Steering Issues when Towing

[LEC]

Hi

Have a Landrover defender (54 plate) - recently had a tyre blow out on the M5 and both back tyres were subsequently replaced. Since then the Landrover feels awful to tow with a trailer and horse up. I went down one junction of the M5 and it felt chronically unsafe with it snaking all over the place (landrover and not trailer) I aborted my plans because it felt so dangerous . The steering felt light and and it feels like it is veering all over the place and I am struggling to keep it on an even straight line. It also feels very light in front like its being blown by strong winds but the weather was fine and I have driven it in crazy weather and never felt like this. Normally Landy feels like a solid brick to drive towing.  I have driven thousands of miles towing with Landy over the years and its never felt like this. 

The trailer has the same set up as its previously had for years so pretty sure its not the trailer.  Landy was so unsafe so to get horse home I borrowed friends Disco 4 and everything fine again so hence not thinking its trailer.

Without a trailer it feels OK - steering column slightly loose and wants to hold left slightly but tracking doesn't feel that far off.  When others have driven it without a trailer to test what is wrong they think it feels fine. It just seems with a trailer up and going down a motorway at 60 its dangerous and exacerbates the issue.

Local Agri bods have had a look with a torch but nothing obvious.

Any suggestions about what could be the issue or is it a piece of string question?

 

Edited August 19, 2019 by LEC
title

[western]

tyre pressure to high or to low ? 

which tyre blew out ?

maybe the blow out caused suspension or steering damage/wear that needs curing.

[Escape]

As above, start with checking tyre pressure if you haven't already. The tyre place likely just put some reference pressure in, might not be suitable for towing.

[landroversforever]

I'd also check the tyres first. I'd also give the rear trailing arm, chassis end, bushes a look at. They can make the back of the car move around a lot. 

[Arjan]

Hmm...

- what tyres ?

- What body type ?

- What wheelbase ?

- What tyre pressure do you have ?

As you seem to have changed the tyres to start this problem, it makes sense to have a look at the tyres 1st..

 

...and with a horses trailer you'd not want any problems.

[mickeyw]

What tyres have you had fitted? Are they the same as before?

Insufficient pressure sounds a likely culprit, but I'd definitely check all axle locating bushes are in good order too.

[LEC]

On 8/19/2019 at 9:39 PM, western said:

Thanks tyre pressure was 28 and we have increased to 35 so hopefully the culprit as been to the garage and cannot find anything else that might be the reason for happening.

 

[Snagger]

28 is a front tyre pressure(without winch or other heavy additions), and is too soft for the back, especially towing.  Check the wheel nuts have been done up properly, too - you wouldn’t be the first victim of a careless tyre fitter leaving the nuts loose or tightening them so much they strip the threads or crack the hub or studs.