Manufacturers
appear to have gone mad, says author
'Down to
earth' guide for preventing rollovers
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PROLIFIC writer Collyn Rivers has
published a new book aimed at preventing caravan rollovers.
Why Caravans Roll Over - and how
to prevent
it is
described as a "down-to-earth but technically accurate" guide to all
aspects of caravan and tow vehicle stability.
Mr Rivers said reader response
had been extraordinary, with
over 35,000 reactions within three days.
The former RAF ground radar engineer and motor industry research engineer
said the reasons why tow vehicles and caravans jackknife and roll were
"many and complex", but knowing why and how could help prevent it
happening.
Topics covered in his mini-book include stability, tyres, why and how
caravans sway, understeer and oversteer, tow vehicles and caravan
behaviour and speed.
"The cause of rollovers has really been known but until this book all
explanations have been in academic papers," Mr Rivers ‒
a recognised leading authority on caravan stability, RV suspension and RV
electrical systems ‒ said.
"It probably has a record as being the longest technical book ever to
complete ... I wrote the first version in 1965," he
quipped.
"It has gone through countless revisions to ensure it can be understood by
non-technical people."
Mr Rivers' book is primarily aimed at Australia where, he claimed, caravan
manufacturers appeared to have "gone raving mad".
"One new 'van can weigh over 4400kg and people
tow 3.5tonne at 100 km/h behind a 2.5tonne
utility," he said.
The major concern was not how conventional caravans and tow vehicles
behaved in normal driving, but how they performed in abnormal emergency
situations.
These included:
* Applying the tow vehicle's brakes only while descending steep winding
hills at speed.
* Swerving at speed, particularly when overtaking or being overtaken by a
long truck or semi-trailer.
* Towing a long and heavy caravan at high speed by a vehicle that is
lighter than the caravan.
For more information, go
to rvbooks.com.au
