Stabiliser Or Not?

[Grumpy]

Hi

 

For the last 3 years I have towed my Abbey 416GTS Vogue with a Citroen Zantia, it towed fine without a stabiliser but I decided to add one for safety after the first year.

 

This year I will be using my galaxy and cant decide wether or not to remove the stabiliser from the Citroen to fit to the Ford.

 

Is the Galaxy stable without a stabiliser? I am assuming that with its greater weight and fairly short rear overhang it should be OK but does anybody have any comments.

 

Cheers

[AndeeeH]

INMO I would definately go for a stabiliser. If funds are available I would opt for the AL-CO type that is part of the caravan hitch. They are a great improvement on the spring type (Snakemaster, etc). :D Andy.

[Chilli]

I've always towed with a Bulldog Stabiliser, wouldn't like to tow without one.

I haven't got the money to change the hitch over to a Al-co stabiliser.

 

Steve

[Grumpy]

Thanks for the replies, perhaps I should change my name from Grumpy to Lazy, or just get the tools out and transfer the Bulldog plate over to the Galaxy instead.

 

I must confess that during my first year of caravanning I didnt bother, and only had one occasion when on the M3 I was overtaken by a Discovery that was going a bit fast, that set up a slight snake.

[dave_m]

I have an AL-KO stabiliser which is part of the Hitch itself, It is excellent and the difference is very noticeable.

[Guest MATT jr]

INMO I would definately go for a stabiliser. If funds are available I would opt for the AL-CO type that is part of the caravan hitch. They are a great improvement on the spring type (Snakemaster, etc). B) Andy.

fully agree.

 

we got a AL-CO one - very good - and you can buy a hitch lock for it (we got one), which are also an improvement over the old bull dog ones.

 

MJR

[Guest Coopes]

INMO I would definately go for a stabiliser. If funds are available I would opt for the AL-CO type that is part of the caravan hitch. They are a great improvement on the spring type (Snakemaster, etc). :huh: Andy.

fully agree.

 

we got a AL-CO one - very good - and you can buy a hitch lock for it (we got one), which are also an improvement over the old bull dog ones.

 

MJR

 

I'll second that I have used both and the al-co comes out on top by a long way.

 

 

Coopes

[morticiaskeeper]

I towed a caravan for 10 years without a stabiliser and never had a problem. Borrowed a caravan a few years ago and fitted the stabiliser at the van owners request. I didn't notice anything, but then never having had a problem, perhaps that's my driving.

 

BUT...

 

 

Being a 1500 mile a week driver, having seen caravans get into trouble almost daily, I wouldn't tow without a stabiliser these days.

 

Perhaps it should be a law based on the towed trailer weight.

[Guest galaxysam]

Think the secret is loading the plastic shed properly, done right you dont really need one but its a good thing to have to be on the safe side, done wrong even having the best will not save you.

[Guest MATT jr]

my dads brother went with the "i dont need a Stabiliser" approach, guess what, he over turned, smashing both car and caravan.

 

for

[Scorpiorefugee]

A stabiliser is a bit like insurance. If you're careful and lucky, you may never miss it, but one day something unexpected may happen and the stabiliser suddenly becomes important.

 

Also, remember that it may not be just your rig that gets destroyed.

 

Happy caravanning. :( :D :D

 

I wish I'd still got mine.

[Guest galaxysam]

As I said earlier loading is the key, yes I always usea stabilizer but I am always carefull how I load our van, if you load it wrong no matter how much money you spend on the best stabiliser it wont protect you, having a good stabiliser is not a excuse to load it wrong. At the end of the day its all about weights/masses and you are not going to defy the laws of physics by fitting a stabiliser.