Rear of Motorhome sitting low over wheels - Elddis Autostratus 1998 (1 Viewer)

[Faye Macnaught]

Hi there

Has anyone had an issue with their motorhome sitting incredibly low over their back wheels? I am a little worried we may have a rear axle issue (which sounds expensive?)

The gap between the tyres and the wheel arch is only about a fingers width on each side of the Motorhome. Its been like that since we bought it and it passed its MOT, but we had a Motorhome expert out today and he he did say it looked very close. However, he wasn't entirely sure what it could be, or whether the Elddis Autostratus makes do generally sit very low.

We do have quite a heavy bar at the back which looks like it used to tow a car, which I thought would be weighing it down, but the MH expert said, it shouldn't really.

He suggested I search it on the internet to see if its a common issue, but I cannot find anything and so, I thought I would post on here to see if anyone else has had these issues, or something similar. Its on a Peugeot Boxer chassis, so not sure who to refer to for an opinion?

Any help would be very much appreciated (I attach photos, too). I've also got more photos of the underside, too if that helps?

 

[dave newell]

Many motorhomes have been built with rear wheel arches close to, or even partially covering the wheels, some are almost impossible to remove the wheels from. Ignore the wheelarch to wheel for a moment and look at how the motorhome sits when parked on level ground. The usual stance is slightly nose down but some can sit level. What you don't want is for the motorhomes are to be dragging on the ground. How do the rear springs look? The should be lower in the centre than at their ends. It is possible that the springs have sagged with age so it may benefit from new springs or auxiliary air suspension.

D.

 

[rosalan]

I had similar problems resulting in damage to the rear plastic fittings where they hit the road. My answer was to have air-suspension fitted.
Looking at your van as it is, I would be interested to know if the payload allows for what is already pulling the rear end down. Could have been overloaded in the past leaving the springs a bit tired.

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[DavidG58]

slightly tongue in cheek, but is that plastic wrap heavy?

I recall reading that metallic paint adds weight

But as the whole thing is wrapped I really cant see affecting the rear only

As said above is it level on the road? could all be an illusion due to the wheel arches

 

[Stealaway]

They all look a bit low. Get your head underneath and make sure there is a gap between the body and the bump stops on the springs.

 

[Lenny HB]

I would go to a weighbridge and check your rear axle loafing is within limits.
Towbar can add 50kg plus and being right at the back wiil add more to the rear axle.

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[ambulancekidd]

Not the same type of motorhome but running on a year 2000 Peugeot Boxer. Ours is loaded for holidays in this picture & as already said, they do normally run nose down. Hope this helps.

 

[deleted-member02]

Did I read on the other thread that you're travelling with four kids?
I'd be inclined to visit the weigh-bridge fully loaded to confirm that your running within the vehicle's limits.
As already mentioned, air suspension would help and not too expensive....

 

[mitzimad]

Broken Link Removed:
they all look the same so i wouldnt worry

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[TheBig1]

The rear leaf springs are prone to sagging and in some cases can be refurbished or better still replaced with an uprated version. these are or were available off the shelf reasonably cheaply

 

[chrisgreen]

the OP'S motorhome has no rear springs,its an alko chassis with torsion bar suspension.
same motorhome as mine,and looks normal to me

 

[TheBig1]

the OP'S motorhome has no rear springs,its an alko chassis with torsion bar suspension.
same motorhome as mine,and looks normal to me

sorry, bad memory, i thought i remembered that van was on the fiat chassis. As you know with the alko torsion bar suspension regular greasing with the wheels fully of the ground is essential. there is a firm that refurbishes alko axles up in scotland, but the name currently escapes me. They either do exchange axles or you send yours and they refurbish fully and return in about a week

edit
it was annoying me not remembering, so did a search
http://www.fraserbrowneng.co.uk/index.php?c=al-ko-axle-repair

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[Boringfrog]

the OP'S motorhome has no rear springs,its an alko chassis with torsion bar suspension.
same motorhome as mine,and looks normal to me

Does this type of suspension degrade with age like a leaf spring can?

 

[TheBig1]

Does this type of suspension degrade with age like a leaf spring can?

yes because the torsion bars are constantly under compression. they tend to sag over time, but worse still if not regularly greased right, the torsion bars snap inside the axle tube one at a time (there are 4 either side)

 

[Spawn_e_git]

I have an Autostratus EK 2000 and that has leaf springs.

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[Vlad The Impaler]

I'd be more worried that the Motorhome expert knew as much as you !



Vlad

 

[Chris]

Mine was low last year, but that was due to me having 3 slabs of San Miguel in the boot.

 

[teknik155]

hi there Faye love the van colour. I've got the same van as you an elddis autostratus EB on an 1999 or 'V' plate and you're about right on the suspension. When you get the van serviced lift up the rear of the van until tyres are just resting on the ground and find the grease nipples on either end of the torsion tube squirt as much grease as you can. The Alko manual that that came with my van says that they recommend Shell Retinax LX grease also if you are using 205/70R15C tyres then they recommend 60psi and 65 psi.
With reference to your damp problem I would say that the damp is coming in via one or both of the 2 roof seals. It's a dumb design where the roof seals are in the dip of the roof. My fitter removes both of these seals every 3 years and reseals them and using some old blocks of wood I give the van a lean to the side preventing the rainwater sitting on the seals.
I am personally thinking of getting the roof covered in a flexible membrane to seal up these joints. But as we like the hot weather it will probably be in white.
If you want some copies of the paperwork that came with the van then ask as I did a set of copies for "RS_rob ".
I have the following manuals:- Carver ,Alko Peugeot and Elddis incl wiring diagram. Unable to do it immediately as I've still got a month left of touring round Hungary to do.
But as always any problems just ask

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[teknik155]

Just found a photo of mine to compare to yours.
At the moment I have 4 horizontal fingers of Tyre between metal wheel and wheelarch

 

[axacouriers]

Hi there

Has anyone had an issue with their motorhome sitting incredibly low over their back wheels? I am a little worried we may have a rear axle issue (which sounds expensive?)

The gap between the tyres and the wheel arch is only about a fingers width on each side of the Motorhome. Its been like that since we bought it and it passed its MOT, but we had a Motorhome expert out today and he he did say it looked very close. However, he wasn't entirely sure what it could be, or whether the Elddis Autostratus makes do generally sit very low.

We do have quite a heavy bar at the back which looks like it used to tow a car, which I thought would be weighing it down, but the MH expert said, it shouldn't really.

He suggested I search it on the internet to see if its a common issue, but I cannot find anything and so, I thought I would post on here to see if anyone else has had these issues, or something similar. Its on a Peugeot Boxer chassis, so not sure who to refer to for an opinion?

Any help would be very much appreciated (I attach photos, too). I've also got more photos of the underside, too if that helps?

I have the 1998 Peugeot Boxer Autostratus 6 berth and it sits in exactly the same orientation as in your pictures. So perhaps they are meant to be like this.

 

[Badknee]

A very old thread resurrected, well done
Two suggestions I would be thinking about if it was mine, spring assisters or air bags to lift it an inch or two. Contact SAP in Doncaster and have a chat.
Good luck with it.

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[Jev88]

Some will talk about air suspension and air assist but in your age of van with alko torsion bar tube suspension there aren't any options to do this (at least not when I looked). If you have already lost a tirtion bar inside the tube or it has not been greased at least every year then new rear suspension tube required. Roughly £3000 fitted and are made to order.