MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: D4D on January 07, 2011, 03:10:16 PM
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Not a good start to caravan ownership - A brand new $86,000 caravan was totalled on the M1 this morning about 30 minutes after being collected by its proud owners.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/01/07/280871_gold-coast-news.html
(http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/gallery/remote/2011/01/07/858891.jpg)
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OH Cr@p hope they had their insurance in place :'(
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My dad got bumped around there. Lady just drove into the side of the van, you could see the wheel scallop. Luckily he kept it all together.
I'll be passing through there on Sunday, wish me luck! 8)
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I know its easy to criticise, but personally I think something a bit bigger than a Ford Ranger ute would be a lot more safer to tow a van of that size. Anyway, good to see they survived with no injuries.
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The 4x4 Ranger is rated a 3T for the manual, I wouldn't want to tow 3T with it.
Looking at pic 12, the WDH, hitch, hitch receviver, shackles and chains are all hanging off the coupling and pic 23 where this is no visible towbar. Looks to me like the towbar itself snapped off the vehicle.
(http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/gallery/remote/2011/01/07/858931.jpg)
(http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/gallery/remote/2011/01/07/859031.jpg)
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Yep. Saw that this morning. Not a good way to treat a brand new van, aparantly it got the speed wobbles and jacknifed. Sure did make a mess and a major traffic jam. Luckily i was in the southbound lane so was'nt affected greatly. Makes you wonder about the choice of tow vehicle though. Would't have happened to a camper trailer. ;D
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You can see the collar for the towbar still on the hitch with the pin still in it. Snapped off the bar itself :o
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Yup and in the other pics the owner is holding what looks like the hitch that came with the towbar. I assume the carvan dealer changed it to a WDH. It could get ugly.
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Recken I will stick to my solt floor , do you reckon the solar on the side/roof work well ? Poor Bastard :'( :'(
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Yep not a good start to 2011........... and yep i reckon their would be some finger pointing, insurance calls and solicitor phone calls happening by now........ poor bugger.
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Wonder what the ball weight would be? Hard to imagine that any beast this size could be pulled other than with a WDH.
I once had a dual axle trailer carrying a VW type 3 wagon speed wobble / jackknife on me for no apparent reason at sub 80kph. Thankfully kept both up-right, but took all lanes of the Monash Freeway to bring it to a halt. Slammed the sound wall and pretty much wrecked all 3 vehicles in the process.
There is no way this poor bloke had a chance once that van started moving, at any speed.
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All I can say is "Jesus ... what the hell just happened?"
(http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/gallery/remote/2011/01/07/858991.jpg)
Poor buggers. What happens to make the tow vehicle roll? Of course, where the towveh goes the van is sure to follow. Well by the looks of the photo's the roll out awning is stuffed.
When we collected our Baby, we made sure that all the brakes, lights and driver were working before we left the industrial estate, and as this couple did, we hit the highway. You really do trust those salesmen and women that sell you the dream vehicle, but I think alot is also common sense and regulatory investigation. I'd love to know the whole story.
Kit_e
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my company has supplied me with a Ford Ranger for work and I wouldnt want to use that as a tow vehicle for such a large van.......put a ton on the tray and the ranger cant even steer properly......bad luck for them and hope they get covered and obviously learn from whatever mistakes happened
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Yup it would have been the tail wagging the dog once she got the speed wobbles up
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If I need extra weight I find it best to put another slab in the back till the tow is of equal weight . Then to adjust to the correct weight biring them to the correct temp & drinkum . :cheers:
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If I need extra weight I find it best to put another slab in the back till the tow is of equal weight . Then to adjust to the correct weight biring them to the correct temp & drinkum . :cheers:
Always the voice of reason Speewa! ;D
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If I need extra weight I find it best to put another slab in the back till the tow is of equal weight . Then to adjust to the correct weight biring them to the correct temp & drinkum . :cheers:
The wisdom of Solomon as usual Speewa.You should be writing the rules for the Transport department keep the good work coming. TINKERA.
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my thoughts exactly :cheers:
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Check out what they had for 30 mins. Best 30 mins ever I reckon!!!!
http://www.newagecaravans.com.au/new-age-caravans/the-jewel.html (http://www.newagecaravans.com.au/new-age-caravans/the-jewel.html)
Kit_e
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Check out what they had for 30 mins. Best 30 mins ever I reckon!!!!
http://www.newagecaravans.com.au/new-age-caravans/the-jewel.html (http://www.newagecaravans.com.au/new-age-caravans/the-jewel.html)
Kit_e
Very flash, hence the price tag.,,
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This ain't going to be pretty, good to see no one was injured, a dual cab to pull a van of that size, without proper wait over the rear axle on the dual cab...askin for trouble at speed, ie over 80kph.
There is going to be some serious finger pointing, egos, lawyers..man.... this is going to get nasty...
Towing a decent van of this weight and size say 2000kg, that is some serious weight being pulled behind an unloaded dual cab, talking about having a tiger by the tail.
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Strooth! :'(
Gotta feel for them. What rotten luck.
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I wonder if the wobbles had anything to do with not enough towball downweight? It would be very interesting to find out if anyone ever gives an answer as to the cause of the wobbles.
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Both the tow & the van would be about the same weight , what happenen to the trailer brakes . If the wobbles started to take over a jab on the trailer brakes only would stretch out the combo . this should sort out the problem pronto. Then slowly bring it to a stop . Might be just had no idea how its done .Do you reckon the driver is going to gather a mouthful from somebody on their driving skills ???
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Been looking at the pics and I think Barry might be on the money. I would love to know the measurements of that van it looks like if you take the front sloppy bit off then the axles dont look too far back. Ad in the 2 heavy spare tyres on the back, empty water tanks and an unloaded ute I would guess the driver was mearly a passenger. I am assuming from the pics the water tanks are forward of the axles and their full weight would be factored in the calcs. Bad luck for all involved.
I wouldnt stress too much about the tow hitch, the forces put on it having the van flip and the car roll would be huge, something had to give.
Would love to know what the wreck gets at auction as it would be a good project ;D
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Check out what they had for 30 mins. Best 30 mins ever I reckon!!!!
http://www.newagecaravans.com.au/new-age-caravans/the-jewel.html (http://www.newagecaravans.com.au/new-age-caravans/the-jewel.html)
Kit_e
Thanks for the gallery link.....that certainly is new age in style etc etc
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This ain't going to be pretty, good to see no one was injured, a dual cab to pull a van of that size, without proper wait over the rear axle on the dual cab...askin for trouble at speed, ie over 80kph.
There is going to be some serious finger pointing, egos, lawyers..man.... this is going to get nasty...
Towing a decent van of this weight and size say 2000kg, that is some serious weight being pulled behind an unloaded dual cab, talking about having a tiger by the tail.
I think that the dual cab would have to be unladen (or at least partially unladen) to be able to tow this caravan. Depends entirely on the ball download really.....as this must be subtracted from the max weight of vehicle towing capacity. eg my D40 has a download range in the hand book of 80-300kg......but as this increases the weight carried in the vehicle must be reduced....hope that makes sense.
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Bugger, looked nice I some how think thats only the start of it
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I jst looked at the link that Kit put up and in the gallery the tow tug is a ute!
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I think that the dual cab would have to be unladen (or at least partially unladen) to be able to tow this caravan. Depends entirely on the ball download really.....as this must be subtracted from the max weight of vehicle towing capacity. eg my D40 has a download range in the hand book of 80-300kg......but as this increases the weight carried in the vehicle must be reduced....hope that makes sense.
Agreed.
There is the scale balance with rates from the tow vehicle to the trailer that is being towed...what you have on one side you have to subtract on the other side to balance up braking and steering dynamics of the overall combination.
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I would be gutted to say the least. But I wouldn't tow a van like that with a Ford Ranger!
They are very lucky to walk away.
On a brighter side, a very modern looking van.
Dazza
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I am no caravan guru but i didnt notice the anti sway bars connected to the tow hitch or the remains there of......I would have thought a van that size would surely need those bars connected
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I am no caravan guru but i didnt notice the anti sway bars connected to the tow hitch or the remains there of......I would have thought a van that size would surely need those bars connected
Yep you are partly right there, there is part there-of a weight distribution hitch still hanging from the coupling but no bars from the hitch to the drawer bar or the bar hangers on the drawer bar.
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Part of the blame needs to be pointed at the dealer and their delivery methods. It is pointless selling someone a caravan and not teaching them about it, including correct loading and weight distribution. The ball weight should have been measured prior to delivery to ensure the customer is fully aware of how this can effect stability.
I noticed in the article that the salesman was on scene within minutes. I wonder if this was to ensure no liability could be passed to them.
:cheers: Cracka
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On the same thinking, I just drove beside a brand new tandem Jurgens (going by the number plate and how clean the unit was) towed by a Terracan CRD with no weight distribution hitch, sway bars etc. The thing was wandering all over the road and the owner was having a fun time trying to keep it in his lane. It was obviously too big to be towed safely by the Terracan however the sticker on the towbar said he could tow it so he did. Who owns the liability to that?
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Can't see it mentioned in this thread but I wouldn't be surprised if the caravan dealer rang and said his van was ready, and he hadn't had his trailer controller fitted to the car yet but he thought he might be able to pick it up with out it and sneak home .......
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Very sad indeed, but what the FXXX were they thinking ,
Regardless of what the specs or salesman say that car is just to small to SAFELY tow that van .
I see so much of this that it is surprising we don't see more accidents like this.
I see commodores towing 30 foot boats doing the sway down the road.
All it takes is one sharp directional change ,sometimes to avoid other road users or animals and boom it's all over I saw it happen once right before my eyes .they swerved to miss a roo and it was 1 left,1 right & over she went .(should have had a steel bar as thats why he swerved.)
But a valuable reminder to all who tow .
Glad they are ok .
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Yep you are partly right there, there is part there-of a weight distribution hitch still hanging from the coupling but no bars from the hitch to the drawer bar or the bar hangers on the drawer bar.
Howdy Bushman,
if you go into the website of the newspaper article and have a look at the photos you will actually see the box lying on the road that the sway bars come in....if memory serves with the salesman / manager of the caravan co standing there with the proud owner ( my neighbour is caravanner & he pointed it out to me) and also he said when he picked his up all he wanted to do was get going but his caravan suppliers would let him out the gates until the had hitch up the van and connected the sway bars did a test drive around the block made sure the braking etc was all in check....my mate reckons it took like almost 3 hours they were that particular...but in this case i dont think they did that handover at all with this fella...anyways ity owuld be great to know the full outcome
cheers
TK
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and thi ssi why all vehicles towing something should be put across the rta weigh bridges
id say 20% of all box trailers would get defected or done for dodgy serial nos
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Going cheap
http://www.manheim.com.au/find_buy/power_search/?unit_key=146130_AU403046164-146130;detail_tab=vinfo;tab=make;stream=Recreation;vehicle_type_desc=Caravan;state_all=1;model_all=1;rm=view_detail (http://www.manheim.com.au/find_buy/power_search/?unit_key=146130_AU403046164-146130;detail_tab=vinfo;tab=make;stream=Recreation;vehicle_type_desc=Caravan;state_all=1;model_all=1;rm=view_detail)
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The spare wheels look ok
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Check the gross weight as stated in advert on a twin cab ute!!!!
regards
Jimsiron
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"Renovators Delight"
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The spare wheels look ok
They're the only part of the caravan not to have touched the road ;D
:cheers: Cracka
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Ahh, The gvm on mannheim fowles state over 3tonne !!!! WTF Ford ranger towing capacity 3t ??? Looks like insurance company might have a get out of jail free card ..
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Ahh, The gvm on mannheim fowles state over 3tonne !!!! WTF Ford ranger towing capacity 3t ??? Looks like insurance company might have a get out of jail free card ..
Ford Ranger 4x2 can tow 3 tonne, provided have 1/.Heavy duty tow kit and wait for it....2/. load leveling device..... Hope the load leveling device was attached and working ?????????
or Insurance Company 1 Owner 0 and Solicitors/ Hangers on $$$$$$$$$$$$
Taken fron Ford Ranger Towing Specs
..Accessories - Towing and Carrying
Ranger 4X2 XL Single Cab Chassis Ranger 4X2 XL Single Cab Chassis Hi-Rider Ranger 4X2 XL Single Cab Pick-Up Ranger 4X2 XL Super Cab Chassis Hi-Rider
Bedliner - - - -
Towpack - standard 1,800kg A A A A
Towpack - heavy duty 2,250kg (including load levelling kit) A - A -
Towpack - heavy duty 3,000kg (including load levelling kit) - A - A
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saw this on another forum a while ago (poca) someone on there said he wascut of trying to change lanes ,as i said before thank the good man they are okay apart from being shaken up ,ali and glass can be repaired lives cant ,still a Shitty way to start your dream hope it all turns out ok for them
crispy ;D