Rameder gives tips for the suspension tuning when towing a trailer

A trailer towbar gives the car enormous flexibility: whether a caravan or a normal trailer, there is the right attachment for almost any purpose. Despite this, some combinations drive both dangerous and uncomfortable. Rameder, Europe's leading supplier of trailer towbars available at www.rameder.nl, explains how your vehicle can be technically optimised. Reinforced shock absorbers and springs are often a smart choice, especially since they are often better able to handle the extra load, even when it comes to wearing. Frequently, even without a trailer, there are definite advantages in everyday life – especially when the vehicle is heavily laden or fully occupied.

Trailer ESC, antirolling devices, level control: many technical features make driving with a trailer safer, more comfortable and more relaxed. Few think, however, at "reinforced" shock absorbers, optionally combined with matching springs. It does not have anything to do with disc-damaging tuning escapades: because the vehicle level does not drop below "normal zero" for products for this purpose and the comfort hardly suffers. Incidentally, in vehicles with a strong tendency to roll, a new set of shock absorbers can also prevent travel sickness: The higher damping force means that strong vibrations or rocking cannot occur at all. Incidentally, if a shock absorber replacement is needed, the investment is usually very manageable.

For all those who want to optimise their car further, Rameder recommends additionally reinforced springs. Especially with front-wheel drive, the action pays off, because a heavy trailer often makes the vehicle fall down in the back and so the front axle is much relieved, causing the drive wheels to lose grip, and thus the steering behaviour suffers.

Regardless of such technical measures, Rameder has yet another tip on how to improve the handling of trailers – via the vertical load. Even if the allowed values should never be exceeded, it is safe to approach the maximum level with a clever distribution of the load. With a neat "pressure on the drawbar", car-caravan teams drive safer and are not so prone to oscillating movements. This can be easily measured by placing a discarded bathroom scale under the support wheel.

nu downloaden (20,3 MB)