AL-KO suspension on a 1985-86 viscount van

Thanks,
I have also heard that the chassis cracks on these vans. The one we are looking at looks ok, though it has been well looked after. Do you know anything about the chassis?
Im sure all old vans have problems but want to know for sure what the problems are. The van looks in fantastic condition otherwise.

regards lenni

I dont know anything about the van but if you took it to your local engieering workshop Im sure they could check it out and strengthen anything that needs it.
Cheers

H Lenni,
There was more than one model Viscount Caravan put out in the 70/80's.

The "Viscount Ultralite" was generally, but not always, a poptop and had a pretty poor reputation for chassis cracks and possibly disintegrating (imploding) when passed by roadtrains going the opposite direction. (I have seen a couple that did this, not apretty sight!)

On the other hand the earlier (pre 85) "Grand Tourer"was possibly one of the best on road touring van ever put out by Viscount. They came in a variety of configurations, poptop, std van, single or dual axle, beam axle or independent susp and lengths ranging from 12' to about 25'. Generally, a pretty wide range of layouts too.

I believe that the majority of these early vans were beam axle and leaf springs and some (including my own 1983 15'x7' poptop) were fitted with shockies as standard.

Hope this helpyou

Disco

The one I am talking about is a late 1985 model Grand Tourer. Beautiful van, but is does have the strange looking chassis with the holes cut out of it. It is not a poptop but a full caravan. perhaps this one missed out on the stronger suspension?
Regards Lenni

Hi Lenni and others,
Apologies for the error above.
The "Aerolite" was the van with the most problems, not the Ultralite.

The "Grand Tourer" was also available in an "Ultralite" model as well as the "standard weight version" or so I've been informed. Both were pretty good units.

Disco

Sooo is it possable that the Grand Tourer was not the aerolite chassis? Althought it looks like the chassis decribed as the faulty one.
Lenni

Thankyou for your reply. Do you know much abour viscount grand tourers and their chassis? Is it easy to see if the chasis is cracked?
Regards lenni

Lenni I dont know too much about the van other than I worked for AL-KO for a few years and understand the axle works well and I found them to be exellent. The van is better understood by the owners rather than me. Saging was a sure sign of chassis cracks & bends.
Colin

Thanks for your reply. Can suspension on a van be changes easily without huge expense? For instance changed to leaf suspension?
regards lenni

Thanks for your reply, it is the aerolite with the holes. What year was yours?
Regards lenni