dual traction control

anderson53
anderson53 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited July 2017 in Towcars & Towing #1

Help please we have built in traction control on our Ford CMax and Alco ATC on our Unicorn Madrid, do we need to have both these on when towing or should we turn off the ATC on the car (it has that option).  We were told by our Bailey supplier that we did not need both but our local caravan service centre says we do need both.  Palmer 53

 

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2017 #2

    Alko ATC is trailer control to improve stability and reduce sway. It is not a traction control system as fitted to the car which is designed to help prevent loss of grip by the driving wheels. 

    They are two different things and your car handbook will tell you in what circumstances you should use/not use the TCS.

    http://www.al-ko.co.uk/pages/al-ko-atc.html

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_control_system

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #3

    You don't actually NEED either, but they're fitted to your vehicle & caravan, so you leave both ON. The only times you might need to turn your car's traction control/ATC off is at slow speed in snow or mud

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2017 #4

    The two are completely different. Traction control on the car is there to help the tyres grip when the wheels may otherwise spin, ATC applies the brakes on the caravan and has nothing to do with traction control. Maybe you are confusing TSP (Trailer Stability Program) on the car with traction control, but even then it's wise to keep both ESP and ATC switched on.

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