Handling Performance - FENDT CARAVAN 2021 Operation Manual

2. Safety

2.4 Handling Performance

Driving
Take a test drive or a safety training course before the first long drive
to better acquaint yourself with the carriage in driving conditions.
Rules for driving
• Do not underestimate the length of the carriage.
• Exercise special caution when driving toward yards and
through gates.
• In conditions with strong side winds, slick ice or wet roads, the
carriage could move back and forth.
• Adjust driving speed to overall street and traffic conditions.
• Long, lightly sloping roads are potentially dangerous. Measure
your speed from the outset in such a manner that the carriage
can be accelerated, if necessary, without endangering
other drivers or pedestrians.
• If the carriage moves back and forth on a sloping road, brake
carefully but rapidly if the carriage forms a line, i.e. if it is
stretched.
• Never increase speed if the carriage becomes pendulous.
• Do not drive down a hill any faster than you would drive up one.
• When overtaking or being overtaken by trucks or buses, the
carriage can be caught up in air suction. This may cause the
carriage to swerve or fishtail.
Driving around curves
Your carriage is considerably longer than a car.
Rules for driving around curves
• Do not take curves too quickly or too sharply!
• Take the curve at a somewhat wider radius when turning.
• Note that the caravan can sheer out of line over the rear.
Please note that by installing a bicycle carrier on the
drawbar you may reduce the steering angle between
the car and the caravan.
Brakes
A trailer carriage behaves differently from an individual vehicle whi-
le braking. Therefore, it is advisable (especially for inexperienced
drivers) to conduct several braking tests on a suitable surface. The
braking distance for a carriage is longer than that of an individual
vehicle. The load in the caravan also has a significant influence on
the braking distance.
Rules for braking
• Note the longer braking distance on wet roads.
• When driving down mountains or steep hills, do not use a higher
gear than when driving uphill.
• Principally, an overrunning brake system cannot differentiate
between a "normal" braking procedure and driving over a pass,
which lasts for a longer period of time. This can cause the
wheel brakes to heat up strongly so that, if necessary, you must
give them sufficient time to cool down.
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