New Caravan Reversing Aid from ZF

[Lutz]

I have just returned from the Frankfurt Motor Show where I saw a new system currently being developed by ZF to allow one to reverse a caravan as if one were steering it with the towcar trailing behind. If combined with a rear view camera at the back of the caravan and a display on the dashboard one really gets the impression that one is sitting with a steering wheel in the back of the caravan, facing rearwards. The big advantage is that the steering input angles are proportional to the degree of turning and they are also in the same direction as you are going. No more having to think which way round to have to turn the steering wheel as you reverse. It just comes naturally and makes accurate reversing a real doddle.
The heart of the system is a rotating towball which sends signals to the towcar's steering system, giving information on the articulation angle between car and caravan. Obviously, because the towball can rotate, the system renders hitch stabilisers useless and one would have to rely on electronic systems or a blade stabiliser as alternatives.
The system itself is almost production-ready and ZF are now looking for a car manufacturer willing to take it on as an optional fitment. For cars already fitted with electric rather than hydraulic steering servo systems this development requires comparatively little extra outlay - really only the special towball mentioned above and an extra knob on the centre console of the towcar, serving as a 'steering wheel' plus, of course, the electronics and wiring. The additonal cost, when such a system gets on to the market, should therefore be relatively modest.

 

[otherclive]

Sounds an interesting development, and I at first I thought 01. April 2012 had come early!

 

[chrisbee1]

Whilst any aid to safer or more “convenient” driving must be applauded I wonder how long it will be before we humans stop “driving” altogether?
Auto gearboxes are now considered perfectly normal so I suppose in the not too distant future lane warning ,adaptive cruise control, distance warning, automatic braking, traffic sign recognition, automatic parallel parking etc.etc. will also be “must haves”. Will my grandchildren simply approach the car and as the doors open automatically, just tell it where they would like to go whilst they sit inside reading the paper kindle?

 

[Martin24]

That might get SWMBO to park rather than pull into the field and hop out for me to take over!!!

 

[hgv dave]

many years ago there was a system for hgvs........it was for what was called a wagon and drag that used an A frame for the trailer,basically the outfit had 2 points that articulated and was much harder to reverse than a normal artic outfit
the system allowed the driver to reverse the outfit just like he was reversing his rigid truck...........it didnt take off because it was very exspensive and the A frame type of truck was on the decline for the more popular artic based wagon and drag which handeled more like a normal artic
so i would think that the system is out there but who would want to pay for an exspensive system that would only be used now and again?............im sure a caravan mover would be far cheaper

hgv dave

 

[GaryGillespie]

Hi Dave,
Im doing some research into reversing aids and I came across your above post. I was wondering if you could remember the name or company name who made the A frame for the wagon and drag? If have any information on it atall I would be more than grateful.
Hope to here from you soon.

Gary

 

[CyberCynth]

........im sure a caravan mover would be far cheaper

hgv dave
[/quote]

hgv dave, I can't comment on the part of your posting about hgv systems, as unfortunately my knowledge of lorries could be written on a postage stamp (and that's definitive, not commemmorative!) However, I'd agree on the motor mover comment; I have one one my Gobur Carousel (and on my previous caravan, an Elddis Avante 534) and I wonder how I managed without one! Believe it or not, I can actually reverse the caravn with the car, but I get very self-conscious if I know there's a site-full of caravanners watching me! So I tend to do the lazy thing and use the PowrTouch. The other thing I found very useful in the past is a Nissan Almera Tino as a towcar! It had a reversing camera; a very useful bit of kit when you're on your own. The Tinos are obsolete now, and I don't know whether its successor, the Qashqai, has one? There must surely be some other car manufacturers who fit reversing cameras? The kit mentioned by the first poster in this thread sounds as though its going to be pretty expensive.

 

[xtrailman]

My 2009 xtrail had a reversing camera, as does my Mazda cx-5.

A lot of cars have them now, my neighbours focus has one.
The latest cashcow is available with a surround camera system, i have yet to see one.

So i have a reversing camera on the car, and a twin camera on the caravan, but i'm still useless at reversing!

 

[CyberCynth]

Interested to hear you had an X-Trail; I'd love to have one, but looking at the fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions makes it an expensive and climate unfriendly choice in my book. I'm not sure the Qashqai is much better in that respect, although I noticed in the last edition of PC there was supposed to be an article about how Nissan's cleaning them up; haven't found it yet! A surround camera system sounds like a handy bit of kit.

I think the trick with reversing is to find somewhere quiet to go when you're hitched up with the 'van, and just keep practicing! Or maybe you and I should go on one of the Clubs' manoeuring courses! I do find that if I go for regular outings with the 'van, my reversing skills improve as the season progresses.

 

[xtrailman]

I was getting around 40 mpg around town with the xtrail, i was very happy with the consumption, and the car in general.
If the the uk disappeared into the ocean tomorrow the worlds emmissions would only reduce by 2%, so i've read.

The new cashcow has very low emmision engines now, a 1.6 diesel or petrol is the largest engine fitted.

If you really want to save the planet get yourself over to India and China, where they are happly pumping out pollutants, much like we where doing when we had a steel and coal industry.

 

[CyberCynth]

Ray, I'm not going to get into the green debate on this forum, it's not the most appropriate place. We all make choices with which we feel comfortable; my preference for a low-emission car keeps my conscience in it's comfort zone, even if it doesn't make a bit of difference in the grand scheme of things.

 

[paws]

RAY said>>>> snip:
"If the the uk disappeared into the ocean tomorrow..."
Looking around me, and on the weather news on the TV, I think maybe its disappearance into the ocean has already started...
Sincere condolances to all those affected...