Thread: Drop axle on caravan

Originally Posted by BigJon

The caravan draw bar broke where there was welding done to a member under tension. Hence why you shouldn't weld to the bottom of a draw bar. Advice from a structural enginer.

It was advice from a structural engineer which led to the piece of flat being welded to the bottom of the draw bar.

Originally Posted by slug_burner

That caravan drawbar behind the Falcon broke where the bracing tapered off. Would have been better to have taken the bracing closer to the end of the drawbar.

You'll notice bacicat's bracing is full length, from well under the van to well under the hitch.
No weak spots.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

It was advice from a structural engineer which led to the piece of flat being welded to the bottom of the draw bar.

You'll notice bacicat's bracing is full length, from well under the van to well under the hitch.
No weak spots.

Yep, note though that the bar is welded to one side of the box section. Welding across the underneath seems to be a no no, which is how most bracing is attached to most drawbars.

Time will tell if I got it right, but I'm not too concerned about its strength long term compared to a lot of other draw bars I've seen that are doing much more work than my 1,200kg light weight will do.

My mates 8 x 5 trailer weighs much more than this when loaded and it's only got a bit of 75 x 75 x 4mm angle iron on that.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

It was advice from a structural engineer which led to the piece of flat being welded to the bottom of the draw bar.

You'll notice bacicat's bracing is full length, from well under the van to well under the hitch.
No weak spots.

Note that the bar is welded to the side edge on the box section on mine. I think Jon is referring to welding across the bottom of the section, which mine doesn't do.

As Mick said, the advice I have for this whole job is a structural engineer who works for a very large multi national building company. Good enough advice for me.

Originally Posted by bacicat

Yep, note though that the bar is welded to one side of the box section. Welding across the underneath seems to be a no no, which is how most bracing is attached to most drawbars.

Time will tell if I got it right, but I'm not too concerned about its strength long term compared to a lot of other draw bars I've seen that are doing much more work than my 1,200kg light weight will do.

My mates 8 x 5 trailer weighs much more than this when loaded and it's only got a bit of 75 x 75 x 4mm angle iron on that.

75 x 75 angle! I think that's what is on my van.



Nup. More like 45 x 75.
Oh! Look at that bracing.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

75 x 75 angle! I think that's what is on my van.



Nup. More like 45 x 75.
Oh! Look at that bracing.

It's about time you pulled your finger out Mick and did some work on her

Jeez Mick, you need to do some gardening before you loose the whole van!

Originally Posted by Chops

It's about time you pulled your finger out Mick and did some work on her

Originally Posted by bacicat

Jeez Mick, you need to do some gardening before you loose the whole van!

Right. You two have just volunteered to help.

Enjoy Melrose. We'll get stuck into it after.

Good luck with that!
After I've finished with the pair of them they'll need a month off!!