Defender snapped chassis WHAT THE!!!!

[cafe latte]

I was on a fire brigade course in Cairns I went down in My Defender, and copped a few Landy jokes from the boys, but they had a good laugh when this was parked outside the Hotel.. I got up for breakfast and they told me there was a Defender on a tow truck outside. I said maybe if it was the 2.4 the fuel pump had gone, they said err no it is not a fuel pump issue, go and have a look...
What could have happened!!!
Does it belong to anyone one here?
Chris

[Avion8]

It must have been the sherry!

[p38arover]

I hope it's under warranty.

Jap crew cabs only bend their chassis. :twisted:

That must have been an expensive delivery - Adelaide River to Cairns!

[Xtreme]

Looks to me like a single cab tray has been fitted to a dual cab. :o

[steane]

That would be a nice cheap 130 Chris. Should have snapped it up. A few waves of the mig and some chassis paint and the search is over!

130s appear to be prone to chassis failure. I've heard it can happen when the tray isn't located correctly and prevent's the chassis from flexing. I've also heard that the longer chassis is a bit weaker, something about a section being welded in.

Then of course you get people overloading them and driving them too quickly over rough terrain.

Can and does happen to most utes.

I saw a bent 130 with a slide on camper on the way to the Simpson last year. Unbelievably it then tried crossing the desert and was carted out on a recovery vehicle part way through.

On the same trip we saw a 70 series Toyo limping out in FWD with a smashed rear prop and an axle being held in by the spring on one side only.

Also had a slide on camper and big load...

At Dalhousie, before we even hit the desert we saw a seriously bent Triton single cab ute. Slide on camper as well... If you went to bed in the camper you'd almost have been standing up :o

[MR LR]

I'd say the stupidly long tray might have something to do with it...

[BathurstTom]

This may be the one of the AULRO face book page - it was apparently carrying over a ton payload :cool:

https://www.facebook.com/128476097187199/photos/a.737780992923370.1073741834.128476097187199/1114660718568727/'type=3&theater

Tom.

[karlz]

This may be the one of the AULRO face book page - it was apparently carrying over a ton payload :cool:


Tom.

What shame. But I had to laugh at some of the comments.
"Tip Truck" ;)

[schuy1]

That is the reward for stupidity! Mounting a tray of that overhang AND using incorrect mounting points. My 110 developed cracks as a result of the dealer using a moronic outfit for building the tray. It was only a chance finding on the net of LRs recommended mountings that I tweaked and rectified it.
A lot of failures are the result to of driving fast with a max load over rough terrain. As the landy absorbs a lot of the rough, the impression is that the roads not rough! Whereas in a leaf sprung tojo you would be backing off way back as your head is contacting the headliner more! :D
Cheers Scott

[strangy]

I hope it's under warranty. Jap crew cabs only bend their chassis. :twisted: That must have been an expensive delivery - Adelaide River to Cairns!
I think it is Adelaide River Towing.
Marko66? Maybe he's down from Bamaga or sold his truck.

[Crocodile Dundee]

I think it is Adelaide River Towing.
Marko66? Maybe he's down from Bamaga or sold his truck.

Is it for sale does anybody know looking for a new or used 130 body anybody please:p

[rick130]

130s appear to be prone to chassis failure. I've heard it can happen when the tray isn't located correctly and prevent's the chassis from flexing. I've also heard that the longer chassis is a bit weaker, something about a section being welded in.



Lots of heavily worked 130's crack, (I've seen a number, including mine) but they don't crack where the extra section is welded in.

They tend to break the tray and body mounts and break the main rails where all the loads from the A frame cross member feeds to the main rails.

FWIW the 130 have extra gussets in certain spots, eg. on some of the suspension brackets and supposedly an extra plate down the main rails, but I've never noticed that.
And it happens a lot, lot less than utes like Trytoo's !
Even GU coil cab utes use to snap the rails off behind the rear axle.

[Jock The Rock]

Anyone else notice the twin mount shockies and airbags?

That thing has been overloaded to the hilt

[cafe latte]

Lots of heavily worked 130's crack, (I've seen a number, including mine) but they don't crack where the extra section is welded in.

They tend to break the tray and body mounts and break the main rails where all the loads from the A frame cross member feeds to the main rails.

FWIW the 130 have extra gussets in certain spots, eg. on some of the suspension brackets and supposedly an extra plate down the main rails, but I've never noticed that.
And it happens a lot, lot less than utes like Trytoo's !
Even GU coil cab utes use to snap the rails off behind the rear axle.

I tried to take pics of where it had snapped but they did not come out (using my phone). The chassis had been welded vertically probably due to a crack from some sort of abuse. The weld IMO had further weakened the chassis and snapped. It must have been brown trousers time when it let go!! What I cant understand is why someone would pay to get a right off to Cairns all the way from south Aus?
Chris

[p38arover]

Isn't Adelaide River in NT? I'm sure I've been there.

[alanw]

Looks spectacular - but it is only a welding job to fix the chassis.
Take off the tray, line it up and weld and plate. Normal MIG wire and gas and 2 or 3mm mild steel plate. A level concrete floor would help.
And then change the tray mounts and revise loading practises.......
The chassis would be fixable in a day in a basic workshop with good welding skills.
Any collateral damage to the driveline would be additional.

[Narangga]

I think it is Adelaide River Towing.
Marko66? Maybe he's down from Bamaga or sold his truck.


Isn't Adelaide River in NT? I'm sure I've been there.

Yes it is Ron. 110km south of Darwin.

Marko66 ran Adelaide River Towing and moved to Bamaga on the Cape. I believe he took that truck with him.

[cafe latte]

Yes it is Ron. 110km south of Darwin.

Marko66 ran Adelaide River Towing and moved to Bamaga on the Cape. I believe he took that truck with him.

My bad, but still a long long way!! Yes it looks fixable, but would it not be a right off as it is fairly new? I would imagine a new chassis would be the only option to do the job properly?
Chris

[steane]

Lots of heavily worked 130's crack, (I've seen a number, including mine) but they don't crack where the extra section is welded in.

They tend to break the tray and body mounts and break the main rails where all the loads from the A frame cross member feeds to the main rails.

FWIW the 130 have extra gussets in certain spots, eg. on some of the suspension brackets and supposedly an extra plate down the main rails, but I've never noticed that.
And it happens a lot, lot less than utes like Trytoo's !
Even GU coil cab utes use to snap the rails off behind the rear axle.

Yeah it's certainly not the issue that it seems to be in other utes but I guess there isn't much that is immune to over-loading and abuse and I bet there was something NQR with the way that one was set-up. Some of the owners of these vehicles are really just reaping what they sow.

When you see how some people drive their grossly overloaded vehicles on rough roads it's easy to understand that things go snap from time to time. Throw in a design fault/weakness like in the Patrols and DC Utes, or some airbags, dual wheel carriers and a trailer and it becomes a pandemic pretty quickly.

[dromader driver]

Have seen 110 utes crack in similar places. comments about hammering them overloaded on rough terrain seem to be true as the truck crack I saw had a 1200 litre boomspray on the back.

[rick130]

Looks spectacular - but it is only a welding job to fix the chassis.
Take off the tray, line it up and weld and plate. Normal MIG wire and gas and 2 or 3mm mild steel plate. A level concrete floor would help.
And then change the tray mounts and revise loading practises.......
The chassis would be fixable in a day in a basic workshop with good welding skills.
Any collateral damage to the driveline would be additional.


The problem is that most all engineering shops wouldn't touch it as it's a chassis and therefore structural.

My understanding is that it'd have to be engineered.

[connormotorsport]

There is literally hundreds of shops that specialise in chassis repair and modifications. Wouldn't even think twice about repairing it and have the vehicle certified.

[MR LR]

The problem is that most all engineering shops wouldn't touch it as it's a chassis and therefore structural.

My understanding is that it'd have to be engineered.
If they won't work on structural things, why do they call themselves an engineering shop? :p

[stealth]

Just looking at the profile picture says the design was going to fail. Far too much overhang. And knowing a 130 can carry 1.25 ton what else would you do? Load her up perhaps?

Not enough info in the thread to say what really happened but I only speculate.

[Don 130]

In the second photo, It looks to me as if the tray has been extended. Behind the storage box there looks to be an addition.
Don.

[rick130]

There is literally hundreds of shops that specialise in chassis repair and modifications. Wouldn't even think twice about repairing it and have the vehicle certified.


Fair enough but I know of a couple of shops that have refused to weld and plate cracked 130 chassis.

I don't have a problem with a repair like that, I'd trust the welders I know over the factory, hell, I've done it myself but the fact is some shops just won't touch it either.

[rick130]

If they won't work on structural things, why do they call themselves an engineering shop? :p

yep, got me Will. :D

How about won't touch a car or truck chassis ?

[alan48]

Hi,
I had a 300tdi chassis crack due to the heavy telstra rear box but it had also been worked hard in the Kimberly area where telstra ditched LR's and switched to Patrols due to maintenance/repair costs. I had it plated etc in Sydney by a LR specialist and no issues, no eng inspections etc so it may be an easy fix--after all some plates are already there on the chassis when made into a 130.

Later on I had a huge T-bone crash and multiple roll in my off road rally RRC in an event but again we had the chassis straightened with no issue, then I rebodied it and it lived many happy years after that--no going near inspections just do it right the old fashioned way and it should be fine--however I do know that RMS (NSW) now does not like chassis repairs due no doubt to dodgy rebirthing ones etc so it may not be possible to get 'official' approval--it really depends on the state of the damage--may be simple--may not be. good luck as the rest of the car looks fine.A new chassis may also be better in the long run if insurance comes to the party.

[roverrescue]

From my measures off that photo tray length is 2300 or so... With approx 1700 behind the rear axle.

At least he is inside max dims for qld (rear overhang <60% wheelbase)

S

[Andrew86]

Reminds me of this gem...:D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM

[Marty90]

:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Its a design problem of coil spring designs and the cantilever effect of the load over the rear of the chassis where there is absolutely no support behind the coil spring mount. Any weight on the rear of the tray is pivoted off the coil mounts stressing the chassis in front of the axle.

It would never happen if the rear springs were elliptic leaf springs. It is why the Leaf spring Nissan Patrol cab chassis have a 170Kg higher load capacity than the equivalent coil spring model, when everything else is essentially the same.

[rick130]

It would never happen if the rear springs were elliptic leaf springs. It is why the Leaf spring Nissan Patrol cab chassis have a 170Kg higher load capacity than the equivalent coil spring model, when everything else is essentially the same.

The leaf rear Patrols cracked the chassis in front of the front hanger too.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I guarantee they do it less than 130s

[Xtreme]

We've all heard of numerous reports of cracked chassis with many (all??) brands of dual cab utes and the root cause of all of these failures is overloading.
Utes were originally designed to carry goods, not people so when provision is made to carry extra people, the goods carrying capacity is compromised, and cannot be overcome by extending the tray a ridiculous amount beyond the rear axle.

[PAT303]

I guarantee they do it less than 130s

How much do you wager?,I worked for a company called machinery maintenance that had 6 Patrols,5 snapped in half,including mine ;). Pat

[Summiitt]

We've all heard of numerous reports of cracked chassis with many (all??) brands of dual cab utes and the root cause of all of these failures is overloading.
Utes were originally designed to carry goods, not people so when provision is made to carry extra people, the goods carrying capacity is compromised, and cannot be overcome by extending the tray a ridiculous amount beyond the rear axle.

Agreed, overloading is the issue, but the GVMs should have a safety margin built in, and if the Utes aren't up to spec, the manufactures should specify an on road GVM and off road GVM. I expect my 130s to be driven for work at the GVM over terrain that most 4wders go looking for on weekends, in relation to chassis issues and loads, the only issue I've had is from incorrect tray mounting by body builders, now I've got a system in place that all my trays are built to and I've had no issues even in extreme loads and conditions.

[tact]

Agreed, overloading is the issue, but the GVMs should have a safety margin built in, and if the Utes aren't up to spec, the manufactures should specify an on road GVM and off road GVM. I expect my 130s to be driven for work at the GVM over terrain that most 4wders go looking for on weekends, in relation to chassis issues and loads, the only issue I've had is from incorrect tray mounting by body builders, now I've got a system in place that all my trays are built to and I've had no issues even in extreme loads and conditions.

I think even on this forum there are thread(s?) where cab chassis owners have found issues and chassis cracks, or gone to great lengths to avoid same in their build process - all linked to incorrect tray mounting.

If not mistaken, in one of nuggets build threads he gives great detail of his efforts to ensure no problems with tray mounting causing chassis cracks

[roverrescue]

Summiitt,

Unless guarded would you mind sharing your technique of tray attachment longevity?
My old 130 has cracked its front mounts again, my current preferred solution is to find a tdci and start afresh ;)
But seriously I am looking to regrade to a tdci and have been musing on tray design to prevent cracking.
Even contemplated a spring mount similar to earthcruisers to allow some flex between tray and chassis...

Steve

[justinc]

First pic could be a defender rat rod build pic...😎

Jc

[rick130]

First pic could be a defender rat rod build pic...😎

Jc


:o

:Rolling:

[defmec]

This truck is at rwc conversions Cairns .I was scratching my head last week when I seen it there .it looks like they have started to fix it

[cafe latte]

Your pic does not work..
I wonder if they are going to replace the chassis or just patch it up?
Chris

[defmec]

Your pic does not work..
I wonder if they are going to replace the chassis or just patch it up?
Chris

I might pop in for a look next week and see what happened

[alien]

I was reading a thread on another forum and found this Patrol...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/26.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/27.jpgDamaged 2010 Nissan Patrol GU DX Cab Chassis For Auction in Eagle Farm, Brisbane, Queensland (http://www.manheim.com.au/damaged-vehicles/4673212/2010-nissan-patrol-gu-dx-cab-chassis)

[SG1 Bones]

That's normal it's for a better ramp over angle. [emoji12][emoji23]

[TerryO]

We were supplied vehicles by Ssangyong for a couple of years as work / promotional vehicles. The first year they gave us a couple Musso's and a Rexton. After a race meeting we were towing a loaded tandem axle box trailer back from Winton Raceway and half way home stopped for fuel and food etc. With an approx weight of just over 2 ton.

While stopped I looked at the Musso towing the trailer and gap at the top of the tray in relation to the cab at the bottom was nearly 30 millimetres more. So the Rexton was hitched up to the trailer for the remainder of the trip home and the Musso's never towed again.
I have always doubted the strength of crew cabs ever since especially after reading of a number of other crew cabs that have similar issues.

[Ferret]

I have always doubted the strength of crew cabs ever since especially after reading of a number of other crew cabs that have similar issues.

Hang about Well 33 on the CSR for a few days. Your doubts will be confirmed.

[strangy]

Im not one to put the LR chassis into the "weak" column.
I can think of many modern chassis that I would class as barely satisfactory, though not much different than earlier model offerings which dont seemingly suffer failures at the same rate a the newer machines
As engines get more powerful and heavy loads are easily moved compared to the older engines, people are hitting the unsealed stuff harder, faster and heavier than ever before.
Magazines, TV shows, sales ads all override the inescapable physics and understanding of mechanical limitations.
I predict many more chassis failures for many brands for these reasons.

[Tote]

Hi Roverrescue, this thread has Summitts tray mounts in it
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/157103-tray-mounts.html#post1742430

Regards,
Tote

[Colmoore]

Somebody smarter than me once stated 'give me a fulcrum and lever and I shall move the earth'
I believe you can drive a defender anywhere it 'will go', without breaking the chassis; even max loaded (evenly) as long as the driver considers speed, line and throttle input timing.
This 130 may have hit a bull dust hole, grader line or some obstacle that sent him airborne.
I accidentally jumped my HJ V8 ute one night on Kangaroo Island. Rounded a corner at 80km/hr, noticed the busted T junction sign laying on the road 30m before the intersection; that's a bit late when you're running 13"w tyres! We launched the car off the grader line, well over head height and landed in the trees that grew alongside the river [emoji33]. I got out in a quiet rage, in the pitch dark and fell 8ft to the ground!
Bent the chassis rails up at the front by 2" and cracked both front disc rotors. I straightened her out on a chassis straightener a week later - good as gold.
Accidents happen