AT trailer fails the test
- Thread starter mep1811
- Start date
- Status
Marcie's Disco
Adventurer
Haven’t seen the article, not a subscriber to the magazine. Glad to hear they’re adding more adventure travel to their pages. The rack failure doesn’t seem like it’s insurmountable and probably easily corrected. Did they explain the nature of the AT Chaser suspension failure?
Titanpat57
Expedition Leader
I find it interesting that out of all the AT Trailers present on this board, used throughout the US and other places, and in extreme conditions, this is the first "noteworthy" article describing a failure.
Do we have any idea how the trailer was used, or possibly abused? I would suspect they may have overstepped the design parameters, but obviously anything mechaical can fail. I think the AT record speaks for itself, both in products offered, and leading customer service.
Do we have any idea how the trailer was used, or possibly abused? I would suspect they may have overstepped the design parameters, but obviously anything mechaical can fail. I think the AT record speaks for itself, both in products offered, and leading customer service.
mep1811
Gentleman Adventurer
trailer
From the blog:
There‘s also a more serious delay holding us back. Problems are starting to develop with the trailer being towed behind the long-bed Equator. Although a big sticker on the front claims it‘s ―Built for Offroad,‖ the poor road conditions are rattling it apart.
From the blog:
There‘s also a more serious delay holding us back. Problems are starting to develop with the trailer being towed behind the long-bed Equator. Although a big sticker on the front claims it‘s ―Built for Offroad,‖ the poor road conditions are rattling it apart.
greentruck
Adventurer
People break Land Cruisers, too.
Stuff happens.:costumed-smiley-007
Stuff happens.:costumed-smiley-007
AFSOC
Explorer
Wow, those blog quotes are painting a picture that doesn't seem to have made their printed page. They're still not being very clear about the suspension failure, just a caption under a photo(?). Since they were able to finish the whole trip dragging the trailer it doesn't sound like the AT had a “catastrophic” failure. I hope Martyn or Elcoyote will add a post with full details of what items and equipment actually broke to add clarity to the alleged suspension failure statement.
Last edited:
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Very true. If you abuse anything it will eventually break.
There is more to this story,,, that is not being told.
My Chaser is 3 years old, goes out once a month, behind my Jeep,,,, on dirt roads, been to Mexico on washboard roads & local trails, and I have not experience these problems.
They must not stay up on the servicing that needs to go into a trailer to keep it in good condition.
My Chaser is 3 years old, goes out once a month, behind my Jeep,,,, on dirt roads, been to Mexico on washboard roads & local trails, and I have not experience these problems.
They must not stay up on the servicing that needs to go into a trailer to keep it in good condition.
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
I haven't read the article so I can't comment directly on the article.
I do know the tire carrier had a weld failure. The current design we use is a different design. I don't know if that would make any difference. Sometimes you just get a bed weld and it's impossible to see from the surface.
The Thule rack system has a quick release system on it. I suspect that the towers were not latched on correctly, or the release button was depressed. It's never been a problem before. It may have something to do with the vibration caused by the damaged suspension.
This trailer did not have the standard AT suspension system. We upgraded it from an air system to a coil over system with a remote reservoir. The reason for this was the trailer was going on expedition to Far East Russia and would have a constant load. The system is also bullet proof. Or so we thought.
There is a stainless steel braided hose from the reservoir leading to the shock. It rubbed up against the underside of the trailer body and wore a hole in the hose.
The on trail fix was to disconnect the reservoir, fill the shock with oil and cap it.
AT offered to Priority air freight out a replacement coil over or air system to replace the damaged parts. At this point I started to understand that this wasn't an "expedition" as I first understood it, but a support trailer for a "quick" road test through Eastern Russia. So the emphasis was on moving on at the scheduled rate, not doing full repairs, or slowing the pace.
The un-pressured shock didn't perform at anywhere near the same level as the pressurized side. The bump stop was ripped off at some point. The repeated hits on the 3/16th wall cross member caused the wall to start to fold in. We recommended double plating the wall as a temporary fix.
The trailer is now back in the USA and we will rebuilding it up to original specs.
What did I learn from this?
Find out what type of "expedition" your customer is going on, and provide them with the right spares for the style of trip.
Stainless steel will get a hole in it from sheet metal, not the other way around.
There are consequences if your equipment is damaged and you are unable or unwilling to take time to fix it, or slow your pace down in response to it.
Even the Ford Raptor team broke stuff, but they fixed it.
I do know the tire carrier had a weld failure. The current design we use is a different design. I don't know if that would make any difference. Sometimes you just get a bed weld and it's impossible to see from the surface.
The Thule rack system has a quick release system on it. I suspect that the towers were not latched on correctly, or the release button was depressed. It's never been a problem before. It may have something to do with the vibration caused by the damaged suspension.
This trailer did not have the standard AT suspension system. We upgraded it from an air system to a coil over system with a remote reservoir. The reason for this was the trailer was going on expedition to Far East Russia and would have a constant load. The system is also bullet proof. Or so we thought.
There is a stainless steel braided hose from the reservoir leading to the shock. It rubbed up against the underside of the trailer body and wore a hole in the hose.
The on trail fix was to disconnect the reservoir, fill the shock with oil and cap it.
AT offered to Priority air freight out a replacement coil over or air system to replace the damaged parts. At this point I started to understand that this wasn't an "expedition" as I first understood it, but a support trailer for a "quick" road test through Eastern Russia. So the emphasis was on moving on at the scheduled rate, not doing full repairs, or slowing the pace.
The un-pressured shock didn't perform at anywhere near the same level as the pressurized side. The bump stop was ripped off at some point. The repeated hits on the 3/16th wall cross member caused the wall to start to fold in. We recommended double plating the wall as a temporary fix.
The trailer is now back in the USA and we will rebuilding it up to original specs.
What did I learn from this?
Find out what type of "expedition" your customer is going on, and provide them with the right spares for the style of trip.
Stainless steel will get a hole in it from sheet metal, not the other way around.
There are consequences if your equipment is damaged and you are unable or unwilling to take time to fix it, or slow your pace down in response to it.
Even the Ford Raptor team broke stuff, but they fixed it.
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
After scanning that/reading a bit, it doesn't suprise me.
It seems as if they were, as my dad used to put it, "Driving like a mad God after a heathen"
I highly doubt they engineered the AT's to survive high speed chases on horrible roads.
And a 'chase' is exactly what I get from the blog, sounds like they were beating the snot out of the little car, and the Equator with the trailer was trying to keep up.
Titanpat57
Expedition Leader
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
Would have been nice of them to inform you of this beforehand, wouldn't it?:snorkel:
I certainly don't doubt your engineering and quality that go into your products. And that particular article certainly doesn't sway my opinion any.
When you "Ride hard and put away wet", no amount of engineering will save your equiptment.
- Status