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Difficulty: MediumTowing Trailers and Caravans

While towing a trailer on a dual carriageway, you notice that the trailer has started to sway significantly from side to side (snaking). What should you do to regain stability and control?

  1. A
    Accelerate firmly to tension the towbar and pull the trailer straight
  2. Ease off the accelerator gradually while keeping the steering steadyAnswer
  3. C
    Brake firmly and abruptly to stop the combination as quickly as possible
  4. D
    Depress the clutch pedal and steer sharply in the opposite direction of each sway

Answer

Ease off the accelerator gradually while keeping the steering steady.
When towing a trailer or caravan that begins to snake, the correct action is to ease off the accelerator gently and keep the steering wheel steady. Reducing speed gradually without sudden brake or steering inputs allows the outfit to naturally settle and regain stability.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Detect trailer instability early.
Identify that aerodynamic buffeting, excessive speed, or weight distribution has initiated lateral swaying (snaking).
Early intervention prevents slight oscillations from escalating into an uncontrollable jackknife.
2
Release the accelerator smoothly without harsh braking.
Vehicle speed decreases steadily via natural engine braking.
A smooth reduction in forward speed allows the aerodynamic forces to settle and dampens the trailer's lateral momentum.
3
Maintain a steady, central steering line.
The towing vehicle remains pointed straight ahead along its lane.
Attempting to steer against the sway introduces out-of-phase forces that magnify the instability.

Key Concept

Correct recovery procedure for trailer snaking and instability
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Towing Trailers and Caravans

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