RV FEATURE
Axles are, arguably, one of the least-considered
components of any caravan, though they’re also
one of the most important. After all, the weight
of the entire van, minus the ball weight, rests on
them. When was the last time you thought about
your rig’s stub or beam axle?
AXLE FAILURES
An axle system that is fit for purpose and properly
maintained should not fail. However, axle failures
can and do occur. Why? We spoke to Neville
Hauffe of Simplicity Axles and Suspension,
the manufacturer of the Simplicity range of RV
suspension systems and axles. He has been
fabricating axles for decades.
“If the weight consistently exceeds the capacity of
the axle system, then failures should be expected,”
he said. “Failures occur when the suspension
travel is compromised, meaning shock load is
transferred into the suspension instead of the
suspension medium, i.e., the spring or airbag.
“Failures also occur when the suspension is used
outside of its design parameters, where the shock
loading exceeds the designed shock load of the
suspension. This usually equates to driving too
fast for the conditions.”
Owners of tandem vans have a particular
responsibility when it comes to minimising stress
on their rig’s running gear.
“It’s important that with tandem vans, you
minimise the amount you ‘screw’ the van around
when turning, especially on bitumen or concrete,”
Neville said. “When you see the tyres being
greatly distorted on the rims, the lateral forces
on your running gear is massive, far exceeding,
many times over, the lateral forces occurring
under normal towing conditions.”
BUYING USED
If you’ve ever inspected a second-hand caravan
with a view to purchase, you’ve probably looked
for the usual things: rust, dents, signs of leaks,
etc. There’s a good change that you didn’t inspect
the axle(s).
According to Neville, it can be difficult to find a
potential defect in an axle, but it’s usually easy to
spot a repair.
“When inspecting second-hand vans, find out
from repairers what specific issues affect various
types of axles,” he said. “If you find a repair on
one side of the van, check the opposite side to
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