Check your wheels

Thank you for the reply I have the same wheels on my Dmax, just went and checked them, all appear ok

It was picked up when I had it in for a wheel alignment otherwise I probably would not have noticed.

Better go out and check the rest.

Hi Ron
They are Allied Wheels, not sure of where they are manufactured.
Regards
Ken

Ken, Allied state they are a "manufacturer and wholesale distributor" of alloy wheels.
That probably means they manufacture a small amount locally, and import quite a bit of their wheel line.

Have you called Allied and mentioned this problem to them? The wheel cracking problem is a major safety issue, and they need to be advised of it - if they don't already know.

There is no sign of your style of rims listed anywhere on their website or in their catalogue, leading me to believe they imported these rims, then discontinued importation, when repeated fracture problems raised their ugly head.

Cheers, Ron.

Hi Ron, Yes I called and emailed Allied and yes it was one of there wheels. They did speak to the warranty department and suggested I would need to place a claim via the Caravan manufacturer as they were the ones that purchased the wheels. Problem is that was Elite who no longer exist. I have explained that to Allied and they said they would look into it but no response as yet. The major reason for my post was to alert fellow travelers of my major safety concerns, so I hope at least a few people have checked their wheels. I will rectify the problem and make my van safe, with or without the help of Allied. Thanks for your interest Ron

Good news Allied are replacing the wheels free of charge

Thanks Scrubby, I was always a bit sceptical when the van came with alloy rims and I think you're correct. Interesting though Bushtracker and other reputable off road vans fit alloy wheels these days. I wonder where the alloys they fit are manufactured.

I'm with Scrubby on this one. I've seen many Alloy wheels fractured on vehicles that have been in crashes. They usually fracture through the spokes.

But a steel wheel fracture is very uncommon, they have much more rim support because they don't have spokes - and also because steel will bend a lot more than alloy, before it breaks.

You will also find that there are standard-duty steel rims, and heavy duty steel rims.
The heavy duty steel rims have a centre made from thicker metal.

I was already aware of this feature from the old HQ-WB Holdens, whereby the HQ-WB 1-Tonner wheels use thicker steel in the rim centre - but I was recently surprised to find, when commencing the construction of a 4500kg tandem plant trailer, utilising Landcruiser steel wheels, that the Landcruiser also has standard duty, and heavy duty steel wheels (in the 5 stud split rim versions, anyway).

If you examine the Landcruiser 5 stud steel wheels, you'll find the ones with 16 holes in the centre section are the standard rim, and the ones with 12 holes in the centre section, are the heavy-duty wheel, with a slightly thicker centre.

Cheers, Ron.

Ken you mentioned that some off road vans have alloy wheels.
I sometimes have a bit of a warm discussion at "outdoor & leisure" shows when I ask the salesman why the off road camper trailers have expensive looking alloy wheels fitted with mud tread tyres, I am yet to get a reply admitting that it`s a sales gimmick because they look good .

Scrubby.

10 years of outback touring in a loaded up 105 series Cruiser to places such as Cape York, Savannah Way through the Gulf, Old Ghan Line, across The Simpson etc etc, all done on the same alloy rims over some horrendous corrugated roads at times...can’t see an issue with running alloys myself. Yes some people break them, but some people can destroy steel rims also.

Interesting the comments about alloy rims.
I know one of the Australian rim companies that specifically supplies the mines with alloy rims ( cant remember if they are Australian made or not) for the Landcruisers, I questioned him on why and he said they can achieve a higher load rating than they can get with the steel ones

There is nothing wrong with alloy rims, it is the quality of the product that is more important

There are plenty of rubbish steel rims for sale just like there are alloy ones.

It is another interesting subject,....Theres plenty of trucks running around with alloy rims ,haven't heard of any real problems.


Cheers Axle.

There's rims built to do a job, and rims built to a price - that's the major difference between truck rims, and caravan/camper/trailer/car rims.

Cheers, Ron.