Help please

[daniel_374312677]

I am fairly new to caravanning I started towing last year we bought a Elddis Whirlwind, she was a fine wee van but with 3 kids and a dog it was a little cramped but was about all I could tow with my Zafira.

So last autumn as we had enjoyed it so much we decided to change to a larger van and change the car 1st mistake was to buy a Laguna (don't buy one possibly the worst car I have ever owned) this car was changed for a Mondeo Zetec S, this is a brilliant car both towing and solo.

2nd mistake was to trust a so-called reputable dealer to purchase our new caravan a 1993 Cyclone. The van is in A1 condition and the dealer told me he would service it for me before I collected it at the end of September last year. What a surprise I was in for having only done local tows I had no problems with the van so for our summer holiday this year we went to Cromer, we live near Aberdeen so its about 600 miles all was fine on the way there on the way back we decided to have a stop over in York. We were nearly there on the A64 by a McDonalds when one of the tyres blew out on the van luckily thanks an understanding artic driver I managed to control the beast and make it to the slip road in one piece and thank you to the Land Rover dealer who fitted the spare as my jack was still at home.

The tyre failed because it was a car type should the dealer spotted this? If so what action can I take? Also ever since the van is very unstable even with a new tyre fitted as the spare looked as old as the van what other damage could I have done to the van? As it did go with a bang and was very very close to tipping over with the car.

Any advice would an appreciated.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Daniel

The important thing with caravan tyres is that the tyre has a satisfactory load index - if the tyre is rated to carry more than half of the maximum caravan weight (now MTPLM) then it should be satisfactory. A margin of 5% or more at rated speed is usually thought to be OK

Caravans can use car tyres without issue - providing the load index is satisfactory.

Explosive decompression of a caravan tyre is usually caused by running under-inflated (puncture, valve failure, kerbing damage, wrong pressure used, or failure to check tyre pressures before travelling) or if the tyre was very old (should be replaced before their sixth anniversary)

Visual inspection and pressure checking of the tyres is as important as checking that the coupling is properly connected before you set off - look for signs of under-inflation, bulges in the tyre wall - and check the tyre valve for signs of cracking - this is probably the weakest single component.

It's a very good idea to have matching tyres side-to-side - differences in tyre sidewall construction between manufacturers can mean that one tyre is much more flexible - and this will cause instability.

Suggestion: Replace the other running tyre with the same size and make as the new tyre (if this tyre meets the load index requirements) - and possibly use the old running tyre as the spare - check age and condition and pick the best.

Suggestion: GT Maxmiler is a good quality, good value tyre - often used in heavy duty applications - like delivery vans - and will reportedly be fitted to all new Hymer / Eriba caravans in 2008

Robert

 

[RayS]

Assuming you are a member, go to the Caravan Club website and download their leaflet on wheels and tyres. Read this with the advice that Rob J has already given and you should be fine.

 

[chrisn7]

Hi Daniel

As Rob has said the load index is the critical info. There are plenty of web sites with these details, and since the van is unlikely to have original tyres to refer to, its worth working out from scratch the appropriate index, allowing a suitable margin as suggested

 

[Del_374232870]

After getting a puncture earlier this year on our twin axle van and not even knowing until we reached the storage area, I invested in a set of pressure caps for the valves which show if any tyre looses pressure.

Are you sure that the van is more unstable or is it that you are more aware of the vans movements after the blow out. The reason I ask is that about 10 years ago without any warning the van we had at the time suddenly went into a snake and it was the most frightening experience. I managed to slow down and stop (turned out the pressure in one tyre was well bellow the other) but after that I was always aware of the slightest movement in the van. It also taught me to check the tyre pressures regularly.

 

[daniel_374312677]

After getting a puncture earlier this year on our twin axle van and not even knowing until we reached the storage area, I invested in a set of pressure caps for the valves which show if any tyre looses pressure.

Are you sure that the van is more unstable or is it that you are more aware of the vans movements after the blow out. The reason I ask is that about 10 years ago without any warning the van we had at the time suddenly went into a snake and it was the most frightening experience. I managed to slow down and stop (turned out the pressure in one tyre was well bellow the other) but after that I was always aware of the slightest movement in the van. It also taught me to check the tyre pressures regularly.

thanks for all the good advice, one thing i did notice on the tyre that failed was that the max psi was 36, the elddis hand book states 51 psi !! so why did the dealer not notice this when it was serviced?

 

[daniel_374312677]

thanks for all the good advice, one thing i did notice on the tyre that failed was that the max psi was 36, the elddis hand book states 51 psi !! so why did the dealer not notice this when it was serviced?

 

[Del_374232870]

thanks for all the good advice, one thing i did notice on the tyre that failed was that the max psi was 36, the elddis hand book states 51 psi !! so why did the dealer not notice this when it was serviced?

Whilst the handbook may state a presure of 51psi if a standard car tyre was fitted the tyre may not have been able to withstand such a high presure. This is one reason why I wouldnt put anything other than the stated tyres on the van.