radio 2 yesterday, a caravaner claimed that HGV drivers deliberatly overtook him at speed to cause the backdraught of their trucks to set the caravan into an uncontrollable tank slapper leading to a full 180 spin on motorway

q1 what speed was he towing at to allow hgv's to overtake at such speeds?
q2 what size car/van did he have
q3 what is the average price of HGV training/licence?


perhaps the trucks were just using the road to deliver important cargoes helping the nation to function, and he paniced and lost control, putting himself and many others in danger At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Those HGV's weren't delivering chickens by any chance were they?  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

a HGV limited to 56mph are they not?

so, upon my reckoning the HGV driver was flat out and the caravanner was doing between 55 and 55.5mph

I don't see why they would overtake a caravan any differently than another HGV

the moaning codger was claiming hgv's cause a suction pulling the van across the carriage way, and he thinks 3 drivers colluded to overtake him in quick succession, and deliberately spin him off.

he also said years of vaning experience led him to slam all on when the fishtailing became violent, leading to the full 180 spin. he said any other course of action would have been dangerous

it seems to me his load was too big/incorrectly balanced or possibly old/unserviced. hgvs should not draw any other vehicles of the road



I say we need towing tests for all vanners , keep death off the roads At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Good idea CG. Pleased my LGV C+E says I am qualified already! Bring it on! 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Well, perhaps that is one less on the road to get the good towers a bad name!

The real bad guys are the caravan designer/stylists who create a huge empty space out of the lightest materials they can and then put weight high up and encourage the unknowing purchaser to stuff anything they want in it anywhere. Favourite place for tinned goods seems to be the roof lockers, for example.

A 180 degrees spin is definately an out of spec tail more than wagging the dog - but, hey, it is legal! Having an awning, poles, bikes, etc on the floor that puts the weight above the current gobbledegook limit isnt legal - but it can make one of these boxes tow a lot more stable. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

Agreed Nav, my box tows a lot better with the awning etc on the floor over the wheels than it does empty! NB: we always put the heavy provisions etc in a collapsible crate on the floor with the awning too. Overhead lockers mostly empty.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Now I have a tug that allows the nose weight to achieve 100Kgs and the van at just under the MTPLM all heavy items low down, I can now tow on the continent at 110Kph and the OH doesn't notice, she certainly did with a Santa Fe at 100kph  my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

chicken george wrote:

q3 what is the average price of HGV training/licence?

LVG training/test used to be around £1,000 - £1,300 for the "C" licence (rigid) and at least another £600 (one week inc test) for the "+ E" (artic), assuming he has built up further substantial experience after gaining the initial "C".

In no way will LGV drivers "gang up" to turn a caravan. They may well however be a might ed off if he has held them up for some time at 50mph or less. They just want to get to their next "drop" on schedule and without incident and unneccessary stops/delays.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Seems like good value, Do you get points added or deducted from your license for each caravan you upskittle? At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race