Cracked Chassis

Blue Hills · Member

Cracked Chassis

macka17 · Guru

If they a High Tensile "perforated" chassis like the early "Franklins?.

I've welded Gusset plates over cracks. and reinforced some stress points.

Bugg-rs up the H\Tensile Heat treatment. but holds them together.

If pressed\folded like cars.

best of luck mate.

Have a look underneath.
See IF the body and chassis, are separatable.

If so. An Australian (Preston maybe?)
galv one to take our stresses can be changed in?.
But not if they integral.

Nother thort....

If suspension removable.
Maybeeeeeee.......

Remove.and sit complete van ON TOP of Aussie rails, Axle etc.

U,Bolts. Gusset plates and bolts. Weld, together.

Basically.
Get the bottom of it flat. and bolt it onto something.
Gusset the original cracks and forget.

That Aussie Rubber Bush Suspension under a light chassis would do a great job.
They pretty low in operational height.
Depending on "arm" length.

The vans are very low slung. So an extra 6in or so extra height
wouldn't hurt much?.

Preston, etc Chassis are Road registerable. a lot of vans sit on them.

That, with accredited Susp unit.
Engineering shouldn't be a prob.

Providing they well glued together with some araldite of course.
chuckle.

Hope something works out for you. and the others.
Would be a very distressing position to be in.
Regards.

Possum3 · Guru

You probably would be better off talking to a repairer/engineer that specialises in Chassis or Truck repairs - Where are you/van located? Do you have photo's of damaged componentry? What suspension system?

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

It will be repairable . Don't stress ! Maybe temp repares now and get fixed latter in better place . Yes welding and spreading the flex / load . Possibly adding Chanel section with bolts ?

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

These will give some background/info on the 2005 Geist 485 Van.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=296339

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/44821-used-caravan-buyer-2004-geist-lv

Irrespective of the UK history - I agree with Possum3. Take it to a a repairer/engineer that specialises in Chassis or Truck repairs.

Cheers - John

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

High tensile requires different treatment . But you may not be able to take to specialist. ( ?? ) at present depending what doing and where you are !!

macka17 · Guru

Thank's Kiwi.

Moonraker · Senior Member

Blue Hill,
There is a topic about Geist and BPW on the Caravaners Forum. A member of that forum Geistrunner I believe is involved with a group called Geist Owners. According to his post on the CF he can be contacted by email at support@geistowners.com
Might be worth seeing if this line of investgation gets you any help.
Good luck.
Moonraker

Ps dont think Aussie conditions has anything to do with your problem just straight out poor design. The roads in the UK are far worse than here, WA at lease. Chassis cracking has happened there also.

-- Edited by Moonraker on Monday 12th of June 2017 02:13:50 AM

oldbloke · Guru

"Possibly adding Chanel section with bolts ? "

That's as good a method as any.

erad · Guru

Truck chassis are usually high tensile steel, and any extensions or modifications are done with lengths of channel BOLTED on across the cut (or crack inyour case) - they do not weld them. Same should apply to your caravan.

macka17 · Guru

I did say it negates the "heat treatment" if doing so.
But better than just sitting there if nothing else avail hey.

A bit better if like cast, you can preheat a bit first
They WERE just offered as possible alternatives. We've welded Excavator boom knuckles where they crack.for decades. and you won't get any more "High Tensile steel" than them and cranes.

Just lots of Oxy Torch first.

I've still got a Bohler. Tool\Machine steel repair pack of rods here. Covers Heat\cold\water treated steels. Some cast rods too. From my working days.

Not a welder but had a 30ft steel trawler in UK. and two steel Ocean going yachts here. You learn to weld, believe me.(Stovies taught me a lot.)

I also said. U,Bolts. Gusset plates and bolts. or weld.
Main thing being to get him mobile again.IF not in city\big town areas.

One I did yrs ago. Actually dropped in about 5 yrs later.
He'd got home with his saggy rear ended Ultra lightweight chassis we welded together.
Stripped everything off underneath. mounted it on a new chassis.
with single axle under. PS. Have you ever tried to drill holes in H\T steel on side of road. Welder, everytime.

Engineering was simple in those days. You just did it. and he quite happy.

Great improvement to towing said he. Much more stable.

They all just basically a box mounted on chassis
with windows. Even the $130+k models.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 12th of June 2017 11:58:52 AM

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 12th of June 2017 12:02:17 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Sister in law & her husband had the exact same van as you, it developed lots of cracks in the chassis (never been off the bitumen) & was reinforced. Cost a bit to have it done though.

A few years later the A-frame broke while doing 100kph & the van ended up in a roadside drain. They ended up towing just an A-frame.

They had it repaired, which cost heaps then sold it on Gumtree. They now have a custom built off-road On The Move van, no more Euro vans for them!

Landfall · Guru

This was unfortunately a problem with the tandem axle Geists, no problems experienced with the single axle models.

The final analysis for the trouble was the tow vehicles used in Australia had much stiffer suspension than the European vehicles and caused excessive tension on the A frame. The cracks usually appeared where the A frame meets the Chassis in the bolt holes.as fine fatigue fractures.

Andy in Horsham Victoria is a dealer who specialises in European vans and Geist in particular. He has repaired a few of these in his time and I suggest you speak to him. Otherwise there is a dealer in Nowra who could possibly help.

macka17 · Guru

From the sounds of above.
I'd be looking at a replacement full Drawbar chassis from Preston etc.
at his weight.
and transfering the whole thing. Sans, Drawbar onto new chassis.

The springs, axles, etc "should" be reusable?

At least they could relax then on corrugations
and our "smooth" bitumin\concrete roads.

Don't think I'd be trusting a breakable chassis. Proven.
Too much.

Blue Hills · Member

Thankyou to all who commented and advised on our cracked chassis dilemma. As we were 800 klms from home we decided to truck Van home and take action from there. Transport took place on Saturday 17th so we have a journey of another sort ahead of us. Really disappointing as we purchased the van 4 months ago and this was our first trip away. We are hoping that lady luck will be on our side and the end result will be satisfactory.