How safe is your tow vehicle

Olley46 · Guru

How safe is your tow vehicle

Yuglamron · Guru

A friend told me it was because of the curve at that point on the chassis rails. They are Cold pressed which can cause a weakness in the metal. Sounds logical but not sure if that is the true reason.

elliemike · Guru

Air Bags fitted to Elliptical springs can create this.

Or overloading a trailer/caravan. That has excessive Ball Weight.

Saw one come in like that while in the Flinders Range last year, at the Great Wall. Young fella and family, very new 4x4. His mates told me he had stored water and extra fuel in a utility box fitted to the (extended) "A" frame of the Camper Trailer. They estimated he had 200 litres stored there. They were not amused as it had ruined their 4x4 trip. As they had to Tow the camper and nurse him back to civilisation. But I did feel for the guy. They had bee doing the Strezleki I think.

-- Edited by elliemike on Thursday 28th of May 2015 11:16:25 AM

-- Edited by elliemike on Thursday 28th of May 2015 12:41:42 PM

Cruising Cruze · Guru

No we only towed a 1200kg caravan mmmmmm

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Agree with elliemike, airbags or overloading. These vehicles, like mine were not designed to have airbags fitted. I have taken extra care to make sure I am not overloaded on the back of my Collie and also the van. Make sure you include the tow ball weight in your calculations in the back of the ute. This was all in the news, maybe, 2 years ago now.

I do feel for the owners and tell you that for free.

justcruisin01 · Guru

This problem has been happening for quite some time now & like said over loading, airbags & to big of vans etc etc, its time people realised this & bought suitable vehicles.

Dare say the insurance companies will be looking at the over loading in these cases.

JC.

Cupie · Guru

Last time that I was at Innaminka, the pub was using a bent ute as a town car runabout. It had apparently bent when grossly overloaded & doing the dunes too fast. At least that's the story that the driver gave us on our trip up to the landing strip.

PeterD · Guru

There is some good reading on the subject on this link.

signwilson · Senior Member

They have a bad habit of this my son tod me of a repair yard with a lot of these waiting for repair.

Baz421 · Guru

PeterD wrote:
There is some good reading on the subject on this link.

Interesting photos especially the one welding a VERY short doubler plate over obvious bend point. I hope he's not doing transverse welds (as appears) as this will crack agin very quickly s you only do longitudinal welds along these chassis IF allowed by manufacture AND TO THE WELDING SPECS.

I'm agast at this but I've seen and spoken to dual cab guys who overload and have 90psi in their airbags to compensate.

Hope we don't meet on the road.

Edit: PS Probably no doubler plate inside chassis rail as it would be too hard I would guess.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Thursday 28th of May 2015 09:47:54 PM

jonathan · Veteran Member

PeterD wrote:
There is some good reading on the subject on this link.

A good read Peter ..

I also have "Pedders" fitted airbags on a twin-cab and very happy with my setup.

Previously, I also had "Pedders" fit airbags to my MH and they too served me well 'til I changed mode of transport ..

Now, with more than 130,000 k's behind me without mishap, I'm happy to stay with what I have ..

Common-sense applies .. see the Pro's that know and design according to your needs.

I do travel on dirt as well but not off-road or cross-country .. my choice and it suits me!