Caravan ground clearance

Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 21:19

ThreadID: 73177 Views:6350 Replies:6 FollowUps:6

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Ianwa

Hello everybody,
I recently bought a 2002 Avan 16ft Poptop and want to increase ground clearance to make it more suitable for our needs.
I notice the wheels are on stub-axles which are offset on the top of the main axle -
Is it possible to rotate the axle so that the stub axles are below, which would increase clearance ?
Any ideas ? Thanks.
Ian
PS it is fitted with Alko "Electric Braked Axle"

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Reply By: Roughasguts - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 21:51

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 21:51

Yep you can do that.

AnswerID: 387960

Follow Up By: Member - mazcan - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 23:23

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 23:23

hi Ianwa
yes you can do it i had an early model viscount with the same type of step or crank axle and i rotated it to bring the van up to the 4wd towing height and then did thousands of km's with out any problems with u/bolts or any other axle parts there's no more strain on the u/bolts either way ( 6 of one and 6 of the other)
go for it

FollowupID: 655578

Reply By: Member - shane (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 22:25

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 22:25

That sounds like a drop axle, and if so no I would not do it. The axle will keep trying to rotate and put alot of strain on the u bolts.

cheers shane.

AnswerID: 387967

Reply By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 22:32

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 22:32

The annex would also need to be replaced as it would be 2 inches too short.

Regards

Derek from ABR

AnswerID: 387969

Reply By: Canvas Charisma - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 22:46

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 at 22:46

Hi Ian,

We brought a new AVan Erin Mark 2 pop top about six months ago and low clearance was the one problem area with the van. We put it in and had the axle underslung and it is brilliant. In fact in response to this issue AVan are now offering this modification on their vans.

It fixes the problem immediately and does not affect towing performance at all. The only area it would cause a problem with is if you have had an annexe made prior to the alteration as your walls would be too short.

For more detail talk to Avan.

They are a great van and we are really happy with ours.

Well worth doing.

Cheers.

Brian

AnswerID: 387972

Follow Up By: paulnsw - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 05:27

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 05:27

Quote "We put it in and had the axle underslung and it is brilliant. In fact in response to this issue AVan are now offering this modification on their vans." Another engineering dangerous nightmare. The axle is no longer captive in the inside spring area if the U bolts break. AVan should know better than doing such a poor unsafe fix. Correct way is to fit straight axles.

FollowupID: 655591

Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 09:23

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 09:23

Paul, that sounds a better idea, straight axles, and it wouldn't cost that much to do, and would be safer with less torsional load on the springs.

FollowupID: 655609

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 00:57

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 00:57

What about the brakes

if you turn the axle over and dont reconfigure them the linkages will face rearwards

Bit more to it than just turning it over I suspect.

AnswerID: 387988

Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 09:02

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 09:02

Could turn it over, then flip it side to side, brake connection at the front again, and any toe in would be right. :o)

FollowupID: 655607

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 12:11

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 12:11

Maybe so but the assemblies would still be upside down with the magnets at the top instead of the bottom where they should be.

Correct way would be to remove them swap the axle and put them on the right way up Surely???????

FollowupID: 655637

Reply By: Fred G NSW - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 07:15

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 at 07:15

May also be ofering another "get out" clause for the insurance companies involved, if things go pear shaped, unless factory modified with correct engineering certification.

AnswerID: 387996