Top Gear - and trailer snakes

Gorgeous_George

I hear that Top Gear were mentioned at an inquest following a fatal accident. The driver claims that Top Gear advised that you should accelerate to gain control if your trailer starts to snake.

(Tory graph link)

Anybody sympathise?

GG

redux

I sympathise with:

A spokesman for Top Gear said it did not give advice to drivers, and added that it would be "inappropriate" to comment on an inquest to which it was not a party.

Top Gear shows the Stig and the others driving high performance cars round an airfield perimeter track and runways, but I've never attempted this.

Anyone towing should take care about the loading of the trailer. If a load of bullocks can all move to the back at once, it's bound to be tail-heavy and very adversely affect things, especially downhill

Markyt

I thought that was standard advice? If a trailer or caravan starts to fishtail, you can either brake and either virtually guarantee it overtaking you, or you can accelerate to pull it straight and then slow gradually. Sometimes, you're damned either way.

redux

Markyt wrote: »

I thought that was standard advice? If a trailer or caravan starts to fishtail, you can either brake and either virtually guarantee it overtaking you, or you can accelerate to pull it straight and then slow gradually. Sometimes, you're damned either way.

No, despite some of the mythology it isn't something that happens out of random capriciousness, and drivers' towing abilities vary a lot.

There is also some steering possible. I'm not sure it can easily be trained either, and certainly not described well in writing; many just instinctively acquire a sense of feel, while others panic, and the difference can be that one is safer at 15 mph faster than another.

Whatever the case, one should be able to control things at the speed one is doing.

If not, whether through the characteristics of the vehicle or the ability of the driver or both, it's simply too fast.

Conor_3

redux wrote: »

No, despite some of the mythology it isn't something that happens out of random capriciousness,

Indeed. I've done over 1.5 million miles towing trailers including some loaded with 20+ tonnes of milk in unbaffled tanks which slops around like you wouldn't believe and tries to push and pull you as you drive down the road. Yet I've never lost control, even in ice and snow.

It's down to the driver either driving incorrectly, not loading it correctly, overloading the axle on the car or not ensuring the trailer or car is mechanically fit.

bunking_off

Well obviously I sympathise with the driver & passenger, who were involved in what became a fatal accident.

However, they played the relevant section of Top Gear on the radio at lunchtime. It was an extract from the one where they all went caravanning, with a clearly jokey section where the caravan was snaking - they read from the Caravan Club manual suggesting the correct advice of coasting to reduce speed : Clarkson butted in, in his usual style of no, that's wrong...power etc etc. Clearly it was a humorous piece and not intended as advice, any more than the subsequent "advice" later in that piece, to set fire to your caravan then attempt to remedy by throwing things out of it so you set fire to adjacent caravans for good measure.

In my view, this is just another opportunity for beeb-bashing. The newsprint journos are currently on red alert to find anything to come up with anything that induces more self-flagellation on the part of the BBC, and a mention in a coroner's court was too juicy an opportunity to pass up.

Quinny_2

I agree with Conor.

As a fellow Class 1 driver,it is all down to a number of factors,including the type of load,position of load on the trailer,driving attitude etc etc.

The guy who rang in and mentioned that livestock is what it says,a live load,and will move,was on the mark as well.

For what it's worth,I rang in,and got through to a researcher,but my comment never got aired.

Ken.

Gorgeous_George

I listened to the clip on Radio 2 and, to me, it was clearly a misguided attempt at humour. However, I can understand how somebody may have misunderstood it as advice from Top Gear.

FWIW, in a snaking situation I would ease off the accelerator and try to gain control of the trailer. I've towed caravans quite a lot when I was younger and only experienced a snake-like loss of control once.

I think the ratio between the weight of the trailer to the weight of the vehicle should be 85% max.

Towing livestock must be a whole new ball game and, without suitable cages, probably illegal on public roads (unsafe load).

GG

goldspanners

top gear is hardly an educational show is it?
its light hearted fun,surely they realise this.

clearly the bbc need to bring in some kind of do not try any of this at home disclaimer before they air programmes.:rolleyes:

something like the text phone in disclaimer :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Quietmanc

goldspanners wrote: »

top gear is hardly an educational show is it?
its light hearted fun,surely they realise this.


Well,now-(flak jacket secured)- if you tune into 'Dave' .Just bear with me on this OK?, and select info. when TG is on, the banner headline actually says 'Educational'.Yes,yes, I know but who actually categorises these things .Going to the original point however,I've never had a fishtail in an artic,but then again have only done dry freight.Tanks I believe are totally different.I did see a horrific fishtail on a 'caravan' wagon and drag recently,when he was going up a slight hill.My conclusion FWIW is that , only experience and 'seat of the pants' will tell you the right thing to do. BTW Gorgeous George, did you ever drive coaches? Just may know you if you did.

goldspanners

Quietmanc wrote: »

Well,now-(flak jacket secured)- if you tune into 'Dave' .Just bear with me on this OK?, and select info. when TG is on, the banner headline actually says 'Educational'.Yes,yes, I know but who actually categorises these things

in the loosest possible sense im sure