Thread: Drop axle on caravan

Thanks. Not sure why the method I'm using will be any less successful than those. I guess the 3000km to Melrose and back will show me...

Looks like it doesn't work all the time..... Well, it doesn't work all the time when you have dip ****s over loading their vans anyway....

This shows what I'm doing seems to be an accepted method of bracing.

Trailer Sauce :: Tongue Strengthening/Bracing

This might help explain why people use the ladder frame bracing to increase the stiffness of the drawbar.

Area Moments

The same reason "I" beams are used, to increase the second moment of area/inertia for the same weight of material.

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.

Not sure about the shape of your brace bacicat but it maybe like this example in the linked video below at approx 5:40 min.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9QIqewkE6xM[/ame]

The easiest way to brace a flexy drawbar is to use flat strip welded to each end and at the middle point use a bolt and nut. Weld a short tube to the underside of the drawbar and weld the bolt head to the brace and tension the brace by winding up a nut against the tube. My tandem pony float has been braced that way and has done excellent service for over 22 years.

So, off in the morning on a 2 week 2,000 to 3,000KM trip depending on where we go on the way there and back.

Finished off the last of the must do's left over from the trip the other week. So, draw bar bracing is done, new switchboard and inverter. My cheap arse one died on its first outing, so I coughed up for a decent one. It now runs through a changeover switch and RCD. Works a treat. Ran a 50amp supply from the main batteries in the 101 through an Anderson plug to the caravan battery so I can run the fridge while driving now.

Just got to throw the missus and pugs in and we're off to Melrose the long slow way.

Again, a big thank you to Mick who helped out again today to make sure I got the stuff done I needed to.

He took some pics, so hopefully he may post a few. I'll post a bit as I go about how it all goes.

All looks good, have a wonderful trip

Ah, yes.
What a perfect picture


Makes the 101 look small.

Notice the extended mirrors for towing.




The towbar.




That ain't gonna flex.