AL-KO G&S Chassis Caravan, Warranty And Service Hand Book

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Safety
How should an off-road caravan be
used?
The caravan operator has a duty of care to themselves, their passengers and other road users to use
their caravan in a manner that eliminates as far as practicable the risk of accidents, injury or failure of
components. This means that off–road caravans must be operated as follows:
• Off-road caravans must be towed using a suitable vehicle having adequate towing capacity. This
normally means using a vehicle with features designed for 4 wheel drive operation, as well as a heavy
duty tow hitch. So-called “soft” off road vehicles are generally regarded as unsuitable for towing
caravans in out of the way places.
• To access off-road sites, it may be necessary to traverse rough, unmade areas, damaged (e.g. deeply
rutted) tracks, or steep inclines. To avoid both cosmetic and structural damage, owners must travel
slowly and carefully in such situations. It may be necessary at times to have an observer stationed
outside the towing vehicle, positioned so they may easily communicate with the driver.
• Adjust speed to the conditions. Generally the more rugged the terrain or the rougher the road, the
slower the speed should be. For example, increasing speed in an attempt to have the caravan become
airborne (“float”) over corrugations can result in failure of springs, shock absorbers, A-frames and
other structural and non-structural components.
• As the terrain becomes more rugged, increase the frequency of stops to inspect the caravan for signs
of damage.
• As always, ensure that tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the load being imposed on each
tyre. Under inflation, while appearing to improve ride quality, makes tyres more prone to impact
damage and damage due to overheating. Over inflation compromises ride quality and increases stress
on suspension components, chassis structure, and fittings and fixtures such as plumbing, electrical, air
conditioning, refrigerator, gas equipment, etc.
• Tightness of wheel nuts must be checked more frequently. The wheel tightening procedure is fully
explained later in this Handbook.
• Check tyres frequently for signs of uneven or abnormal wear, or damage to tread or sidewalls. Uneven
wear usually means wheel alignment is required, while damaged tread or sidewalls usually occurs as a
result of under inflation and/or impact. Travelling over gravel roads for extended periods will result in
decreased tyre life.
Warranty and Service Hand book
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Safety
• Off road caravans require more frequent servicing, and may require more frequent adjustment and/or
replacement of components subject to wear. Refer to the service schedule in the following pages.
• Due to the generally higher centre of gravity of off-road caravans, operators must take additional
care when cornering, braking, and overtaking or being overtaken by other vehicles, especially heavy
vehicles. Drivers must be vigilant and must attempt to anticipate situations so they may adjust their
speed well in advance.
• As the caravan load increases, so too does the stress and wear on suspension and structural
components. It is therefore recommended that owners carry only the quantity of food, personal
belongings, tools, water and equipment essential for a safe and enjoyable journey. An off-road caravan,
like all other caravans, is designed primarily as a home on wheels and for carriage of items essential
to safe and enjoyable holidaying. Therefore, owners must be aware of the load carrying capacity of
their van and must avoid overloading, or distributing the load incorrectly. The load capacity may be
found by looking at the compliance plate, where the tare mass and aggregate trailer mass is stamped
or engraved. The payload capacity is the aggregate trailer mass (ATM) minus the tare mass, and
includes the mass of water carried in the caravan and any aftermarket equipment fitted to the caravan
or chassis. The mass of water in kilograms is equal to the number of litres of water being carried. In
many cases, it is not necessary to fill water tanks to capacity, as sufficient water is available at many
destinations.
• As with all caravans, load distribution is vital. Sufficient tow coupling download must be provided to
enable stable, sway free towing, while care must also be taken to ensure the towing capacity and rear
axle load capacity of the towing vehicle are not exceeded. Tow coupling download should normally be
between 8% and 15% of the mass of the fully laden caravan. Load levelling devices are encouraged, but
must not be used to correct the front to rear attitude of an incorrectly loaded caravan or overloaded
towing vehicle. Some levelling devices may be unsuitable for off-road operation. Check with the
manufacturer if in doubt.
• Setting up – choose a site that is a close to level as possible and use corner stabilisers, each of which
must be in proper contact with the ground. Ensure that the ground under each stabiliser is sufficiently
stable to adequately support the van. If setting up on ground that is not level, it may be necessary to
use a spacer block between the stabiliser foot and theground. Blocks must be of solid timber or metal.
Do not use bricks, paving blocks, etc.
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