Thread: Drop axle on caravan

Well Mr Cat! ... If your getting all new brakes than why not buy a good quality straight axle at the same time, they are not that expensive.
Then as others have said mount it under the springs with some good quality U shackles. Another relatively easy thing is depending on what size rims you have look around for some good condition second hand taller L/T tyres, which after you lift the suspension will give you plenty of additional ground clearance.

If you also decide to change the hitch then I would seriously look at the new horizontal McHitch.

Thanks Terry, you are a bit of a mind reader. I ordered a HD straight axle for it as well.. Just had 3 new 700 x 14 (well, the modern equivalent) Light truck tyres fitted to the rims. They are an inch bigger than standard, so I should get about 60 odd mill higher than before.

Oh, and the new hitch - when I get to it, will be a pintle hook so it goes straight on the back of the 101. No new fangled stuff for me.

well that pintle should mix the toilet contents quite well

Mr Cat... Yup, that's going to stick. Pictures pictures.. Lets have a look at the current setup with the wheel removed.. Can make a better suggestion then. Axle under springs is the first move. Second is longer springs.. giving you more lift as the arc is deeper, third is extended rear hangars if they have hangars not sliders, and 4th as said before, is remove all mounts, slot in a piece of 50 x 50, 100 x 50, or 150 x 50 dependant on lift requiired, and refit all mounts.

Yep, I'll take plenty of pics this weekend when I'm doing it. Without getting custom springs made, there are no options but to use the originals. Franklin used a custom spring length back in the 70's which no one keeps on the shelf these days. The current springs are in good condition, and flex nicely with the weight of the van, so I'm not in a hurry to change them if I don't have too.

With what I have in mind at the moment, I'll get an extra 60mm no dramas, which may be enough. I just want to stop it being such a belly scraper. It's not got to be an off road type setup - it'll only be use on the bitumen and the odd trip into Wombat. I don't want to move the centre of gravity up too high, and I don't want it sticking up too much higher that the 101 if I can help it.

When you clean the tank, use homebrew fermenter cleaner, it will de-scale the tank and get rid of any mould or build up inside, then rinse it thoroughly.

Baz.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

well that pintle should mix the toilet contents quite well

Yes, the toilet will get mixed up quite well when the pintle goes on. It's first couple of trips will be on the standard 50mm hitch. I've got to make up a bar to fit the 101 for the time being.

Not sure why no one like pintle hooks - they are so easy to connect to. Noice I hear you say? It doesn't make a sound.... above the noise the 101 makes...

Ok, a few before pics.

This is how the van currently sits. Towball and chassis are 350mm off the ground, and the water tank is about 150mm off the ground - a bit of a low rider.


This shows how far into the wheel arch the current wheel sits with the 2" drop axle.


Here's the shiny new Toyo LT's ready for it.


Here's the new axle.


And a close up of one end.


My calculation show I should end up with an extra 110mm with the tyres and axle. That should be a good start I think. More pics to come as I rip into it.

New axle is rated at 1400Kg, which is 300Kg more than its gross mass, and over 600Kg more than it currently weighs. New tyres are rated to 900Kg each, so plenty of safety margin will be under it.