checker plate stone guard on lifestyle

[turbo ninja]

Just wondering how these lifestyle checker plate stone guards go?  They are angled but look as though rocks would ricochet.
 
Seems most people go for a mesh style stone guard to soften the bounce of the rocks. Does anyone have this style
stone guard? is it effective? do rocks bounce back into the tow vehicle? have you put carpet or rubber on it to create a softer surface?

I don't want to hit a rocky road to find out myself!

thanks

turbo ninja

[Bird]

if tight mesh causes ricochet then I'd hate to see what rigid material would do.. but its probably cheaper...

[Kiwijohn]

It would be interesting to test in real life as the tight mesh with added wind flapping might act like a slingshot flicking some stones with extra force at the vehicle, where the hard surface would bounce more back with less force.

Thoughts?

John

[callmejoe]

I would more likely think hitting a solid surface plus with that surface moving while being towed would be way worst. If anything it could even increase the speed of the ricochet back at your window.

[Homer_Jay]

The only thing that stone guard would protect is the jerry cans.
Would not stop stop stones hitting the car at all.

I have the mesh one on my lifestyle camper, and I still get a lot of stones hitting the back of the car. IMHO I think the stones ricochet off the tube frame.

Certainly looks like a cost saving stone guard to me.

[Lori]

I couldnt tell you what type is better/ more effective, only our experience.

We have a lifestyle camper with the solid stone guard and 95% of our camping involves gravel/ dirt roads.

We have had no issues with stone's being deflected into the car, havent heard any telltale bangs, seen any dents or scratches or had a broken window.

[turbo ninja]

thanks Lori , great to get some real life experience feedback. 

[GeoffA]

Yonnies will make it look like crap in 5 minutes.

Fit a Stone Stomper, or make one similar yourself.

[turbo ninja]

"Yonnies"  . I used that term as a kid and have not heard it for ages..... thanks for the laugh and quick trip down memory lane 

[GeoffA]

 You're welcome....

[speewa158]

lm, glad you got the pic when you did cause it aint going to look like that for long . Unless you don't used it of course  .
Get yourself a nice sheet of Perspex or the like to cover the back window to protect it . Or a dust pan & small broom to clean up the dust & glass . This is experience talking       

[xvprado]

I met an engineer some years ago who changed his aussie swag typical shadecloth sort of material to a checkerplate same as this. His view was that the checker plate would absorb all energy from the projectile and it would not bounce off, but more just drop to the ground
he had a beard and stuff and looked like a nerd, so i reckon he knew betterer than me 

[turbo ninja]

thanks for the feedback.

Protecting the back window with perspex (or similar) on a really rocky road is a good idea. I too have broken a back window with my other regular tandem trailer in tow, so I know that feeling speewa.

I am just curious in the "solid v mesh" stone guard. I did like the comment from xvprado about his engineer mate, he sounds like a smart kind of guy. Was he wearing a white lab coat? If so, then a beard, white lab coat and nerd like appearance would end this debate in an instant 

[speewa158]

Did he have a pocket full of pens & a clip board . That would do it for me        

[xvprado]

Yup, I saw a white coat hanging up, but it was on the weekend, so i guess that was why he wasnt wearing it.
He had clipboards all over the shed and in his chest pocket he had a plastic pen sleeve with a pen of each colour and 3 different grade pencils, including a HB !!

i reckon this bloke was pretty bloody clever


p.s, he was not a "mate", OK ?