Post by: rags on May 21, 2019, 09:12:52 PM
I'm not sure of the brand as I don't know it but it is grey and black like most of them. (I know it isn't a 3 letter brand)
The failure occurred when cruising down a country dirt road , no rock climbing work.
You can see that the upper shock mount has just ripped away from the chassis , the bottom mount are usually attached to the red suspenion swing arm.
Post by: tryagain on May 21, 2019, 10:23:08 PM
Post by: edz on May 21, 2019, 10:36:07 PM
Either that or the spring rates to hard / soft / length of shocks bottomed out / over stroked ..
Post by: S.W on May 22, 2019, 08:55:59 AM
Post by: DannyG on May 22, 2019, 09:13:53 AM
Even though Chinese made gear in some area's is getting better clearly they have a long way to go. I am not suggesting that Australian made gear doesnt have the same issues from time to time but as a rule the quality control is better.
Post by: GBC on May 22, 2019, 10:18:01 AM
Post by: Redback on May 22, 2019, 02:14:55 PM
That plate should have been welded to the chassis, then the BOX welded to the plate, that's what I would have done anyway, unless I'm looking at how it was mounted all wrong ???
Post by: macca on May 22, 2019, 04:27:29 PM
I'm gunna stick my neck and say, that plate wasn't sitting flush with the chassis creating a gap which in turn creats a weak point.I think that "plate" is the side wall of the SHS the shocker bracket is welded to Redback
That plate should have been welded to the chassis, then the BOX welded to the plate, that's what I would have done anyway, unless I'm looking at how it was mounted all wrong ???
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Post by: JCOJ on May 22, 2019, 04:27:40 PM
You can see that the weld at the back of the arm behind the cracked one gave way which then caused the middle of the closer arm to give way.
Post by: Bird on May 22, 2019, 04:33:10 PM
Post by: Spada on May 22, 2019, 04:33:27 PM
Post by: macca on May 22, 2019, 04:35:20 PM
This suspension failure was of a 3 letter brand.Good weld penetration on that rear arm
You can see that the weld at the back of the arm behind the cracked one gave way which then caused the middle of the closer arm to give way.
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Post by: penski on May 22, 2019, 04:59:29 PM
Post by: JCOJ on May 22, 2019, 05:05:08 PM
Post by: tryagain on May 22, 2019, 05:49:51 PM
That second one looks a lot like Aussie made Cruisemaster suspension or a very good copy design wise. If so, a possible cause apart from taking a big hit at speed is using the incorrect load weight for the camper. They have a few and the axles and springs at least are different between ratings.
Looks like thinner wall SHS, pretty sure the Cruise Master is 6mm wall, but yes most of the Chinese independent set ups are a Cruise Master clone
Post by: rags on May 22, 2019, 08:07:50 PM
I think that "plate" is the side wall of the SHS the shocker bracket is welded to Redback
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Looks like its some sort of unsupported out rigger design thats flexed to much and its ripped the sidewall out of what it was welded to ..
Either that or the spring rates to hard / soft / length of shocks bottomed out / over stroked ..
I think Edz and Macca you are on the money.
Now I haven't seen the van myself and I only received the 2 photos posted but it was described to me that the "plate" others have mentioned is in fact part of the side wall of chassis that has ripped away leaving a hole in the wall of the chassis. It was mentioned that the metal that has pulled away appears pouress.
Post by: GBC on May 23, 2019, 08:33:38 AM
This happened on the drive into Mt. Caernarvon campsite. It was slow going but nothing difficult or too rough. The road to the turnoff is just gravel, no corrugations.That must be an early one, the blue system changed to the upgraded orange swingarms and parallel bearings in late 2015 odd? I don't know if the upper mounts are the same but they might bolt straight on if you are lucky.
Post by: GBC on May 23, 2019, 08:38:24 AM
I have no technical knowledge, but it looks to me that the swingarm failed first which has then put lateral load on the shock mount causing it to tear away from the chassis at the top? But it seems an unusual point for the box section on the trailing arm to fail??? and it has broken on opposing corners. I'm guessing corrugations have played a big part.
I think it is two different trailers?
Post by: Spada on May 23, 2019, 08:54:29 AM
I think it is two different trailers?
You may be right, there's no sign of shocks on the other side, but I thought they could be hidden due to the angle of the photo.
Post by: DannyG on May 23, 2019, 03:06:02 PM
Looks like thinner wall SHS, pretty sure the Cruise Master is 6mm wall, but yes most of the Chinese independent set ups are a Cruise Master clone
I agree with this. The wall thickness of that trailing arm is not thick enough.
I know someone very well who built the same trailing arm suspension out of a similar sized wall thickness to only have near enough to the exact same thing happen.
Once home and investigating more as to the wall thickness the reputable suspension guys such as Cruisemaster use, I can confirm they use at least 5mm or thicker.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHbgZd3qwwE/UkhH49-fgSI/AAAAAAAAJkw/FnnruCGlRKI/s1600/DSC05683.jpg)
Post by: edz on May 23, 2019, 04:20:31 PM
Post by: DannyG on May 23, 2019, 04:29:14 PM
:'( :'( ;D Bet the relief and beers when you got it into a service place and fixed went down nice DG .
I can not confirm or deny that the person was in fact me, but here is the dirty and ugly mug looking relieved to be back on the road again.....
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvAwgM7_m-4/UkhIBLO8KWI/AAAAAAAAJmE/h8wy3eXeUco/s1600/DSC05748.jpg)
And this is what a miracle looks like.......finding a cattle station in the middle of nowhere that allowed me to use all their equipment while wearing my safety crocks to repair the broken arm!!
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93T76uS_6gE/UkhIME9K3-I/AAAAAAAAJns/SoBxHt6lPro/s1600/IMG_5536.jpg)
Post by: rags on May 23, 2019, 07:15:17 PM
I think it is two different trailers?
Correct the one I initially posted about is not the same van as the one posted in JCOJ. To different failures.