ProfJohnL said:
Raywood said:
The 85% figure was the result of work carried out by Bath University for the Caravan Club but it is many years old. .
Hello Ray,
I have made extensive searches through contacts I have in the industry over the years and I have found no evidence that Bath University or any other university was involved with establishing the 85% figure. If you have any evidence to support your statement I would be very pleased to know more about it. can you enlighten me please?
Dr Jocelyn Darling from Bath University has worked with Bailey Caravans for years on various aspects of caravan stability using different types of stabilisers. No where Have I ever seen any reference to the magic number 85. One of his students J Lewis did a Thesis testing various types of caravan suspension systems but again no mention of 85. As an aside he concluded shock absorbers didn’t really improve stability on the current chassis available.
My own recollection is back in the late 70s the Caravan Club recommended not exceeding 85% of the cars kerb weight. Not a rule, no scientific evidence in support. Just a cautionary suggestion.
However there is probably an element of common sense and an effort to avoid the tail wagging the dog. Caravans are hardly aerodynamic are they :woohoo:
This Forum has done the 85. To death over the years. It truly is a mystical magical caravan myth :evil: