Caravan wheel alignment

Submitted: Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:22
ThreadID: 133548 Views:9068 Replies:6 FollowUps:4
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Hi

Looking for someone who can do a wheel alignment on an offload van, single wheel, fully independent suspension. Scrubbing out the outside edge of the tires. Relatively new van. Had a caravan place attempt to do this but made it worse. Prefer someone in the western half of Victoria, (Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bendigo or similar) as live on that side of the state but Melbourne OK if nothing else available.
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Reply By: TomH - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:26

Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:26
Take it to your nearest truck aligner Otherwise it may be cheaper and easier to just buy a new axle, which has been recommended on here previously

What make and model of van may help to get a better answer
AnswerID: 604851

Follow Up By: Member - ACD 1 - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:45

Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:45
I would possibly suggest that "fully independent suspension" would not involve replacement of an axle!

I do agree with the use of a truck alignment mob - had great success in getting ours straightened bone in Perth.

Cheers

Anthony
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FollowupID: 874648

Follow Up By: TomH - Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 10:17

Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 10:17
Yeah you are probably correct Late night poor reading. LOL
Our Coromal was crabbing when we bought it and required a couple of days in a truck aligner in Albany. They removed the suspension and welded new brackets on the chassis to bring it square. Did a really good job.

Cost $900 paid under warranty
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FollowupID: 874652

Follow Up By: AlanTH - Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 10:22

Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 10:22
We had exactly that problem on a new van with independent suspension. Got no back-up from the dealer or maker so had to do all tests ourselves. Eventually after Consumer Affairs mild action got 1 new tyre and shocks from the maker/dealer after tests showed shock was much weaker on the nearside.
Didn't fix it entirely though. Had the wheels checked for balance and 2 were so badly out of alignment they couldn't be balanced at all.
Dealer response was "Get out of my yard, you've abused the van, you've been off road" !!!!
So much for the off road description.
Got a short report from the tyre bloke about the problem: no damage apart from gravel rash to any wheel. Probably welding of hub to outer pulled them out of line.
Back to consumer affairs, they were scared of upsetting an "icon of the industry" ......recommended small claims court action. This we did and maker coughed up immediately all costs involved in finding the prob. (cheap nasty wheels from you know where) and all other costs, fitting and balancing etc.
Dealer advised...."We wouldn't have paid" !
What an attitude from a dealer who we've bought 3 new RVs from, 2 of which were from the same Melbourne maker.
Back to topic.... first get those wheels checked.
Hope this helps.
AlanTH

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FollowupID: 874653

Reply By: toffytrailertrash - Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 12:48

Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 12:48
Hardings Swift in Kilsyth (outer east of Melbourne) do a top job looking after our van including wheel alignments.
Otherwise check out your truck/trailer/tractor businesses in the Country. We have found some of them extremely helpful during our travels.
Cheers
AnswerID: 604862

Reply By: Member - John F (VIC) - Wednesday, Oct 05, 2016 at 06:33

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2016 at 06:33
another vote for Harding Swift
AnswerID: 604907

Follow Up By: Paul and Mel - Thursday, Oct 06, 2016 at 20:50

Thursday, Oct 06, 2016 at 20:50
Yep sent Mum and Dad there to get their's sorted out, great people to deal with.
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FollowupID: 874734

Reply By: Dean K3 - Wednesday, Oct 05, 2016 at 10:30

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2016 at 10:30
independent suspension have individual adjustment of both camber and toe in/out. so removal of axle isn't required. it maybe possible that when bolted to chassis it maybe out of square but adjustment would take care of that issue.

had mob called big wheels do the folks camper trailer - have several outlets australia wide cost around $250-300 from memory and about 90 minutes duration.

I have towed it along many gravel roads in past 2-3 weeks and haven't noticed any new or tyre different wear pattern occurring as yet.
AnswerID: 604911

Reply By: Member - Doug S (QLD) - Saturday, Oct 08, 2016 at 10:15

Saturday, Oct 08, 2016 at 10:15
Mate, look for a laser wheel aligner, usually the better truck people are good at it. Had my dual axle independent trailing arm suspension done in Darwin recently, spot on. Dealers only do it with a square and tape measure and are lucky to get close let alone accurate.

Cheers, Doug S..
AnswerID: 605005

Reply By: Member - Peter M17 - Sunday, Oct 23, 2016 at 15:12

Sunday, Oct 23, 2016 at 15:12
I had a similar problem with single axle cruisemaster suspension on a Desert Sky caravan - after 6,000 klm of corrugations across Australia and back. - So cannot fault the suspension.

My local tyre dealer did the alignment by backing the van over his pit.

AnswerID: 605336

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