Monday, Jul 26, 2010 at 16:46
I have the StoneStomper, and have to say it has certainly done everything expected of it.
We have no
stone damage to the van, a-frame, gas bottles or back of the car, and have travelled on many stony tracks and roads.
It is easy enough to stand on the mesh when you want to get to the back of the car, or step over the a-frame.
It is not hard to attach or remove when you want to, and I will sometimes just unhhook from the car and leave attached to the van, shoving the mesh under the a-frame to clear the jockey wheel, if we are only stopping one night and want to use the car. Otherwise, if we don't want to use the car but need to lift the van off the towball, then I unhook the mesh from the van, move the car forward and shove the mesh under the car. When I remove it completely, I roll the mesh up and stuff it in a green shopping bag.
I leave the bar and canvas flap attached to the Hayman Reece receiver post and either leave the whole thing on the car - most of the time (it does not obscure the number plate) - or slip the receiver out of the towbar and put it in the tunnel boot or sling it under the caravan.
I have also ensured that the under-van pipes, fittings and wires are protected - as you would have to anyway whether you had a
stone restriction device or not.
If the van has mud flaps under the a-frame, I would remove them since the Stonestomper mesh would give a full width protection anyway rather than just where the flaps are.
I have been very happy with the Stonestomper. Would imagine there to be almost zero effect on fuel consumption or cooling of rear wheels and diff, and it has been exactly what I wanted in
stone protection and peace of mind. I can turn onto a gravel road and not have to even consider the aspect of
stone damage to either the van or the car. I have not seen evidence that any stones have got through.
I would thoroughly recommend the Stonestomper to anyone. I believe Kimberly Kampers can be awkward to fit to, but would expect that the
stone protection would still be superior.
Ken
AnswerID:
425284