<VV> Re: Trailer rotation

[Jim Houston]

I had a similiar experience in England ..  I was towing my Mini (race 
car) on a trailer behind my MGB.  We had loaded the Mini backwards to 
keep the tongue weight down.  I got to about 55mph and the swerving 
occurred (sudden and violent).  Luckily, nothing was damaged and we 
pulled into the next layby and turned the Mini around.  After that, I 
towed it all the way to Wales and back at 60mph+ with no problems 
whatsoever...  weight on the tongue makes all the difference!

Jim Houston
Brandon, FL

Padgett wrote:

>
>>  We had loaded it nose forward because it's a convertible and things 
>> seemed OK but on a downhill stretch of freeway we got into an 
>> uncontrolable oscillation and spun 270 degrees.
>
>
> Sounds like either a single axle trailer or a dual axle with low 
> pressure in one or more tires. I always called them speed wobbles and 
> can be real scary. Some say to accelerate out (speed band is not 
> large) but I prefer to lift and let the rig slow.  I always had a 
> separate control for the trailer brakes and applying them only would 
> usually damp any sway. Is the type of thing you need to rehearse in 
> your mind so not thought is needed.
>
> Trailer tires are made much stiffer than passenger car tires and 
> passenger car radials on a car trailer are really not a good idea 
> since the movement of the tire can help an oscillation get started. If 
> necessary to use passenger car tires, inflate to the maximum allowed.
>
> Does point out the need to know where the car on the trailer balances, 
> get the tongue weight right, and check the trailer tire pressure 
> regularly.
>
> That said, I pulled a Corvette all around the midwest with a LeMans 
> Station Wagon and remember getting a bit of wobble when a tire went 
> flat but nothing like you described.
>
> Would not let one bad experience put you off, just learn from it.
>
> Padgett
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