Stone guard hard Vs soft

[jetcrew]

One of the last thing Im fabricating is a stone defector

I have 2 choices

hard propeller plate sprayed with anti chip stone defector 

Or

The traditional truck mesh with eyelets.

I am worried that the truck mesh will make rocks bounce off it where as the solid ally will take a impact but wont re generate the energy .. I know the ally will get hammered but thats its job and I have plenty of stone chip spray here anyway .

the angle is not as steep as i would have liked but circumstance dedicate its angle so it a little more upright then angled .


thoughts on solid vs soft 

[Burnsy]

Soft but unless you have something the width of the stone guard behind it that dictates it needing to be that wide, I am a strong believer in the Camprite style that has minimal surface parallel to the rear of the vehicle before wrapping back to the corner of your van via press studs or similar. I think the less surface area available to redirect rocks directly back at you the better.

[LC]

The soft one on my KK was excellent. It protected both kamper and car. I am not a big fan of the hard chequer plate on the reconn. Its only there to protect the camper. given a choice I would have preferred a soft stone guard on the reconn.

[MarkVS]

If you don't make the mesh tight,it won't generate any 'bounce' either.

[GeoffA]

Theo, why not make your own version of a Stone Stomper? They don't stop everything from hitting the camper (nothing does), but they are very good at protecting the back of the car....

 

[jetcrew]

Theo, why not make your own version of a Stone Stomper? They don't stop everything from hitting the camper (nothing does), but they are very good at protecting the back of the car....

 

I had thought of this but TIME is my issue right now with 2 weekends left before we leave, i am under the pump, I found an old stone shield from my trackabout days out the back shed so i cut this and modified it ..it was angled more as Burnsy was saying but my front area dictated it needed to be less angled so i put some cuts in it and bent it out straight then weld support on it .

I dropped it down to my canvass trimmer mate this arvo and he will knock something up by weeks end , I will call him and ask it not to be too tight as mentioned above and that will have to do me  for this trip, maybe look at stone stomper or the like upon my return .

It also had issues with the jockey wheel as well so i have had to make a special bar with fitting to go on the jockey wheel so i can use the cordless impact driver to put the wheel up and down  I can still use the handle but can only do 3/4 turns if that makes sense..I do like the impact driver though and I made the nut the same size as the stabiliser legs so i can zip around and do everything with the impact driver 

   

[jk]

Make sure the mesh is a "sock" style that has to two sides/double thickness that slips over the frame. We've had rocks go straight through the single layer ones on our hire campers years ago !!
Our Cape York has never had an issue in 11 years with the double layer style 

Cheers
Johnno

[glenm64]

Have you checked clearance with a tight turning circle? It looks close to hitch.
I made one for an older camper and found on tight turning it hit vehicle.


Cheers Glen

[GeoffA]

Make sure the mesh is a "sock" style that has to two sides/double thickness that slips over the frame. We've had rocks go straight through the single layer ones on our hire campers years ago !!
Our Cape York has never had an issue in 11 years with the double layer style 

Cheers
Johnno

I think it's Aussie Swag that use some tubular neoprene insulation (dunno what else to call it) over the steel frame.
Makes it soft so that the stones don't hammer the mesh.

[gronk]

Stone stomper.....NOTHING else comes close !!

[GeoffA]

Also.....I'd suggest bracing the top of the stone guard somehow....maybe back to the storage box?
Without some sort of effective brace, fatigue will take its' toll......

 

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Make sure the guard slopes forward at the top.  It is a necessary thing.
If the guard is vertical it will punch rocks etc. straight back at the tow vehicle, only brings misery, broken windows, dings in the panels etc.
That's why the stone guard has to be soft.

[McGirr]

Cant comment on a metal stone guard but the one i have on my camper has never had any issues. Its copped a hiding over the last 5 years. Its a trampoline matt material and attached to the stone guard by thick bungy cord. Its the original stone guard and the camper is 12 years old.

Mark

[KingBilly]

Hey Jet, saw a solid Lifestyle stone guard the other day that had marine carpet attached to the front of it with press studs. Solid and soft.  Interesting concept which I hadn't seen before.

KB

[jetcrew]

It's got a brace back to the bike mount .. It's rock solid I can move the camper pushing on it .

Turning circle will be effected slightly but given I could right angle jack knife before giving up a little is ok to me .

Spoke to canvass trimmer he does not go dual sock design but uses truck mesh and reinforced eyelets ..knowing his work . I'll trust him to do what he thinks is right .. He fishes a lot up north and does a lot of towing .

He suggested the foam pool noodle type thing over the bars too

[jetcrew]

It does slope forwards at the top .. When I get it back I'll measure the angle .. As said I don't want a sling shot .. If it needs tweaking I can adjust it with a grinder 

Thanks for all the feedback .. I'll stick with the mesh and make sure it's a loose fit rather than tight

Jet 

[BTMNDR]

I have an inclined soft mesh type stone guard on the Quantum.  The tailgate on my 200 Series still bears the scars from its lack of effectiveness.

I second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. the above comments on a Stone Stomper. It is simply a superlative product.

[jetcrew]

I hooked up the camper today and did some tests.. it was OK but just ok so called my mate who meet me down at the shop we test fitted it and its not quite right to me ..I like to be able to nearly jacknife the camper , so we will have to ditch the idea, we then went through options and then kept coming up against curve balls with bike carrier them tool box then this and that ..bloody annoying .

final result is the BMX will get a motorbike style channel on the top of the tool box lid. I had thought of this before but discredited it . trail fit shows I can get the lid open 40% with bike on . And our camping exp tells us the kids bike is the first item off and last item on so no issue there for me.

Then a new plate with an angled bar will come out and a soft mesh on angle like the camp right will wrap around the camper with pipes coming up off the toolbox edges.

  like this.. hopefully it looks better than my drawing skills

angle will be dictated by jockey wheel etc or may be a very short cut down of my previous frame I made yesterday set further back now the bike is gone off drawbar and then soft angled wings will have a play tomorrow night

Jet

[tryagain]

From the sound of what you're now having to do, getting your canvas mate to sew up a stone stomper style set up is sounding like an easier option.

[Hoyks]

From the sound of what you're now having to do, getting your canvas mate to sew up a stone stomper style set up is sounding like an easier option.

What he said, the van will start looking like the Titanic with a big canvas bow.

[jetcrew]

From the sound of what you're now having to do, getting your canvas mate to sew up a stone stomper style set up is sounding like an easier option.

Not sure i,m sold on stone stomper for offroad travel , I know i know its easily removed but I dont want a dusty dirt thing to remove and store somewhere when i want to articulate and put it in low.

Not being offensive in any way but for vans and dirt roads they seem great but for offroad work i,m just not sold on it for the $$$.

Not knocking the product in any way everything has it pros and cons ..just dont think its for me and my style.

I,d say this was dragged through something .

I will persevere with a design that suits my style and will provide what I,m after regarding protection without wiping out if i drag the drawbar.

Had a look online tonight at some wrap around styles and it seems i can get the angles to look alot better and sharper with an angled front like Camprite .

Jet

[GeoffA]

I had the same reservations about them Theo, so I made my own version that sits on top of the draw bar.
It stays where it is. I used to fold the front corners back in real slow going, but I don't bother now.
It's done about 60,000km, and still going strong. Showing some wear of course, but it's lasted surprisingly well.

I've seen a few shredded originals in my travels......mine's better....

 

[tryagain]

Not trying to convince you either way as you know best what will suit your needs but some more food for thought.

Not sure i,m sold on stone stomper for offroad travel , I know i know its easily removed but I dont want a dusty dirt thing to remove and store somewhere when i want to articulate and put it in low.

will provide what I,m after regarding protection without wiping out if i drag the drawbar.

GeoffA's version I think addresses these to a large part and to my way of thinking any dirt/dust/mud it collects would likely end up on your camper otherwise and I know where I'd rather it.

Not being offensive in any way but for vans and dirt roads they seem great but for offroad work i,m just not sold on it for the $$$.

I can't see a DIY version ending up more $$$ or effort than your alternative, likely less.

I don't have one yet but have a DIY version in my head (Similar to GeoffA's) for when time allows.

[glenm64]

What I love about stone stomper is how much less dust is over van
Don't have to worry about cleaning it before opening up anymore
The mat given a shake is pretty clean folds up flat about 400 x400 x70 so it can fit most spots
Take it off in muddy areas
I was a sceptic of them but now a fan


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jetcrew]

I had the same reservations about them Theo, so I made my own version that sits on top of the draw bar.
It stays where it is. I used to fold the front corners back in real slow going, but I don't bother now.
It's done about 60,000km, and still going strong. Showing some wear of course, but it's lasted surprisingly well.

I've seen a few shredded originals in my travels......mine's better....

 

That is very nice geoff

I like how you have the upright gurad if required and then the bottom piece as well.

I have been down to the trimmers today and the ally welders and we have made up a few things that will be attached to the drawbar and the camprite style will be used. i,m very happy with the design concept ..my whole plan was to force stones away from the rear door/windscreen so with a central post on the drawbar and then the fabric wrapping around at 45 degrees it will achieve the result very nicley and I have saved about 20kgs on the drawbar which is a greatly needed weight saving.

jet