Swift and the Towcar Awards
Swift has been a partner in the Towcar Awards from the start. Since the first year of testing in 2007, only Swift tourers have been used.
Swift provides 10 specially prepared caravans, two for each of the five weight classes into which the cars are divided. The tourers are standard production models, but with one or two important differences.
Firstly, the stabilisers are removed. While Swift values stabilisers as a safety aid in normal towing, removing them amplifies differences in behaviour between the towcars.
Secondly, the AL-KO ATC anti-snake devices fitted to each caravan have their braking function disabled so as not to disguise poor stability. Instead, the ATC devices are hooked up to a laptop computer to give a real-time picture of each outfit’s stability, which the judging panel uses to help choose the winning cars.
Each tourer is ballasted to make an 85% match. Careful loading sets the noseweight to 7% of the caravan’s laden weight, or up to the car’s towball limit if this figure is lower.
Before testing starts and at regular intervals throughout the tests, experts from Swift and AL-KO Kober check each caravan’s hitch, brakes and tyres are in safe condition.
