Ecotourer caravans

Submitted: Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 20:40

ThreadID: 134584 Views:7953 Replies:4 FollowUps:9

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Deejay

I know the bodies of Eco Tourer caravans are made in China but is that all? Where are the chassis' made? E.g - What parts of the van are Chinese and what parts are Australian? Thank you.

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Reply By: cruza25 - Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 20:54

Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 20:54

I think they are fully built in China using parts from everywhere

http://www.ecotourer.com.au/Construction.html

This link list major parts that go into the vans but no specific mention of the chassis.

Nice looking vans

Cheers

Mike

AnswerID: 609867

Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 21:08

Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 21:08

They do say it's Australian steel at least.

FollowupID: 879742

Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 21:03

Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 21:03

You'd be surprised at what other Van and campers are partially made in China

AnswerID: 609868

Follow Up By: RMD - Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 22:21

Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 22:21

Yes, some never even get fully made at all.

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Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 07:49

Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 07:49

Something I have found with Chinese made chassis is the wheel bearings are equal size (or close to) so it is not possible to service bearings without workshop equipment. Inner race must be removed to remove wheel.
Through camp hosting (looking after NP campgrounds) the number of trailers and vans that arrive with wheel bearing noisy, and then find we can't even get t he wheel off is amazing . Tow truck job, and in one case with $3,500 bill.
In the case of relative I was helping replace bearings he discovered the 1800kg unit had original bearings rated to 900kg.
Isn't globalization and self regulation wonderful.

Neil

AnswerID: 609876

Follow Up By: Deejay - Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 09:47

Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 09:47

Thanks Neil. This is most interesting. When you say you can't remove the wheel without removing the inner bearing, do you mean 'remove the hub'? Are you able to elaborate a bit more on how the hub is removed? I've always carried spare bearings, seals & tools etc with the expectation that I could do roadside repairs.
Thanks, Deejay.

FollowupID: 879752

Follow Up By: Rangiephil - Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 10:01

Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 10:01

I don't understand why the wheel cannot be removed.

My Camper trailer has ALKO hubs/drums which have parallel bearings ie the same size Falcon bearings, and it is just a matter of undoing the large nut on the end of the axle to remove them.
Is there something different about the bearings you have seen?

FollowupID: 879755

Follow Up By: Neil & Pauline - Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 15:54

Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 15:54

Sorry hub won't come off. The inner bearing outer casing is not big enough to come over the outer bearing inner casing. You need to be able to remove the inner casing off of axle to remove hub. If the bearing has got hot due to failing then you will need an oxy acetalene set to do some heating and cutting. The same will happen if both bearings are the same.
Problems could possibly be avoided if replaced well before they begin to fail (start to get warm)
I guess all the ones I have dealt with have got to failure stage (well past the getting warm stage) when attempting repairs.
Just my thoughts from what I have seen.
Neil

FollowupID: 879768

Follow Up By: mike39 - Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 18:09

Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 18:09

Just find that explanation a little hard to follow.
Does this mean the inner race has seized onto the axle?
Normally the inner bearing race is captive behind the seal in the hub, and the lot easily slides off the axle on dissembly.
mike

FollowupID: 879774

Reply By: 9900Eagle - Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 18:47

Monday, Apr 03, 2017 at 18:47

Deejay, I believe the best thing you could do is try and find, either a Eco Tourer owners forum or try a caravan forum, it looks like no one here has owned or had anything to do with the product you are looking at.

All you get is the negative comments. See if you can find someone that has actually had experience with the product first hand.

Just a bit of info, I have a huge set of chinese 20 year old spanners that have had the insides flogged out of them on heavy gear. Not one has failed, and the chrome is still pretty good considering how much it has rolled around the belly of a truck.

AnswerID: 609893

Follow Up By: Deejay - Saturday, Apr 08, 2017 at 07:35

Saturday, Apr 08, 2017 at 07:35

Thanks Eagle. There is an Eco Tourer forum and I have tried to join it. It is through Yahoo and I've gone through all the steps but I (the computer) can't connect. Do you have any idea on how to get onto the forum?

FollowupID: 879939