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- pdes
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Cambridge
- Posts: 233
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- B16 KJR
- Member Since: 24 Jun 2016
- Location: Rosyth
- Posts: 62
I was looking at the Challengers weights, not the Conquerors
Not to worry though, it will be interesting to hear how you get on with a noseweight closer to 126kg and without the bikes on the back Just out of curiosity, are you able to check the noseweight exactly as the caravan was when you had the problem last weekend? -
- ken
- Member Since: 27 Apr 2016
- Location: UK-Germany
- Posts: 93
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When I picked our tintent up with the L405 the agent cleaned the towball (Scotched the paint off the ball) they were adamant that the stabiliser would not function as intended (Urban myth I dont know)
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- pdes
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Cambridge
- Posts: 233
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- pdes
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Cambridge
- Posts: 233
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Pdes, from your first post you said you had a new Challenger 650 T/A,[/quote]
Whoops, sorry. Now edited
D5 HSE SDi6, 2019, Santorini Black, privacy glass, HUD, loads of gizmos!! 😃😃😃
Series 1, 1953, 86" -
- hatjoepeg1
- Member Since: 06 Jan 2017
- Location: kent
- Posts: 45
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I dragged one of our welfare huts full of seats and clutter this week, a country route for about 40 minutes, and everything behaved impeccably.
The unit is getting on for 2 tonnes.
The only annoying part was that the electrics on the discovery are 13 pin and everything I have is 7 pin - bought an adapter, but the plug was too close to the rear of the car for it to fit.
Hacksaw and a few bloodied fingers later, all sorted
1986 90
2017 D5 -
- fisherman
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Hornchurch
- Posts: 94
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Pdes, from your first post you said you had a new Challenger 650 T/A, On the Swift website I could only find a 645 T/A which has a max weight of 1635kg. The generally accepted noseweight recommendation to ensure stable towing, is 7% of the trailer weight which in your case, would be 114kg. I'm only pointing this out as most people would think that 114kg is far too heavy to have as noseweight[/quote]
I think the AlKo chassis limit for the "Static load for the coupling head" is 100kg.
I know the 7% rule but the limit from the chassis manufacturer takes precedence.
It's stated in the Technical Handbook on the Swift website. -
- Craigp
- Member Since: 09 Nov 2016
- Location: Hull
- Posts: 690
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- pdes
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Cambridge
- Posts: 233
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It's much better!!!
Firstly, thanks to all those who contributed their wisdom, experiences and ideas.
The videos were particularly helpful.
I said early on that I would concede if I was proved wrong and I was (partly).
I set up the car and van today and carried out a "lab" test. I made sure:
1) The nose weight was correct
2) The towball had been cleaned with emery
3) The towball friction pads were cleaned
4) The car rear tyre pressures were at the max per the car manual (50psi!!).
5) No bikes were on the rear rack
I took the van on a run firstly at 50mph and it felt very stable. Up to 60mph and although road bumps and wind blasts were more apparent, I didn't feel as though the rig was unstable. Importantly, there was no ever-increasing pendulum action.
I still maintain that the D5 isn't quite as stable as the D4 but I suspect I could be fairly unusual in that I am towing a tin tent longer than most (8metres) and any destabilizing effect from wind, road etc. is magnified due the the effect of leverage. I think what surprised me most was the adverse effect of the two bikes on the back rack, again magnified by the length of the rear of the van. I will need to think very carefully as to whether the bike rack can be used in the future.
So, in short, I am much happier with the setup now I have much more respect for the issues affecting balance.
I am sure I will get some flack but hopefully this discussion will have helped others understand the criticalities of the various influences affecting balance and stability.
Those of you awaiting delivery, don't worry ☺.
D5 HSE SDi6, 2019, Santorini Black, privacy glass, HUD, loads of gizmos!! 😃😃😃
Series 1, 1953, 86" -
- Russell
- Member Since: 26 Jun 2016
- Location: Lydd
- Posts: 1102
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- pdes
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Cambridge
- Posts: 233
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- Russell
- Member Since: 26 Jun 2016
- Location: Lydd
- Posts: 1102
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- B16 KJR
- Member Since: 24 Jun 2016
- Location: Rosyth
- Posts: 62
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Pdes, very glad to hear that you have managed to resolve the instability issue and are now much happier with the D5 as a towcar
Can we keep this thread going please, as I am very interested to hear about other forum members experiences towing with their D5 before I make a decision next week after my own test-tow. I have two caravans to test, my own Carlight 152 and my Daughters Swift Oransay/Charisma 565 so I will report back next week.
As an aside, I am going to start another thread to find out how you guys find the D5 compared to the D3 so would appreciate your comments. -
- Road Runner 2017
- Member Since: 14 Jan 2017
- Location: Scotland
- Posts: 2010
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Glad your vans alot more stable after your lab test. Just an after thought, not sure if anyone has mentioned this but the D4 is a heavier car than the D5, as we all know, so possibly that 1/2 tonne extra weight helped the D4 make it a better towing vehicle than the D5. If that's the case then slimming down the D5 has been a bit of a design hiccup when it comes too towing but if this is the case surely it should have been factored into the equation
Last edited by Road Runner 2017 on 30th Mar 2017 6:35 pm. Edited 2 times in total -
- fisherman
- Member Since: 11 Oct 2016
- Location: Hornchurch
- Posts: 94
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I'm glad you managed to sort it all out and you're now happy with your rig. Chuffed for you.
Now can I borrow your D5 as I'm off to France tomorrow night.
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