CARAVAN SUSPENSION UPGRADE

What I did was to grind off the spring mounts and weld 50x50 rhs. (as long as possible) to the underside of the main chassis rails. I also welded 4 - 40x40rhs. cross braces between the above.

Replaced the spring mounts to suit new springs and added shock absorbers each side.

Went from 13" to 14" holden rims and light truck tyres.

Gave me a valuable 3" of extra clearance underneath. The water tank in particular appreciated it.
furph

Hey Mick, do what Furph suggested with the help of a trailer/van repairer. Are you putting on electric brakes? Get 16mm U bolts and also gussets welded onto the spring hangers. Stick your head under a new off road van to get an idea of the size and strength of the various components. You could be looking at 2 grand for new axle, springs, brakes and labour. Oh and a double step to get into it since it will be higher. Cheers, Warrie

Mick

Caravan and Motorhome magazine back in about edition 65 featured a report on a modified 1978 wood framed Millard 12 foot pop top van that had been through ten years of Outback roads and tracks in its modified state and was still going well.

The mods were:
1. Axle. 50 mm solid square with stubs to suit B class bearings. It was placed under the springs resulting in a 100 mm lift.
2. Springs. Heavy 8 leaf with greasable shackles from Industrial Engineers and Spring Makers Adelaide.
3. Wheels. Heavy 14 inch alloy. Rated at 1050 kg.
4. Tyres. Bridgestone 185R LT.
5. Drawbar. Second bar of similar dimensions built inside the original. Two lengths of RHS start at the coupling and run back in full contact with the originals before changing direction and going back parallel to each other directly under the centre rails of the chassis. They are welded to a new cross tube between the outer chassis rails just in front of the axle as well as to the original drawbar and centre rails.

The rear ends of the outer chassis rails were boxed with flat plate from the rear spring hangers back.

In addition to all of that, the spare wheel and gas bottle mounting brackets were reinforced.

The total weight of the van after mods was 860 kg.

I would imagine back copies of the magazine or copies of the article would still be available.

Brian