Anti-snake bars

galaxy

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I was just wondering if anyone used on of these when towing?

I've only just heard about them and It seems that people towing caravans always use them, and I was just surprised when I know how much we all love our horses that I don't know anyone who uses one. We would never put our horses at risk. I don't have one at the moment, but I am looking in to getting one. Just wondered if other people did?

Apparently the reasons why trailers snake is usually due to trailer being too heavy, uneven load, cross winds and those divets in the motorways (can't think what they're called but you know what I mean!). Hopefully people don't tow a trailer that is too heavy, but they aren't the most even of loads are they? There is a motorway round here that has terrible cross winds and divets and last year I know of several horse trailers that went over because of them, and I wonder if this could have been avioded if they had an anti-snake bar fitted.

I've been in a car with a trailer snaking (not a horse thank goodness!) and it was REALLY scary!

Just wondered what your opinions and experiences were...
 
I used to use one on my old trailer. It worked well and you always knew if you hadnt put it on. Dont have one on my current trailer as Im not actually sure how it would fit!!

Im not sure if it would help with crosswinds though.

I think that a lot of snaking happens if the brakes arent working well (certainly the case with my old trailer) or if you are driving to fast and brake too quickly.
 
Lol! I'm getting my brother/mechanic to fit mine!

Why did you know when you had it on? Did it feel more secure?
 
I don't travel fast enough with a horse on board for this ever to be an issue, and have dealt with accidents where caravans have flipped over on motorways, in spite of having the anti snake stuff fitted.

My view, for what it is worth, is that trailer snaking is ALWAYS speed related, and easily prevented by slowing down
 
Whe it happened to us, we were going 50mph, (which I don't think is fast on a motorway), downhill, were in divets in road and got hit by a crosswind....
 
Basically it would wallow all over the road. If the bar wasnt on it would snake every time you braked. The trouble is my father would insist it was fine! The brakes were absolutely fine!!! HA! HA! There was nothing wrong with the ramp! Fortunately when my horse put his foot through it he wasnt harmed. At this point blazing row occurred and I went out and got a bank loan to buy a new one!!!
The moral of the story is... Dont have a bloody minded father!!!

Seriously though, if your trailer is snaking a lot then get the brakes checked and the tyre pressures checked. Ive never had a snaking trailer when the brakes work well.

But I also dont drive above 50 (usually stick to 40), watch out for lorries coming up behind and slow down to well below 40 (the wind from the lorry passing can flip a trailer- this happened to me which is why I got the bar), and always brake slowly if poss.
If trailer snakes you have to speed up to pull out of the snake so if you are going to fast in the first place you are going to struggle.
 
My trailer has never snaked. I was just going to get one as a precaution. My theory is that if reduces the risk of it happening, then for the sake of £80 it's worth it!
 
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also watch cross winds going underway motorway bridges

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Thanks for that tip!

I think I naturally slow down at bridges - scared they might fall on me!!
 
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