A friend was preparing his vehicle in readiness for hooking up a new caravan.
Much to his horror he found cracks on both chassis rails of his Navara King Cab Ute. I haven't had a look at it yet so am just going on his verbal descriptions of the issue.
I see lots of newish Utes pulling vans and wonder how widespread this problem is.
He had a professionally fitted Hayman Reece tow bar & hitch to pull his rather small van.
It seems that his tow bar was attached by 3 bolts either side to the bottom of the 'C' section chassis.
Both Hayman Reece & their agent 'RFM 4X4 Accessories' in Brisbane were extremely helpful & are arranging a fix that includes welding of the cracks by a body works place & the fitting of a HR supplied plate to the chassis to strengthen the attachment. It seems that all current HR tow bars come with this plate. Perhaps an installation oversight or a maybe later mod.
It might be a good idea to check your chassis if you are towing with a modern Ute.
ps. Nissan didn't want to know him. It seems that they had this problem with the earlier Spanish made vehicles but not the later Thailand manufactured ones (maybe they had the newer hitches fitted). They were most unhelpful.
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 13th of July 2013 02:41:35 PM
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Saturday 13th of July 2013 05:22:16 PM
hanoman said
10:26 PM Jul 13, 2013
Do you know if your friend had Airbags fitted?
Cruising Granny said
12:22 AM Jul 14, 2013
I often wonder about this when I see small SUV's and utes towing big vans.
If a small van causes this problem to a ute with something like 3 tonne capacity, what are the big vans doing to the structure of the vehicle, not to mention, (but I will) the motor, transmission/bear box and differential.
Cheap and economical is not better in this case.
I believe it's better to tow with a vehicle which has spare "horses", rather than pull the guts out of the limited horses you have under the bonnet.
It's good to know there is a solution to the problem. Take care it doesn't happen again.
Safe and happy travels to your friend. Share a glass or two for me.
barrie said
02:20 AM Jul 14, 2013
Have heard about this for about 4 years now and just how unhappy people are with the navara especially with those carry a tray top camper
Cupie said
02:38 AM Jul 14, 2013
hanoman wrote:
Do you know if your friend had Airbags fitted?
No airbags ... Standard suspension.
justcruisin01 said
02:56 AM Jul 14, 2013
How many times have we heard all this before, cracks & chassis bending, there notorious for it.
Same with many other mid size units, tritons, hilux, rangers, & now even the new nissan patrol is cracking.
Thats why I am buying a big unit with lots of load carring capacity.
JC.
Legendts said
03:03 AM Jul 14, 2013
OK, so it's at Gympie, either a Tundra (hmm petrol though) or a Chevy? Didn't you check out the Shogun Rams JC? Top spec @ $105 ~ $110k. Looked a nice conversion too. But you will be happy whatever you bought 'cause you are paying for it.
Baz421 said
03:22 AM Jul 14, 2013
When I was involved with chassis inspections after repairs the criteria were as follows for heavy vehicles and also other rail chassis light vehicles and technical bulletins reflected this.
When I was involved with chassis inspections after repairs the criteria were as follows for heavy vehicles and also other rail chassis light vehicles and technical bulletins reflected this.
That is strange as I received a recall on my Navara to check if there was any cracks.I was told the many problem was with the Nissan tow bar.
Mine has a Hayman Recce & was told I would have to pay if it needed fixing,all was found ok so keeping my fingers x.
Baz421 said
10:48 PM Jul 14, 2013
Cupie
Transverse weld is weld ACROSS the chassis rail.
The opposite is longitudinal weld ALONG the chassis rail if allowed,,,, ie to weld a plate on.
herbie said
11:44 PM Jul 14, 2013
Reading the posts regarding this problem re crack in the Navara, Realy sounds like it should be a full factory re call, before some is badly involved in a accident by this crack.
-- Edited by herbie on Monday 15th of July 2013 08:24:23 PM
Hi ...
A friend was preparing his vehicle in readiness for hooking up a new caravan.
Much to his horror he found cracks on both chassis rails of his Navara King Cab Ute. I haven't had a look at it yet so am just going on his verbal descriptions of the issue.
I see lots of newish Utes pulling vans and wonder how widespread this problem is.
He had a professionally fitted Hayman Reece tow bar & hitch to pull his rather small van.
It seems that his tow bar was attached by 3 bolts either side to the bottom of the 'C' section chassis.
Both Hayman Reece & their agent 'RFM 4X4 Accessories' in Brisbane were extremely helpful & are arranging a fix that includes welding of the cracks by a body works place & the fitting of a HR supplied plate to the chassis to strengthen the attachment. It seems that all current HR tow bars come with this plate. Perhaps an installation oversight or a maybe later mod.
It might be a good idea to check your chassis if you are towing with a modern Ute.
ps. Nissan didn't want to know him. It seems that they had this problem with the earlier Spanish made vehicles but not the later Thailand manufactured ones (maybe they had the newer hitches fitted). They were most unhelpful.
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 13th of July 2013 02:41:35 PM
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t53959913/revisiting-xtrails-towing-caravans/?page=1&sort=
Found a relevant thread.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Saturday 13th of July 2013 05:22:16 PM
If a small van causes this problem to a ute with something like 3 tonne capacity, what are the big vans doing to the structure of the vehicle, not to mention, (but I will) the motor, transmission/bear box and differential.
Cheap and economical is not better in this case.
I believe it's better to tow with a vehicle which has spare "horses", rather than pull the guts out of the limited horses you have under the bonnet.
It's good to know there is a solution to the problem. Take care it doesn't happen again.
Safe and happy travels to your friend. Share a glass or two for me.
No airbags ... Standard suspension.
How many times have we heard all this before, cracks & chassis bending, there notorious for it.
Same with many other mid size units, tritons, hilux, rangers, & now even the new nissan patrol is cracking.
Thats why I am buying a big unit with lots of load carring capacity.
JC.
When I was involved with chassis inspections after repairs the criteria were as follows for heavy vehicles and also other rail chassis light vehicles and technical bulletins reflected this.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/vsb_06_h.pdf
In particular transverse welding is a no no.
Thanks for the link. I'll forward it to my friend with the problem.
The job is to be done by a specialist body shop & in accordance with Nissan instructions & I assume the relevant specs.
What is a "Transverse weld"?
After the repair job strengthening plates from HR will be installed using existing holes & nuts.
When I was up Cape York last yr. seen a Navara with a broken back, and owner was saying Nissan didn't want to know about it.
Mine has a Hayman Recce & was told I would have to pay if it needed fixing,all was found ok so keeping my fingers x.
Cupie
Transverse weld is weld ACROSS the chassis rail.
The opposite is longitudinal weld ALONG the chassis rail if allowed,,,, ie to weld a plate on.
Reading the posts regarding this problem re crack in the Navara, Realy sounds like it should be a full factory re call, before some is badly involved in a accident by this crack.
-- Edited by herbie on Monday 15th of July 2013 08:24:23 PM
I call this BIG
Thanks for that ...
thats a pup,what will it be when it grows up jc.