European caravans wheel alignments and suspension
What you should know?
European caravans are designed to be towed by low-powered vehicles, focusing on keeping their weight as low as possible.
The manufacturers have done a great job with the weight. We, as caravan users, should be cautious not to overload them because doing so will damage the suspension and axle. Be sure to check the data tag on the side of the vehicle and ensure that the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is not exceeded. most caravans can only carry a couple hundred kgs.
If you have many extras, such as motor movers, awnings, water tanks, etc., then your caravan is probably already at its limit.
How to check if something is amiss
Check if the trailing arm is pointing downward; when the caravan is new, it should be about 25 degrees from horizontal.
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The handbrake cable should be about 80mm from the bottom of the caravan floor, and there should be a gap between the cable and chassis rail cut out; the cable should not be rubbing on the chassis rail, as seen in the image below
- Check the wheel alignment to see if the wheels are tracking correctly; if they are not aligned, they need to be repaired
This video shows a simple way to check if your caravan alignment is good
It's not an accurate measure, but it will give you a good idea of whether there is a problem.
For any of these issues, get in touch with Vantage RV Silverdale.
