Re: Turning when flat towing

[bearbvd@domain.elided (Greg Hermann)]

>> Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 20:35:25 -0700
>> From: "Allan & Kathryn Weidenheimer" <allanw@domain.elided>
>> Subject: Turning when flat towing
>>
>> If he was towing with a motorhome, it probably had a long
>> overhang past the rear axle.  If you look at what happens
>> when these RVs turn, the rear goes the opposite direction.
>> Which also has the effect of making the Scout's wheels
>> start turning the wrong way.  Then the tail end of the RV
>> suddenly jerks the front end the opposite way as it rounds
>> the corner.  The reversal is too quick and the Scout wheels
>> don't get a chance to swing back.
>>
>> Tom probably had way less problems because he was towing
>> with a Scout, and it has the hitch much closer to the rear axle.
>
>IMHO the problem is caused by Scouts not having enough camber.
>
>When I flat towed mine (with a 90 square box Chev Caprice)  - upon
>approaching a traffic situation (gas station, motel, etc) in which
>there were going to be sharp turns - I would stop, get in and crank
>up the Scout, and follow-steer while my wife pulled with the Caprice.
>
>If I didn't follow-steer, the result would be a lot of front tire
>scrub.
>
>It's been my experience that the front wheels of flat towed vehicles
>with more camber, tend to more readily return to center than Scouts.
>
>Ted Borck	tborck@domain.elided

This is correct, except that you mean caster, not camber.

Greg