MTPLM dilema

[otherclive]

What concerns me about Al-ko failed axles is that it has Not gone away.
Over ten years ago we were discussing this very subject.

Sadly to date I am not aware of any qualified techie expert engineer who can challenge Al-ko, the caravan manufacturer and Dealer. Why is it always the caravan owners fault the axle has failed🙉.

My own MTPLM is 1690 kgs and each of the two axles is rated at1000kgs. A bit of a margin you may say but bear in mind TAs are different. There may be certain road conditions where dare I say more than 1000kgs static and dynamic loads could be applied to an individual axle🙀

As said ten years ago we discussed this
I can’t get a direct link but this is it

Verifying Loaded Weight​

• Thread starterWoodlandsCamper
• Start dateJun 27, 2015

I believe one Bailey owner did have success in seeking redress and the full details have been posted several times on the Forum. But it was a painstaking and tortuous path that had to be followed. I would say probably beyond many owners. In my case as I was the second owner I didn’t even consider it as I had no idea how the previous owner had used the caravan. But what I do know is that after a springtime trip to Shropshire the asymmetry between the sides was noticeable, and I suspect my axle failure could have been caused by the woeful state of the roads with their potholes.

Bailey ALKO Axle Problem

UPDATE A copy of an email was published on Bailey UK Owners Facebook page on 9th March 2018. It seems to suggest that Bailey are now addressing the axle problem IF REPORTED, however I am not sure o…

worldwidewalkies.blog

 

[Newtonian]

If anyone is wanting an update... probably not.

Ive removed the after market microwave at 10kg and weighed a number of things I can move out of the van into the car using travel.

Electric cables/locks etc.. and I've probably got about 50kg wiggle room now.

Amazing how much stuff adds up

 

[otherclive]

Thanks for the feedback. Good progress.

 

[RogerL]

Actually, you do have a fifth choice. If you are really set on your current caravan and don't want to change it, you could have the axle replaced by one with a higher load rating. It's not a cheap alternative, and it does involve quite a lot of administrative effort to make such a modification legal, especially if it was built after whole vehicle type approval came into effect for caravans in 2014. I only mention it because a colleague at work had it done. He didn't want to part with his caravan, so he had it fitted with a new axle, but it did involve a lot of time and effort to get it approved and issued with a new weight plate.

The cost of having the load rating increased in that way is very substantial, at least in the UK - I discussed with Fraser Brown the cost of repairing my saggy axle (about £1200) but they estimated the cost of re-certifying at a higher rating would double the cost.

 

[Lutz]

The cost of having the load rating increased in that way is very substantial, at least in the UK - I discussed with Fraser Brown the cost of repairing my saggy axle (about £1200) but they estimated the cost of re-certifying at a higher rating would double the cost.

Yes, it’s not a cheap undertaking on the Continent either. There, AlKo offer a load increase from between €1800 for having just the suspension modified and €5800 for a complete chassis exchange, plus the cost of recertification. In between there would be the possibility of an axle change complete with heavier duty brakes.