Pipe lorry creating unexpected turbulence
Interesting experience on the M6 today. I was driving north at my usual (indicated) 65mph, when the caravan, which has always been rock steady, began swaying from side to side. Not violently, but enough that I stopped on the hard shoulder and checked the wheels, tyres, stabiliser etc. We continued at a slightly lower speed, with no problem. Eventually we caught up with a lorry that I recognised, and I wondered whether it might have been connected with the sway. As we approached it another caravan was ahead of us. When it got within 75 yards of the lorry, it started to sway and hastily backed off. We had another go at passing the lorry, with the same result, so eventually had to settle for trailing it at a safe distance for the next 30 miles.
The lorry in question had low sides and back - the sort that might be delivering a few tons of ballast. In this case the load was a number of 6 foot diameter coils of what looked like 4 inch plastic tubing arranged standing on edge sort of parallel to the wheels. I know car transporters can give turbulence problems, but not encountered anything like this in 40 years of towing.
Comments
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Sorry, typo, that was 62 -3 on the speedo. Didn't seem to matter, still wobbled at 56 following the truck within 75 yards or so
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Even smaller lorries with poorly secured / flappy tarpaulins over irregular shaped objects, severely disrupt the airflow in comparison to a standard HGV. Although not as severe as the OP describes it is wise to be wary when you spot one.
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I had something similar following an empty tipper recently. It was a very large tipper trailer with deep sides, no cover and due to a small open Shute in the trailer tailgate could see it was empty. I assumed the open Shute was there to release wind pressure out of the trailer but in so doing was creating a heck of a blast of an air jet behind. Like the OP simply had to keep a distance until fortunately the drivers ( there were two trucks) turned off the autoroute (t'was in French France).
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Similar problem for us today passing an artic with what looked like a load of tractor wheel rims (not covered). As the motorway was quiet Mrs One moved to the outer lane and completed a safe move. Usually car transporters have the most unsettling effect for us.
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I wonder if some of it could be the notorious wheel ruts in the carriageway.
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Agree with MM, transporters have no effect on my towing whatsoever and doubt a pipe lorry would either. Only thing that creates a bit of 'suction' is the big panel vans that might pass at speed, but I seem to have a very stable unit anyway.
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My unit is normally totally stable. Car transporters are well known to produce turbulence and affect towed caravans but, as you say, this is seldom a problem. Today's phenomenon was completely unexpected, I have never known anything like it - the fact that it affected another van as well was also significant
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Car transporters always seem to create unpleasant turbulence in my experience. I agree with the OP on that one. I also agree that panel vans overtaking cause a significant "kick" to the van, as do speeding coaches.
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Although we've got a well balanced car/caravan combination I am always careful when passing transporters or other odd/unusual layouts as there is often turbulence as the air is driven through at 60mph. Flat sided HGV etc, no problem at all.
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Car transporters are a particular type that gives you what sailors would call 'dirty air'. I either overtake the or drop back a bit. You can usually see the van moving when it doesn't in normal circumstances.
Those that have never noticed it must be very lucky!
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There was one on the M3 northbound this week in the middle lane and the "Wash" as it passed was really noticable also it made the driver towing a horse box two in front of us apply his brakes(there was nothing in front of him)so if no one notices its because they must be obliviose to their saroundings
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Had something similar last October on the A90 with a lorry carrying pallets. The outfit in question,now both changed, had traveled 1000's of miles over the previous 3 years in varying conditions without issue. Put it down to the strange turbulence it may have caused. When the truck cut off the dual carriageway the usual rock steady stability returned.
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We've experienced exactly the same thing following a car transporter - we also stopped to check tyres, etc, to find no problems. We concluded it must have been the railed sides of the transporter, combined with the cars that created some really bad turbulence.
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The only time I have ever noticed any 'wobble' towing was when following an empty car transporter on the motorway for some distance at 56mph, waiting for a safe passing opportunity. Dropping back from it but then resuming 56mph stopped it, so there's definitely something in this. It will no doubt also depend on the prevailing wind speed & direction, but the 'dirty air' from 'unusual' shaped trucks/loads is certainly something I am aware of now.
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and indeed it was a safe move
