Q&A: Avoiding fish-tailing

• Wednesday, 11 June 2008
• Dan Foley
• 0 Comments

Q: Can you tell me how to load my boat and car to prevent the outfit from fish-tailing while on the road?

When loading a trailer ensure the weight is distributed as evenly as possible. Nose weight is a very important factor in making your vehicle and trailer combination safe during towing. Inadequate nose weight can cause snaking problems. Beware as too much nose weight causes other problems. Noseweight should be at least 50kg when the outfit is stationary. Refer to the recommendations of your vehicle and trailer manufacturers.

Always drive at a speed that is well within your capabilities, and consider road and weather conditions. If your trailer begins to snake or swerve, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently – do not brake. Snaking is more likely if you are driving too fast or the load in the trailer is wrongly positioned. Do not brake sharply on a bend, (this could cause jack-knifing). Reduce speed before the bend and take the appropriate gear for the speed you are doing. Then gently accelerate out of the bend.

The National Trailer and Towing Association www.ntta.co.uk has useful advice on safe loading and driving.