We are talking about lateral not vertical stability so thats not even relevant.
Err no. Its entirely valid. Explain using physics and show your "working out" if you disagree. Tosh means nothing apart from you cant!
Actually thats COMPLETELY wrong! Adding weight (moving the C of G forward has only the effect of increasing the stability and makes the thing want to go straight. Adding weight to the rear or moving the c of g back decreases stability. Its obvious, provable, and as expected by any competent engineer.
A66 caravan smash 600Once you get a lot of energy stored in an oscillating system comprising a car and caraven rolling on rubber tyres over uneven ground and a sprung supension (how often...
Again?
I am 46 and do have a degree in physics.
Its not "simple" bit a forward c of g always helps stability.
Its lower every time you move the c of g further forwards in front of its wheels! Purely because it gets further out of line in the first place.
No sensible comparrison can be made from tacking and the natural instability of a box as seen from the side. ANY flat plate needs to be balanced at around 28 percent of its chord (like a helicopter rotor blade or flying wing) to be aerodynamically neutral or remotely "stable". A square box with the wheels in the middle does not come close which is why the stabiility goes down as speed goes up. Only a fin (aircraft style) would be able to truly restore this ballance. If this wasnt the case then a few pounds tow bar weight would be all thats required for neutral stability at any speed. But unfortunately while mbutt and c of g physics is taken care of by "some" tow bar weight the aerodynamic ones are not. As speed increases one overtakes the other and it starts to snake. IF you add a few extra pounds to the towbar weight the added stability helps compensate for the high speed aerodynamic centre of pressure problem caused by the caravans shape. The greater the nose weight the faster you can travel in stable configuration.
Which so far we didnt allow for. If we do then the nose weight needs increasing further still. In practice this can be found easily by loading the caravan more nose heavy until its stable at your chosen max required speed.
A66 caravan smash 602Conor Conor LeylandLeopard says... Small trailers are unbraked. Caravans are braked but as there's no annual inpsection, a great deal...
You did.
