check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar Canegrowers rearview170 Cobb Grill Skid Row Recovery Gear Caravan Industry Association of Australia
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> The Grey Nomads - General -> Chassis crack in Navara
Post Info TOPIC: Chassis crack in Navara
Cupie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4601
Date:
Chassis crack in Navara
Permalink  

Hi ... 

A friend was preparing his vehicle in readiness for hooking up a new caravan.

Much to his horror he found cracks on both chassis rails of his Navara King Cab Ute.  I haven't had a look at it yet so am just going on his verbal descriptions of the issue.

I see lots of newish Utes pulling vans and wonder how widespread this problem is.

He had a professionally fitted Hayman Reece tow bar & hitch to pull his rather small van.

It seems that his tow bar was attached by 3 bolts either side to the bottom of the 'C' section chassis.

Both Hayman Reece & their agent 'RFM 4X4 Accessories' in Brisbane were extremely helpful & are arranging a fix that includes welding of the cracks by a body works place & the fitting of a HR supplied plate to the chassis to strengthen the attachment.  It seems that all current HR tow bars come with this plate.  Perhaps an installation oversight or a maybe later mod.

 

It might be a good idea to check your chassis if you are towing with a modern Ute.

 

ps. Nissan didn't want to know him. It seems that they had this problem with the earlier Spanish made vehicles but not the later Thailand manufactured ones (maybe they had the newer hitches fitted).  They were most unhelpful.



-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 13th of July 2013 02:41:35 PM

__________________

See Ya ... Cupie
Gerty Dancer


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6997
Date:
Permalink  

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t53959913/revisiting-xtrails-towing-caravans/?page=1&sort=

Found a relevant thread.



-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Saturday 13th of July 2013 05:22:16 PM

__________________

Cheers,  Gerty. ... at home

"Leaning forward to see whats coming"
                                                                   
hanoman


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 10
Date:
Permalink  

Do you know if your friend had Airbags fitted?

__________________
Cruising Granny


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6882
Date:
Permalink  

I often wonder about this when I see small SUV's and utes towing big vans.
If a small van causes this problem to a ute with something like 3 tonne capacity, what are the big vans doing to the structure of the vehicle, not to mention, (but I will) the motor, transmission/bear box and differential.
Cheap and economical is not better in this case.
I believe it's better to tow with a vehicle which has spare "horses", rather than pull the guts out of the limited horses you have under the bonnet.
It's good to know there is a solution to the problem. Take care it doesn't happen again.
Safe and happy travels to your friend. Share a glass or two for me.

__________________

20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment.
Transport has no borders.

Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
barrie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 625
Date:
Permalink  

Have heard about this for about 4 years now and just how unhappy people are with the navara especially with those carry a tray top camper

__________________
Cupie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4601
Date:
Permalink  

hanoman wrote:

Do you know if your friend had Airbags fitted?

 No airbags ... Standard suspension.



__________________

See Ya ... Cupie
justcruisin01


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4206
Date:
Permalink  

How many times have we heard all this before, cracks & chassis bending, there notorious for it.

Same with many other mid size units, tritons, hilux, rangers,  & now even the new nissan patrol is cracking.

Thats why I am buying a big unit with lots of load carring capacity.

JC.



__________________

 

 

Be your self; there's no body better qualified !                    "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"

 

JC.

 


 

                                             

                

    

                          

Legendts


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 394
Date:
Permalink  

OK, so it's at Gympie, either a Tundra (hmm petrol though) or a Chevy? Didn't you check out the Shogun Rams JC? Top spec @ $105 ~ $110k. Looked a nice conversion too. But you will be happy whatever you bought 'cause you are paying for it.

__________________

Cheers Jeff

Ticking off the bucket list before we kick it!

200 TTD with Evernew 22'6" and 40+ years in the oil & gas industry, now retired. CMCA Member.
Baz421


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2206
Date:
Permalink  

When I was involved with chassis inspections after repairs the criteria were as follows for heavy vehicles and also other rail chassis light vehicles and technical bulletins reflected this.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/vsb_06_h.pdf

In particular transverse welding is a no no.



__________________

Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Cupie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4601
Date:
Permalink  

Baz421 wrote:

When I was involved with chassis inspections after repairs the criteria were as follows for heavy vehicles and also other rail chassis light vehicles and technical bulletins reflected this.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/vsb_06_h.pdf

In particular transverse welding is a no no.

 Thanks for the link.  I'll forward it to my friend with the problem.

The job is to be done by a specialist body shop & in accordance with Nissan instructions & I assume the relevant specs.

What is a "Transverse weld"?

After the repair job strengthening plates from HR will be installed using existing holes & nuts.

 



__________________

See Ya ... Cupie
Kiwi-as


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 680
Date:
Permalink  

When I was up Cape York last yr. seen a Navara with a broken back, and owner was saying Nissan didn't want to know about it.


966 (640x480).jpg






Attachments
__________________
BB
tiger5


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 177
Date:
Permalink  

That is strange as I received a recall on my Navara to check if there was any cracks.I was told the many problem was with the Nissan tow bar.
Mine has a Hayman Recce & was told I would have to pay if it needed fixing,all was found ok so keeping my fingers x.

__________________

Jeff


TIGER 5
Ex. 5 RAR Sig.
Nissan DC
21ft Jayco Heritage van
Hawkesbury NSW
Baz421


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2206
Date:
Permalink  

Cupie

Transverse weld is weld ACROSS the chassis rail.

The opposite is longitudinal weld ALONG the chassis rail if allowed,,,, ie to weld a plate on.



__________________

Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
herbie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1950
Date:
Permalink  

Reading the posts regarding this problem re crack in the Navara, Realy sounds like it should be a full factory re call, before some is badly involved in a accident by this crack.

 

 



-- Edited by herbie on Monday 15th of July 2013 08:24:23 PM

__________________

Time To Sleep Later In Life.
Cruising Cruze


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2138
Date:
Permalink  

I call this BIG 2011-f350-3_653.jpg



Attachments
__________________
Cupie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4601
Date:
Permalink  

Baz421 wrote:

Cupie

Transverse weld is weld ACROSS the chassis rail.

The opposite is longitudinal weld ALONG the chassis rail if allowed,,,, ie to weld a plate on.

 Thanks for that ...



__________________

See Ya ... Cupie
justcruisin01


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4206
Date:
Permalink  

Cruising Cruze wrote:

I call this BIG 2011-f350-3_653.jpg

 thats a pup,what will it be when it grows up  jc.



__________________

 

 

Be your self; there's no body better qualified !                    "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"

 

JC.

 


 

                                             

                

    

                          

signwilson


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 243
Date:
Permalink  

cry I read that there was a recall on navara's because of chassis cracks it is a very common problem. They also have a problem with brake pads and rotors



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> The Grey Nomads - General -> Chassis crack in Navara
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook