Locked Threads

Gundog · Guru

Locked Threads

Possum3 · Guru

There is a competent Automotive Engineer, that has in fact actually written many of the VDR's currently in use, with the necessary expertise in caravan design.

His name is Colin Young and is the Senior Engineer at Caravan Council of Australia - That is why I always refer those genuinely seeking advice to purchase a caravan/trailer to that body.
There are many technical specifications and checklists freely available on their website - The correct information is out there, you only need to ask Colin - I have always found him to be helpful.
CARAVAN COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA
3 Margaret Street,
Parkdale VIC 3195
T: 0409 865 399
F: 03 9587 1828

E: caravancouncil@optusnet.com.au

the rocket · Guru

Gotta love those locked threads. First thing i look for Then Get out the pop corn. Its gunna be entertaining. Have a good day.

86GTS · Guru

If people really want to argue over something why don't they do it via the PRIVATE MESSAGE system?

Mike Harding · Guru

86GTS wrote:
If people really want to argue over something why don't they do it via the PRIVATE MESSAGE system?

Because it's much more fun when there is a wide variety of opinions.

Edit: typo

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Saturday 13th of August 2022 07:29:28 PM

Are We Lost · Guru

Gundog, as you know from previous posts I share your frustration.

Possum, the Caravan Council of Australia has some rather conservative views when it comes to caravan safety. For example:

"It is strongly suggested that for added safety and peace-of-mind, the laden tow-vehicle should weigh (at least) 30% more than the laden caravan." (my underlining)

I sought clarification on whether this was connected or disconnected weights. It is when disconnected. So a typical ute laden to its GVM of say 3200kg while connected, would be maybe 2900+kg when disconnected. Under their guideline, the maximum it could tow would be about 2300kg. Not many would agree with that, including me.

Similarly their guideline for wheelbase to towball overhang is to be 3:1 or better. Only a small percentage of vehicles would achieve this.

I did not post those comments in the relevant thread because I think the CCA guidelines are unneccesarily conservative. And as this is not a thread about weights I will post no more on that.

I just wanted to address your recommendation to seek input from CCA with some explanation.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Saturday 13th of August 2022 09:22:58 PM

rgren2 · Guru

I find that when threads are locked, this helps.

86GTS · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
If people really want to argue over something why don't they do it via the PRIVATE MESSAGE system?
Because it's much more fun when there is a wide variety of opinions.
Edit: typo

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Saturday 13th of August 2022 07:29:28 PM

More like, its much more fun when there's a wide audience.

A lot of threads end up one on one.

Kebbin · Guru

While Colin Young is a very knowledgeable fellow I think that his business would be better described if he used Counsel instead of Council as it suggests that a group of people representing Caravanners, when in fact it is his consulting business.

Posts are locked for a reason, whether it be behaviour or the new criminal law on harassment, either way it is necessary.

Whenarewethere · Guru

86GTS wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
If people really want to argue over something why don't they do it via the PRIVATE MESSAGE system?
Because it's much more fun when there is a wide variety of opinions.
Edit: typo

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Saturday 13th of August 2022 07:29:28 PM
More like, its much more fun when there's a wide audience.
A lot of threads end up one on one.

Other forums I am on l can't recall a closed thread, but then they don't get into personal attacks. Nevertheless there are still constructive varied views.

Gundog · Guru

Possum I purposly did not identify the 2 of the sources used as experts on the subject since you exposed one of the sources as Colin Young as the Senior Engineer for CCA, he also the founder and CEO of this privatly registered business name.

I bear no malice towards Colin who as you say is a compentant automotive engineer, but I do take issue when someone uses a facard of a business name to make look more than it is.

Everything that Colin has done to promote safety to the caravaning fraturnity is terrific, but when you promote the tow vehicle should be 30% heavier than the trailer, in a single lne of a document he produced, it would be more credible if there was a link to research that supported such a statement.

However there are statements eminating out of the USA that accept that trailers can be upt to 40% or more of the towing vehicle with a warning that do not exceed the GCWR which is our GCM, I'm hopeful that the engineers at Tekonsha have carried out research to support their instructions.

Another gold nugget that eminated locally on various caravan forums was from J2807 from the society of automotive engineers in the USA recomendation how test, to establish the towing capacity and GCWR for trucks in the 1/2 to 1 ton segment ie the Ford F series etc, these so called experts took one small test control and applied it how a WDH should be set, but when challenged these shrinking violets went missing.

I would be happy if Colin or someone else could point me in the direction of the testing program report that supports their statement.

Its a bit like the other gold nugget 10% ball weight, this clearly shown on every tow bar what the maximum tow ballweight is. In the case of my towbar which my ranger has, its rated to 3000kg towing capacity with a maximum ball weight of 250kg, this is supported in the owners manual in the towing section. Why would you have a maximm rating for less than 10%, the simple fact is the PJ and PK series of the Ranger whilst the manual can tow 3000kg the automatic is limited to 2500kg hence the maximun ball weight of 250kg.