MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: mccrlc on January 21, 2012, 06:43:05 PM
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Heading off to Western Australia (South West region) in March for 7 weeks and have been tossing around the idea of building a stone guard for the front of the Eagle. I have read numerous topics about them, but wondered whether it would be worth it if we're spending the majority of our time on bitumen?
Cheers
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I personally think it's not required however each to there own. I've traveled on quite a few dirty roads with our outback eagle without any dramas.
Darren :police:
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Heading off to Western Australia (South West region) in March for 7 weeks and have been tossing around the idea of building a stone guard for the front of the Eagle. I have read numerous topics about them, but wondered whether it would be worth it if we're spending the majority of our time on bitumen?
Cheers
Mate.... IMO a stone guard is a must for the front of your Jayco.
One dirt/gravel road can be enough to completely trash the front of a camper.
If your considering doing any dirt/gravel roads, I'd be splashing out on a stone guard.
We have a 2Brutal stone guard on the front of our Hawk, works a treat.
Stone Stomper is another great looking product that also works very well.
:cheers:
Glenn
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Another vote for Stone Stomper. Consider even that it just keeps it a little cleaner.
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something else to consider is stopping the stones getting to the trailer is bigger flaps on the vehicle help to reduce the amount of stones thrown up also. slowing down on dirt roads helps also >:D
i used to have a stone stomper on my soft floor - it was awesome. highly recommend it to anyone.
with my new setup i have a stone guard on the front of the camper, with bigger flaps on the vehicle and it seems to do the trick.
dan
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Also agree with having a stone guard after the many trips we have done over some rough unsealed roads and even sealed roads the stone guard as saved the Trackabout getting damaged. As it's easier to replace the stone guard when it requires a little TLC then all the work it takes to fix up the tool box and camper. When I look at the stone guard I can see why we have one and appreciate why it is there in the first place.
Just my thoughts though.
Amanda
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Not to mention stones bouncing back and smashing your vehicles rear window
Another stone stomper lover here
Yoda
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If you are travelling on even one dirt road a stoneguard is a must. Firstly you will protect your camper and secondly all it takes is one stone to smash your back window - then how will you feel about trying to save some bucks while you and your family are stuck in the middle of nowhere with no back window.
Believe my mate - he tells me it is not a pleaseurable feeling at all (and he had RockTamers on).
Another vote for Stone Stomper from me.
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/558/dsc2169.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/dsc2169.jpg/)
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Hi Mrcrlc,
I know you said you were going south, all our travels have taken us north in WA. A stone guard is very cheap insurance.
I was up near Marble Bar early in Sept last year and a rock blew out the back window on the ranger with a canopy, those things are $1500 dollars to replace. My bother blew his rear window on his challenger, the poor bugger, a wife and 2 kids on board.
They were literally crying tears of mud by the time we all got into Port Headland and then a 3 day wait for a rear window to be flown in!! :(
We only have CT's but we now invested in stone guards, yes they cost us both over $600 but the inconvenience is just too much.
As one of the other guys said, have a look at the guard after a trip, it ain't pretty and I would like my ct to look nice for a bit longer
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Yes.
Most of our time with our old camper van was on the black strip, too. The spur of the moment decision to detour across a gravel road made a bit of a mess of the front of it. Thankfully I did not have any window problems.
cheers
Farquo
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HI mate, learnt our lesson back in 2001 when we went for a trip when we lived in charleville...went to SA and took a shortcut (which too longer in the end) on a dirt road.... the camper was aboslutely trashed by stones..... had to get in repainted.... so my suggestion is that you may say that you wont go on dirt roads but like me I did and did regret it at the time, so will certainly go nowhere without a stone guard...
(still have to get one for our swan......)
But at the end of the day there are people in the world worse off than me....
Regards
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Another vote for the stone guard
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Some type of stone guard is essential if you wish to avoid damage to the front of a camper (or caravan) and minimise the risk of a broken window on the rear of a wagon.
As has been said- even a short distance on gravel can see damage occur.
There are a number of different types..
Some absorb the energy of the stones and grit flying up..
Some deflect the stones downward – away from the rear of the vehicle.
Jim
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Another vote for the stone guard
Stone guard??? Always thought yours looks more like a street-sweeper, Jamie....... ;D.......it's a stone guard on steroids!!
Agree though. If you care about your gear, and aren't keen on broken rear windows, an effective stone guard is a necessity.
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Thanks for all the replies, think I might be leaning towards building a stone guard before we leave.
This might be a silly question but is the idea of the bend in the stone guard to deflect rocks outwards once flicked up from the car??
Thanks Again.
mccrlc
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Thanks for all the replies, think I might be leaning towards building a stone guard before we leave.
This might be a silly question but is the idea of the bend in the stone guard to deflect rocks outwards once flicked up from the car??
Thanks Again.
mccrlc
The bend gives a bit more room when turning, angled forward pushes the stones back down and the mesh needs to be loose to absorb the energy of the stones.
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Thanks qlddsl
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My humble Gibber Grabber deflects the objects under the CT & out of harms way . Some do go out sideways as dose the dust . At 100 km the flaps ride about 100mm off the ground shooting the gibbers under & away . Somt flaps are very stiff , I belive they should be soft to reduce the power of the roll :cheers:
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Some flaps are very stiff , I believe they should be soft to reduce the power of the roll :cheers:
Speewa, just to clarify please.
Are you saying the flaps on your device are stiff and that you wished they were soft?
Or are you saying that other people's versions of your device are 'stiff' and that in your opinion they should be soft?
Or perhaps you're actually saying something else entirely.......and I'm just too dim to get it. :-[
Thanks - Wayne
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My next camper will be getting the Stone Stomper treatment.....and although the present KK has probably the best front stone guard going around.....and with a couple more added mud flaps as well......and running extra flaps on the 4 wd as well.......you cannot stop all the stones......
At least with the Stone Stomper.....ALL stones are prevented from hitting the front of the camper ......underneath is another matter....and one which there is no fix for ??
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It only takes one stone to bounce off the tow and back at ur rear window to turn the air con of ur vechile into crapola
i speak with experience here
birdsville track october 2009 5 days into a 3 week trip with and we are still eating dust
majority of ur time on black top is not 100% and it never will be .. so i would advise .. protect urself
as well as mud flaps .. i would advise carrying big sheet of plastic and race or gaffa tape .. and cardboard boxes .. all very versatile and handy items that can be adapted in a mutitude or circumstances
have a great trip
regards
MsTree
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Hi mccrlc,
I made a homemade job out of a old Aluminum flyscreen door & shadecloth, I'll clean it up one day and make it a little bit more pretty ;D
The shade cloth is loose and angled forward to stop stones/rocks from bouncing off it and smashing into the back of the cruiser. It worked well when we travelled from Yunta to Hawker and through some of the Flinders Rangers.
It's able to be unbolted fairly quickly, and placed on the rear, between the tool box and the back of the Swan..
I know it's not the best looking one out there, but it works.
(http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Touche/Stone%20Deflector%20Frame.JPG)
(http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Touche/Stone%20Deflector.JPG)
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It only takes one stone to bounce off the tow and back at ur rear window to turn the air con of ur vechile into crapola
i speak with experience here
birdsville track october 2009 5 days into a 3 week trip with and we are still eating dust
majority of ur time on black top is not 100% and it never will be .. so i would advise .. protect urself
as well as mud flaps .. i would advise carrying big sheet of plastic and race or gaffa tape .. and cardboard boxes .. all very versatile and handy items that can be adapted in a mutitude or circumstances
have a great trip
regards
MsTree
Thanks MsTree.
Looks like the welder will be coming out in the next few weeks.
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Hi mccrlc,
I made a homemade job out of a old Aluminum flyscreen door & shadecloth, I'll clean it up one day and make it a little bit more pretty ;D
The shade cloth is loose and angled forward to stop stones/rocks from bouncing off it and smashing into the back of the cruiser. It worked well when we travelled from Yunta to Hawker and through some of the Flinders Rangers.
It's able to be unbolted fairly quickly, and placed on the rear, between the tool box and the back of the Swan..
I know it's not the best looking one out there, but it works.
(http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Touche/Stone%20Deflector%20Frame.JPG)
(http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Touche/Stone%20Deflector.JPG)
Thanks Hairs.
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Decision made, I have built a Stoneguard, photos of framework attached.
Thanks for all your advice.
mccrlc
Another photo with the mesh inserted, only the flaps to go... :cheers:
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Nice work :cup:
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Looking good there mate :cheers:.
You know where mine is if you want to have a look at anything. You going to run flaps on the bottom edge?
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Photo of the nearly finished stone guard, only need to put the flaps on the bottom edge to finish it off.
Cheers
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mccrlc,
Has your van got the standard length tow a fram? I have a stone guard very similar to yours I made for our Swan Outback and now am going to change the mountings to suite our Discovery Outback to fit and would like to know how clearances appear to the tow vehicle, ours has a jerry can holder about where your gas bottles are. We also tow with a PB Challenger.
regards
Jimsiron
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Nice job - both of you - they look like they came from the factory!!
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I thought these photos of our stone (in this case mud) guard after coming back from Arkaroola last june would interest members.
regards
Jimsiron
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Great work mccrlc! Quick Q - the mesh - did you make that up yourself or get someone to sew it up?
Likewise Jimsiron - be interested to see how you did the mesh bit in yours. Looking at those last photos of your camper, I'm reminded of the Home Hardware ads : "The Proper Offroad Camper Trailer".
Thanks!
Matto :)
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We had the mesh sewn up at a local canvas shop, they also made our shade panels for both sides of the trailer.Did a good job but if I replace it will make it slightly bigger.
regards
Jimsiron
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mccrlc,
Has your van got the standard length tow a fram? I have a stone guard very similar to yours I made for our Swan Outback and now am going to change the mountings to suite our Discovery Outback to fit and would like to know how clearances appear to the tow vehicle, ours has a jerry can holder about where your gas bottles are. We also tow with a PB Challenger.
regards
Jimsiron
Jimsiron,
Standard bar on the Eagle.
Have not had it on the car since install completed but all measurements done beforehand there shouldn't be any problem.
Will be hooking up in the next week to weigh the van before we head off on our holiday so will let you know how I get on if you like.
mccrlc
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Great work mccrlc! Quick Q - the mesh - did you make that up yourself or get someone to sew it up?
Likewise Jimsiron - be interested to see how you did the mesh bit in yours. Looking at those last photos of your camper, I'm reminded of the Home Hardware ads : "The Proper Offroad Camper Trailer".
Thanks!
Matto :)
Matto,
Had the mesh made up at the local canvas shop for $60, well worth it as it looks a lot better job than what I could of done.
Cheers
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Great job mccrlc :cup:.
Hope you don't get as dirty as the pics that Jimsiron put up, I don't think you would be to happy :-*
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As well as a stome guard i got a piece of corflute from bunnings (the stuff they make realeastate for sale signs out of. Cut it to shape and use double sided tape to stick to the rear window i cant see out of it with the camper on anyway
Servesa a couple of purposes
1. Gives a bit extra protection if a stone flies up
2. Will help hold the window together if it shatters
3. Helps keep interior cooler
4. Bloocks from prying eyes
Put it on on the oodnadatta track and left it there till i reached perth it was a good 3 dollar mod