Towing a caravan in cruise control.

nav2022 said:
How can you drive safely in cruise control when ALL uk vehicle instruction manuals tell you not to use cruise control in wet or icy conditions?
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I don't tow my caravan at all when it's icy, and actually my UK handbook doesn't say not to use CC in wet conditions.

As I've said several times now people should drive within the limits of their confidence, the stability of their outfit, and what their vehicle manufacturer advises in the handbook. I'm leaving it there.
 
ThePerfectionist said:
Ahh I see a classic case of changing the story to suit your situation after throwing a few personal insults around….. Classic 👍
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Actually I've provided quite a bit of insight if you'd care to read ;)
Meanwhile, you get in your Range Rover and twin axle and just tonk on regardless like you said you do.
If you want to argue against being a little bit cautious in certain circumstances while towing then be my guest but don't try and convince everyone on the forum that risk taking is the way to go because it isn't.
BTB 500 said:
I don't tow my caravan at all when it's icy, and actually my UK handbook doesn't say not to use CC in wet conditions.

As I've said several times now people should drive within the limits of their confidence, the stability of their outfit, and what their vehicle manufacturer advises in the handbook. I'm leaving it there.
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You said ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. I'll remind you again:
I've towed caravans using cruise control (with both manual and automatic gearboxes) for 24 years on all sorts of roads and in all weather conditions without ever having the slightest issue.
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Now it's SOME weather conditions. If that's what you meant then you should have said it because that is misleading to say all weather conditions.
Be safe, think about what you're doing and always remember if you take a risk, you not only endanger your own life but many others.
I made a point about two aspects of CC which may not be safe and just be aware. Its a valid point so why turn it into a great massive argument?
 
BTB 500 said:
I don't tow my caravan at all when it's icy, and actually my UK handbook doesn't say not to use CC in wet conditions.

As I've said several times now people should drive within the limits of their confidence, the stability of their outfit, and what their vehicle manufacturer advises in the handbook. I'm leaving it there.
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I agree & you’ve hit the nail on the head, I think the OP likes to just make a statement and claim it is a fact even if it isn’t. Remember his “ALL” statement ….. he must own & have read every single UK manual of every model of car ever sold with cruise control, wish I had that much spare time.
 
nav2022 said:
Actually I've provided quite a bit of insight if you'd care to read ;)
Meanwhile, you get in your Range Rover and twin axle and just tonk on regardless like you said you do.
If you want to argue against being a little bit cautious in certain circumstances while towing then be my guest but don't try and convince everyone on the forum that risk taking is the way to go because it isn't.

You said ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. I'll remind you again:

Now it's SOME weather conditions. If that's what you meant then you should have said it because that is misleading to say all weather conditions.
Be safe, think about what you're doing and always remember if you take a risk, you not only endanger your own life but many others.
I made a point about two aspects of CC which may not be safe and just be aware. It’s a valid point so why turn it into a great massive argument?
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Oh lovely more personal insults of which there is no truth, you must be such a nice chap in real life.

Your “insight” is just a list of points that doesn’t make it a “fact” that you keep banging on about, I asked for your source of information you couldn’t even provide it & you then changed your story completely to the other side of the world.

Here look I’ll do it too to try and force my point over the line, here’s an extensive list of points I found online of reasons why it’s beneficial to use control….

There are actually several very sensible safety arguments for using cruise control while towing a caravan — particularly on modern vehicles and in stable motorway conditions.


Here are the strongest points:


  • Smoother throttle inputs
    Cruise control applies power far more smoothly than most drivers do manually. Sudden acceleration changes are one of the things that can unsettle a caravan and contribute to sway.
  • More consistent speed
    Constant speed reduces the “accordion effect” of speeding up and slowing down, which helps keep the caravan stable and predictable behind the tow vehicle.
  • Reduces accidental speeding downhill
    When towing, speed creep downhill can happen easily. Cruise control helps maintain a safe legal speed and prevents the caravan building excess momentum.
  • Less driver fatigue
    Long towing journeys are tiring. Cruise control reduces ankle and leg fatigue, allowing the driver to concentrate more on mirrors, traffic, wind conditions and road positioning.
  • Helps prevent overcorrection
    Nervous drivers sometimes make frequent throttle changes when towing. Smooth automated throttle control can reduce the tendency to “fight” the caravan.
  • Modern caravans are designed for motorway towing
    Modern caravans commonly have:
    • AL-KO stabilisers
    • Anti-snake hitches
    • Electronic stability systems
    • Properly balanced braking systems
  • These are specifically designed for stable higher-speed cruising.
  • Most professional towing advice does not ban cruise control
    Manufacturers generally do not prohibit cruise control for towing unless specifically stated in the handbook. In many countries it is routinely used for towing caravans, trailers and horseboxes.
  • Human drivers are often less smooth than the car
    Tiny repeated throttle corrections from a human foot can introduce instability more than a modern ECU-controlled cruise system does.
  • Adaptive cruise can improve following distances
    On modern vehicles with adaptive cruise control, the system maintains safer gaps to vehicles ahead, reducing harsh braking events.
  • Caravan instability is usually caused by other factors
    The major real-world causes of caravan accidents are typically:
    • Poor nose weight
    • Bad loading/balance
    • Excessive speed
    • Strong crosswinds
    • Incorrect tyre pressures
    • Driver overcorrection
    • Unsuitable tow vehicle
    • Sudden steering inputs
  • Not cruise control itself.

The important caveat:


  • Cruise control is best on stable motorway or dual carriageway driving.
  • In heavy rain, ice, strong crosswinds, steep hills or unstable conditions, manual control is often wiser.

So the claim that “cruise control is the number one cause of caravan jackknifing” is not supported by mainstream towing guidance or accident data.
 
ThePerfectionist said:
Oh lovely more personal insults of which there is no truth, you must be such a nice chap in real life.

Your “insight” is just a list of points that doesn’t make it a “fact” that you keep banging on about, I asked for your source of information you couldn’t even provide it & you then changed your story completely to the other side of the world.

Here look I’ll do it too to try and force my point over the line, here’s an extensive list of points I found online of reasons why it’s beneficial to use control….

There are actually several very sensible safety arguments for using cruise control while towing a caravan — particularly on modern vehicles and in stable motorway conditions.


Here are the strongest points:


  • Smoother throttle inputs
    Cruise control applies power far more smoothly than most drivers do manually. Sudden acceleration changes are one of the things that can unsettle a caravan and contribute to sway.
  • More consistent speed
    Constant speed reduces the “accordion effect” of speeding up and slowing down, which helps keep the caravan stable and predictable behind the tow vehicle.
  • Reduces accidental speeding downhill
    When towing, speed creep downhill can happen easily. Cruise control helps maintain a safe legal speed and prevents the caravan building excess momentum.
  • Less driver fatigue
    Long towing journeys are tiring. Cruise control reduces ankle and leg fatigue, allowing the driver to concentrate more on mirrors, traffic, wind conditions and road positioning.
  • Helps prevent overcorrection
    Nervous drivers sometimes make frequent throttle changes when towing. Smooth automated throttle control can reduce the tendency to “fight” the caravan.
  • Modern caravans are designed for motorway towing
    Modern caravans commonly have:
    • AL-KO stabilisers
    • Anti-snake hitches
    • Electronic stability systems
    • Properly balanced braking systems
  • These are specifically designed for stable higher-speed cruising.
  • Most professional towing advice does not ban cruise control
    Manufacturers generally do not prohibit cruise control for towing unless specifically stated in the handbook. In many countries it is routinely used for towing caravans, trailers and horseboxes.
  • Human drivers are often less smooth than the car
    Tiny repeated throttle corrections from a human foot can introduce instability more than a modern ECU-controlled cruise system does.
  • Adaptive cruise can improve following distances
    On modern vehicles with adaptive cruise control, the system maintains safer gaps to vehicles ahead, reducing harsh braking events.
  • Caravan instability is usually caused by other factors
    The major real-world causes of caravan accidents are typically:
    • Poor nose weight
    • Bad loading/balance
    • Excessive speed
    • Strong crosswinds
    • Incorrect tyre pressures
    • Driver overcorrection
    • Unsuitable tow vehicle
    • Sudden steering inputs
  • Not cruise control itself.

The important caveat:


  • Cruise control is best on stable motorway or dual carriageway driving.
  • In heavy rain, ice, strong crosswinds, steep hills or unstable conditions, manual control is often wiser.

So the claim that “cruise control is the number one cause of caravan jackknifing” is not supported by mainstream towing guidance or accident data.
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But none of that actually addresses why I posted the thread.
The thread was about using CC while towing on steep inclines and when you get hit by rogue gusts of wind such as wagons passing you at high speed or going over areas with difficult windy conditions.
If you read the caravanning club's website and their advice on towing, these conditions are talked about quite often.
Now, in American the large SUV manufacturers have stated in their manuals not to go down steep inclines in CC because of the threat of jack knife.
Some UK instruction manuals tell you not to tow at all in CC, some say exercise caution on inclines and try to use the vehicle's towing mode where ever possible which uses engine braking rather than the vehicle's brakes.
Is it not wise for people not to at least think about these options?
Are you saying that we should all just tonk on regardless of weather, circumstances and vehicle? If not, what are you saying? What is your advice to a first time caravan user who might be on the forum?
 
nav2022 said:
But none of that actually addresses why I posted the thread.
The thread was about using CC while towing on steep inclines and when you get hit by rogue gusts of wind such as wagons passing you at high speed or going over areas with difficult windy conditions.
If you read the caravanning club's website and their advice on towing, these conditions are talked about quite often.
Now, in American the large SUV manufacturers have stated in their manuals not to go down steep inclines in CC because of the threat of jack knife.
Some UK instruction manuals tell you not to tow at all in CC, some say exercise caution on inclines and try to use the vehicle's towing mode where ever possible which uses engine braking rather the vehicle's brakes.
Is it not wise for people not to at least think about these options?
Are you saying that we should all just tonk on regardless of weather, circumstances and vehicle? If not, what are you saying? What is your advice to a first time caravan user who might be on the forum?
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You diverted your story down so many different avenues since your initial post it’s been impossible to keep track of what you’re actually saying, I think you lost the crowd a very long time ago.

My advice to any person towing is use your common sense and best judgment & not to take advice from yourself with your so called “facts”.

I would ask them to communicate in a manor that is respectful to another fellow human being & inline with the forum rules. Instead of throwing multiple unwarranted insults around for really no reason at all against the forum rules.
 
ThePerfectionist said:
You diverted your story down so many different avenues since your initial post it’s been impossible to keep track of what you’re actually saying, I think you lost the crowd a very long time ago.

My advice to any person towing is use your common sense and best judgment & not to take advice from yourself with your so called “facts”.

I would ask them to communicate in a manor that is respectful to another fellow human being & inline with the forum rules. Instead of throwing multiple unwarranted insults around for really no reason at all against the forum rules.
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Haven't diverted anything. The underlying reason I posted it was not using CC on steep inclines and in windy conditions and still is.
So my own instinct is to at least exercise caution in those circumstances OK? You are telling people not to listen to that? What are you telling them then, tonk on in a Rover Rover and f*ck everyone else. I don't get your rhetoric and the point you are trying to get over. it's quite baffling.
 
nav2022 said:
Haven't diverted anything. The underlying reason I posted it was not using CC on steep inclines and in windy conditions and still is.
So my own instinct is to at least exercise caution in those circumstances OK? You are telling people not to listen to that? What are you telling them then, tonk on in a Rover Rover a f*ck everyone else. I don't get your rhetoric and the point you are trying to get over. it's quite baffling.
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Ah wonderful more insults / jabs based purely on the vehicle another person owns… fantastic I think I’ll leave my commenting here in hopes there are far nicer individuals on the forum than yourself.

If you would have just read the posts fully, you would not be so confused, it’s not my job to break it down into understandable bite site pieces for you.
 
I use cruise control if I'm driving late night on practically empty motorways.
Any other time it's more of a pain than it is an advantage.
None of the other idiots around you are capable of holding a constant speed so you are constantly having to adjust.
And the adaptive is even worse, slamming the brakes on whenever a crisp bag blows across the road somewhere in the next county.
 
ThePerfectionist said:
Ah wonderful more insults / jabs based purely on the vehicle another person owns… fantastic I think I’ll leave my commenting here in hopes there are far nicer individuals on the forum than yourself.

If you would have just read the posts fully, you would not be so confused, it’s not my job to break it down into understandable bite site pieces for you.
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In fairness I posted a thread about exercising caution while towing a vehicle in CC downhill and in wind. You came on the thread claiming there is no need to do that because you do it all the time with no issue. BRB500 did exactly the same.
You said:
I’ve never had a single problem at all and don’t really put any weight behind this point personally, on all my tow cars including the current Range Rover you only have to press the brake with a feather (not exaggerating) 🪶 and it disables cruise control without actually applying the brakes in any noticeable or effective capacity. Also there’s a great big CAN (cancel button) right there on the steering wheel next to the volume controls which can be pressed immediately without having to faff around looking for it, its second nature just like lowering the window or turning the radio volume down etc…. Caravan has an Alco stabiliser & ATC & its own brakes too. I semi see the posters point but would like to point out it’s been massively simplified & exaggerated.
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So again just like BRB500, you are using your own experience in your own vehicle as a nation wide ruling because it works for you. That's regardless of how experienced others reading this may be.
Also regardless of whether its safe which it quite clearly isn't in some vehicles and weather conditions or road conditions.
To exercise caution isn't a bad thing but risk taking is. That is the whole point.
Your remarks are flippant at best and not good advice.
 
keithy said:
I tow a boat about 1.25 tonnes got cut up by a range rover who cut across the front of my car from the slip road onto the motorway I had to hit the brakes and swerve into the middle lane to avoid a collision which set up snaking of my trailer. I carried on at a steady speed which gradually stopped the snaking trailer. My car was a Toyota hilux which wieghs about 2.2 tones every body behind hit the brakes. The driver of the range rover was laughing as i fought for control!!! :mad:
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Hey @ThePerfectionist That wasn't you was it. Just asking.
 
Lee71 said:
Anyone who gets more than a nudge off lorries or coaches passing them ought to check their Alko pads.👍
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Depends how fast. Usually get nothing if I'm doing 50-55 and wagon comes by at 60. If you are in slow moving traffic on a certain lane doing 40 and a wagon comes in the middle lane doing 60 it can give you a knock.
I've been doing 60 and white van man comes by at 85, that can be lairy. Had to back off a bit.
I change my pads regular which helps.
 
Lee71 said:
I've never really felt much but the car has always been a lot heavier than needed.
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85% rule was always a good guide but a lot ignore it now. With the new van I'm looking at 1600 -1650kg van weight and maybe 2000kg fully loaded in car. kerb weight is 1860 ish so I'm above 85% but with ATC in the van and some safety features in the car I think its OK. Well, I took advice off RAC and they think its a good match.
 
Should be ok, experienced towers shouldn't have a problem, I've towed at just over 100% and was ok but I've been doing it years and been all over Europe.
 
Lee71 said:
Should be ok, experienced towers shouldn't have a problem, I've towed at just over 100% and was ok but I've been doing it years and been all over Europe.
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I'm at 91.5% which isn't too bad as 85% is for novice anyway. MPM of van is 1700kg and kerb weight of car is 1860kg which is 91.5% exactly. I never load the van up to max anyway.
 
Lee71 said:
Should be ok, experienced towers shouldn't have a problem, I've towed at just over 100% and was ok but I've been doing it years and been all over Europe.
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What van and car was at 100%? With the Volvo I've opted for the SC60 5 cylinder 2.4 geartronic just shy of 200bhp. Hoping the fuel bill won't be horendous but you never know with gas prices at 1.85 a liter here.
 
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