View Single Post
  #5  
Old December 26th 19, 04:06 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Eric Greenwell[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,939
Default trailer sway mitigation TSM

wrote on 12/26/2019 7:42 AM:
On Thursday, December 26, 2019 at 9:19:35 AM UTC-6, Mike N. wrote:
Wow, great examples of the tail wagging the dog.

On a less scientific note, and maybe more to the point of simple common sense, I have trailered my glider in a tube style trailer using a V6 Toyota Rav 4 from California to Utah going over the Sierra Nevada's and it was an easy comfortable trip.
To mitigate trailer sway issues I simply noted the speed at which trailer sway started when doing simple lane changes or getting passed by a large vehicle, and set myself a top speed limit of roughly 7 to 10 mph below that. Problem solved.


Thanks! A good practical solution!


A lower speed provides another advantage: tire longevity. I'm reminded of a
motorglider pilot towing his trailer from Florida to Parowan years ago, suffering
four blowouts along the way. That meant four separate tire changes, and purchasing
four tires, one at a time. His wife said she couldn't get him to slow down, even
though it was obvious (at least to her) they'd arrive sooner if he did so! At
least it wasn't unstable at the 75+ tow speeds.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1