Our chassis has cracked, does this happen often any does anybody know why or how it could happen ?
We are having it replaced ... Very costly ! So want to make sure it won't happen again ... But I'm not sure why it happened in the first place so any tips would be most useful .
Was speaking to somepne last week (folding camper) who had the same problem. Pennine took his F.C to a weighbridge and said he had put too much weight in it. Might not be your reason but might be wprth getting your unit weighed before repairs just in case that's the reason.
Jacking the caravan up by the corner steadies to get the caravan level can cause the chassis to warp which eventually could lead to a fracture over time. A minority of caravanners have been known to do this instead of using the appropriate ramps under the caravan wheels first and then level it by means of the four corner steadies afterwards. I'm not saying that this is the cause but this is the first I have heard of a steel chassis cracking.
Some "A" frames i read suffer metal fatigue when being towed with a jeep.The hard springs on the jeep dont give any leaway and are solid.When i had my Mits shogun and terrano both were fitted with a shock link.
As A welder by trade,chassis should be welded with a Low hydrogen electrode, am sure the chassis is a medium high tensile steel.dont weld it with a mild steel electrode, and just dont put to much heat into the chassis, just weld an inch at a time. vee the crack out,weld,and plate for added strengh.
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 13/9/2013
Some "A" frames i read suffer metal fatigue when being towed with a jeep.The hard springs on the jeep dont give any leaway and are solid.When i had my Mits shogun and terrano both were fitted with a shock link.
They are nice pieces of kit but at over £400 a time I would have to be seriously worried about chassis damage.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 13/9/2013
Some "A" frames i read suffer metal fatigue when being towed with a jeep.The hard springs on the jeep dont give any leaway and are solid.When i had my Mits shogun and terrano both were fitted with a shock link.
I thought that was a myth. Shoguns have adjustable suspension anyhoo so I'm not worried.
I would imagine the chassis in question would have been in pretty poor condition in the first place... or had a lot of abuse.
State of UK roads, potholes, sleeping policeman, raised areas etc and caravans being bounced around at breakneck speeds, I suspect there may be more and more vans suffering.
Take it steady out there folks; you're on holiday, whats the rush??
Re the sprung hitch connector, a mate from work had the caravan and car recovered back from Tenby by the AA after his French Lion Peugeot coughed up a lung (his words) destroyed its own turbo, ran on oil, blew itself up (my words).
To cut it short, the AA didnt use a suspended hitch on the flat bed truck; cracked the A frame and casued £3000 of bodywork damage when the front panel broke away from the rest of the coachwork. Ouch. The AA eventually admitted liability, and their insurance paid for the repair.
Perhaps another thing to be wary of.
------------- Regards
Chris
Caravanning for 22 years
1997 Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0TD & 2004 Avondale Mayfair 510-5L
Previous towcars:
2002 Nissan Primera - sold
2002 Ford Galaxy - Died & scrapped. Good riddance.
1998 BMW 525TDS SE - PEx
1998 VW Passat SE - Crashed into & scrapped
1997 Peugeot 406 GLX - PEx
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Topic: Cracked chassis
