Adding to expanda caravan rear bumper bar
Submitted: Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 19:24
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Brendon G1
Hi, have an expanda 16-49-4 outback. Want to add a shelf to rear bumper to carry kids bikes and a couple of small tool boxes. Has anyone done this. My concern being the extra weight causing possible speed wobbles and sway at certain speeds ?
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 21:56
Reply By: Kumunara (NT) - Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 10:56
Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 10:56
Brendon
I would be concerned..
I went to a roll-over accident years ago on the Eyre Highway.
A Ford Station Wagon towing a Caravan rolled after getting the speed wobbles.
The husband who was driving was a carpenter and had his
tools in a tool box at the rear of the caravan. A lot more
tools and weight than you would probably have.
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Reply By: Member - Fab72 (Paradise SA) - Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 21:42
Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 21:42
Brendon,
I have 2 off road spares and two 20 litre jerry cans on the back of my Jayco Swift. I've never had any speed wobbles but......... the weight on the back is not the thing to worry about, it's the weight on the towball that counts.
Each van will be different as will it's behaviour even during the duration of a trip. For example, my
water tank is located in front of the axle so the towball weight does decrease with water usage....but not enough to make it unstable.
I know this is not a definitive answer, but it's more food for thought.
Fab.
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 at 10:01
Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 at 10:01
"......... the weight on the back is not the thing to worry about, it's the weight on the towball that counts."
I suggest you may change your mind on that if you read all of Collyn Rivers articles on this subject. See the section "Vehicle Suspension".
http://caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/articles-index/
Also this video clip from the UK studies by Bath University and Bailey Caravans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFzrWHTG5e8
The "dumbbell" weight distribution should be avoided at all costs if towing with an overhung hitch.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome.
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