Chassis Flexing (Fleetwood Heritage)

[Spenser_5133451]

Has any one experienced a chassis flexing problem from the hitch backwards, causing damage to the locker floor to wall fixing and

also damage to the furniture/bulkhead inside the caravan?

 

[Rod_5041370]

What vehicle are you towing with?

Is the vehicle rear suspension leaf springs?

 

[Lutz]

How do you know it is a chassis flexing problem and not a body shake/vibration problem?

 

[Spenser_5133451]

What vehicle are you towing with?

Is the vehicle rear suspension leaf springs?

Hi Rod,

Tow vehicle is a Mercedes ML 270CDI - don't think it is a factor.

 

[Spenser_5133451]

How do you know it is a chassis flexing problem and not a body shake/vibration problem?

Hi Lutz,

It's the old 'Cause and Effect' debate.

The service engineer pointed out the problem and demonstrated what was happening by raising and lowering the jockey wheel which clearly showed the movement at the back of the floor in the locker.

 

[Lutz]

Any further observations regarding your problem? The chassis itself is relatively flimsy as it really only acts to hold the suspension and drawbar in a given geometric arrangement relative to one another and to the body. The body structure and not the chassis is what gives the caravan its stiffness. The body will always flex slightly but if this is so great that damage has occurred, this would indicate a design problem. Let me know if it has not been resolved as I have an appointment with the design engineers of Fleetwood next Tuesday anyway and I could raise the issue with them.

 

[gypsy]

I hope this is not going to be a problem in all Fleetwood Vans, I have a Volante (now in the Heritage range), I will check it out. Lutz I hope you get some positive feedback if you get the chance to mention it.

 

[BigAl1]

I hope this is not going to be a problem in all Fleetwood Vans, I have a Volante (now in the Heritage range), I will check it out. Lutz I hope you get some positive feedback if you get the chance to mention it.

I cannot find reference to The Volante on the Fleetwood web site, Could you give some info on it please?

Many Thanks

Al

 

[Saladdodger]

Guten Tag Lutz

I have been told that the Heritage has swapped from the B P W chassis to the Alko on 2007 models. Is this connected with flexing issues?

Dodger

 

[Lutz]

Hardly, when you have a look at the two chassis (AlKo and BPW) side by side, there's not much to choose between them in the way of rigidity.

 

[Saladdodger]

Hardly, when you have a look at the two chassis (AlKo and BPW) side by side, there's not much to choose between them in the way of rigidity.

Thanks for your response Lutz. So why make the change? It must be for good reason and not just for the sake of change.

 

[gypsy]

I cannot find reference to The Volante on the Fleetwood web site, Could you give some info on it please?

Many Thanks

Al

Hi Big Al,the Volante is now the fleetwood heritage 560/4, it was put into the heritage range this year, it was the Fleetwood Volante 560/4, there are afew pics on various caravan dealer webpages.it is the one with the fixed twin beds at the rear.

Shiba.

 

[Garfield]

We had a similar problem with our geriatric Swift Cottingham 550/5 where the front of the van appeared to be pitching excessively in the mirror, the problem turned out to be a general breakdown of the structural rigidity of the front of the van that allowed the chassis to flex, we fixed ours with a lump of 2x4 timber spanning the width of the van in the corner formed by the front wall and the floor, fixed to floor, chassis and side walls

 

[Lutz]

Hardly, when you have a look at the two chassis (AlKo and BPW) side by side, there's not much to choose between them in the way of rigidity.

The reason is likely to be, as so very often, cost.