caravan independent suspension

Suspension problems are often blamed the real problem being incorrect tyre choice.

What possible benefit can independent suspension have on a caravan?

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Some more specific detail as to make of van, type of "independent" ,make and tyre choice would probably get more sensible and definitive answers.

Hard to comment when nothing specific is mentioned

A caravan that is reported to be "rolling around" excessively is more than likely fitted with incorrect tyres as 'taswegian' notes, and possibly even running incorrect tyre pressures.

Cheers, Ron.

We have a single axle independent suspension caravan. It is Cruisemaster Independent with shocks and coils. It can certainly appear to move about at times but nothing moves inside the van. Because each wheel can move independently the roughness of roads seems to be absorbed and dealt with more efficiently, We have travelled over rough dirt roads and everything has stayed in place inside the van and the van has tracked well behind us. It is an offroad van.

Di

Tyre pressures could be an issue. I've always had independent suspension and never had any "Rolling around" issues. But thinking about a vehicle of any type, low tyre pressure will cause it.

Jayco's reasoning for independent suspension:

Purpose designed to complement the Jayco Endurance Chassis,
JTECH Suspension replaces beam axles with individual stub axles,
allowing each wheel to react independently to the road surface,
while also lessening the chassis’ unsprung weight. Delivering
greater stability, a smoother ride, more precise handling and
increased ground clearance without increased ride height,
it makes towing easier and safer than ever before.
Precision manufactured using automotive processes to ensure
exact fitment, JTECH Suspension is the product of two years’
research and development at Jayco’s Melbourne headquarters,
and countless kilometres of real world testing across the best
and worst of Australian second class roads. Its features include:
— Electrocoated surfaces for optimum protection against
corrosion and stone chips
— AL-KO stub axles, bearings and brakes that are suitable
for fitment of AL-KO Electronic Stability Control
— Large diameter, heavy-duty Pedders off-road shock
absorbers and coil springs designed specifically for
Jayco RVs and Australian conditions
— Aeon rubber springs inside each coil spring, producing
a progressing rate when the suspension is compressed; and
— Toe-in and toe -out adjustment for wheel alignment

I agree independent suspension on vans and campers is a no brainer if you want to go really off main roads. I have a camper with a beam axle and will not take it off road where the road has a lot of corrugations, if the trip is for several days on those types of roads. If it was independent suspension I wouldn't hesitate.

Why are beam axle vehicles thought of as superior to 4 x 4's with independent suspension? Different situation altogether. 4 x 4's have to include a drive shaft and the suspension layout is completely different to a van with independent suspension. Beam axles are simpler on 4 x 4's and have less to go bang.

Its not about tires and pressures.

Thanks all for your reply's some good points ....he has pumped tyre pressure up somewhat :( IMO.... and was better on there return trip .
but the Question was ...... Is this the norm for this type of van , to roll around (side2side) uneasy ride , on main Rd I.E hwy etc 100 ks hr ( Not about independent suspension in general ,missing the point)
Single axle coil independent twin shocks set on 45 angle , tyres maybe a consideration & most likely as full offroad type & may well replace them very soon .
My thoughts were , are the shocks doing there job ?? a high van , soft suspension , tyres , traveling to bloom'n FAST :( lol ....anyway whats your thoughts / experience ?
cheers

If it has Cruisemaster suspension I've always felt they are less than ideally sprung with a comparatively small coil that is located at a point forward of the stub axle.
The pics below give a comparison of the Cruisemaster and the SugarGlider suspension I had fitted to my van.
Note the position of the SugarGlider coils behind the axle line giving longer travel with less tendency to bind and a steeper angle on the shock absorbers.
When you think on a single axle van that may weigh up to 2500 kgs all that weight is supported by two coils.
I thing the sizing of my coils (note their size and thickness) to be more appropriate than the coil size supplied by vehicle components.
Regards Andrew.

The pic below is Jayco's J Tech suspension and would be the most modern of all independant suspensions. (please note, Track and Vista owners are in a different league altogether)
Note their spring placement.
Maybe SugarGlider got it right 30 years ago.

Shock absorbers laying back at an angle have to work a lot harder than they do when placed in line with the wheel movement.
Plus independent trailing arms have a much lower roll centre than leaf springs or rigid axle trailing arms with panhard rod. This, plus the fact that the springs are located inboard of the chassis, I think makes the independent trailing arm suspension exhibit a lot more body roll.
Colly Rivers has a lot to say about this type of suspension.

Just looking ay the Cruisemaster setup pictured earlier, is there a problem arising from the inability of dual axle caravans with trailing arm suspension to load share between the wheels?
Maybe air bag springs with a common air line between them on each side would work better for load sharing?

hi
Although springs and shockers can partially control sway . The only real answer is to have a sway bar .
This can be the conventional style . Warning this needs to be engineered properly otherwise it will restrict suspension movement .
Or a torsion bar mount between the 2 wishbones .
The alternate is a van with weight closer to the floor and not high in the air .
Or
Donot run your tow vehicle more than 2/3 of its tow capacity .
An example is the early rangers /bt50 The tow bar/vehicle is rated to 1800kgs without load leveler bars . Using load level bars is a very poor compromise for towing . Yes legally its ok but should not be your first option . A high capacity tow vehicle should be. A heavier tow vehicle will be less influenced by a van of given weight.


swamp fox