerated to 65-70 to overtake a truck and was at teh same time passed by white van man and it didn't even hint at snaking just the expected suck, blow and push forward as you pass the truck. Perfect. I hope this helps others who have the same situation.