Bigwill,
I echo Roelf's request. More info please.
Cloyd
Echo Chobe Mods as requested by Roelf and Cloyd.
Because this caravan has such great ground clearance, it occurred to me that some of that clearance could be utilized to lower the entire van to match the Pajero’s towbar height and be level with the road at the same time. I achieved that by doing the following:
1. Removed the axle and turned the brake backing plates by 180 degrees with the axle using existing bolts and holes.
2. The standard lifting blocks I believe is there more to stabilize the axle against rotational forces when the caravan’s brakes are applied. These blocks are welded to the axle. As I was going to refit the axle upside down I needed to reinstated this stability feature by welding heavy gauge distance pièces between the now upper end of these blocks and the leave springs.
3. Install axle upside down utilizing the same U-bolts and shock absorber mounts. Ensure the newly welded distance pièces now reach the springs within 2 MM.
4. Disconnect the water supply outlet of the water pump and plug the port in the tank by screwing in a plastic plug with glue on the thread. Once the plug is in and secure trim any protruding part so to clear the axle on its upward movement.
5. Now extend the plastic pipe removed above and T connect it with the outlet pipe of the low pressure tap on the right side front of the van. This will re-instate your basin and shower water supply.
6. Fit the brake rods now along the bottom of the axle. Being below the axle is of minor concern.
7. Your van is now about 45 MM lower at the wheels.
8. Now move to the Al-ko coupling at the front of the A-frame. By lowering this will effectively lift the caravan’s front end without getting the coupler to interfere with your car door when the ball is fitted in the lower position.
9. Now cut an opening in the flat of the front of the A-frame to allow the Al-ko coupler slide to protrude from where it will be installed on the lower lip of the A-frame channel iron. Leave some metal at the top to hold the two channel arm frame in position while the big triangle is bolted in place. Once this is done all the strength you require is back again..
10. Position the triangular Al-ko coupler to fit well into the bottom lip support by grinding off very little of the casting where necessary.
11. Mark new holes and drill before final fixing.
12. Remove the hand break lever and cut through the welding where it was set in the factory to one side for convenient operation. Once cut straighten the handle and re weld so the handle will fit in between the two channels when released. Use an overlay plate as not to weld onto the spring mechanism inside the lever tube.
13. Adjust brake shoes to slightly touch the drums when rotating and then adjust the brake linkage to fully engage within about thirty MM of movement against the gas strut.
14. Now you are ready for the great outdoors again with a smart and level Pajero/Chobe rig.
Photos to follow when I manege to load a full file.
Because this caravan has such great ground clearance, it occurred to me that some of that clearance could be utilized to lower the entire van to match the Pajero’s towbar height and be level with the road at the same time. I achieved that by doing the following:
1. Removed the axle and turned the brake backing plates by 180 degrees with the axle using existing bolts and holes.
2. The standard lifting blocks I believe is there more to stabilize the axle against rotational forces when the caravan’s brakes are applied. These blocks are welded to the axle. As I was going to refit the axle upside down I needed to reinstated this stability feature by welding heavy gauge distance pièces between the now upper end of these blocks and the leave springs.
3. Install axle upside down utilizing the same U-bolts and shock absorber mounts. Ensure the newly welded distance pièces now reach the springs within 2 MM.
4. Disconnect the water supply outlet of the water pump and plug the port in the tank by screwing in a plastic plug with glue on the thread. Once the plug is in and secure trim any protruding part so to clear the axle on its upward movement.
5. Now extend the plastic pipe removed above and T connect it with the outlet pipe of the low pressure tap on the right side front of the van. This will re-instate your basin and shower water supply.
6. Fit the brake rods now along the bottom of the axle. Being below the axle is of minor concern.
7. Your van is now about 45 MM lower at the wheels.
8. Now move to the Al-ko coupling at the front of the A-frame. By lowering this will effectively lift the caravan’s front end without getting the coupler to interfere with your car door when the ball is fitted in the lower position.
9. Now cut an opening in the flat of the front of the A-frame to allow the Al-ko coupler slide to protrude from where it will be installed on the lower lip of the A-frame channel iron. Leave some metal at the top to hold the two channel arm frame in position while the big triangle is bolted in place. Once this is done all the strength you require is back again..
10. Position the triangular Al-ko coupler to fit well into the bottom lip support by grinding off very little of the casting where necessary.
11. Mark new holes and drill before final fixing.
12. Remove the hand break lever and cut through the welding where it was set in the factory to one side for convenient operation. Once cut straighten the handle and re weld so the handle will fit in between the two channels when released. Use an overlay plate as not to weld onto the spring mechanism inside the lever tube.
13. Adjust brake shoes to slightly touch the drums when rotating and then adjust the brake linkage to fully engage within about thirty MM of movement against the gas strut.
14. Now you are ready for the great outdoors again with a smart and level Pajero/Chobe rig.
Photos to follow when I manege to load a full file.
Willie from Jo'burg
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
Echo Chobe Mods as requested by Roelf and Cloyd.
Because this caravan has such great ground clearance, it occurred to me that some of that clearance could be utilized to lower the entire van to match the Pajero’s towbar height and be level with the road at the same time. I achieved that by doing the following:
1. Removed the axle and turned the brake backing plates by 180 degrees with the axle using existing bolts and holes.
2. The standard lifting blocks I believe is there more to stabilize the axle against rotational forces when the caravan’s brakes are applied. These blocks are welded to the axle. As I was going to refit the axle upside down I needed to reinstated this stability feature by welding heavy gauge distance pièces between the now upper end of these blocks and the leave springs.
3. Install axle upside down utilizing the same U-bolts and shock absorber mounts. Ensure the newly welded distance pièces now reach the springs within 2 MM.
4. Disconnect the water supply outlet of the water pump and plug the port in the tank by screwing in a plastic plug with glue on the thread. Once the plug is in and secure trim any protruding part so to clear the axle on its upward movement.
5. Now extend the plastic pipe removed above and T connect it with the outlet pipe of the low pressure tap on the right side front of the van. This will re-instate your basin and shower water supply.
6. Fit the brake rods now along the bottom of the axle. Being below the axle is of minor concern.
7. Your van is now about 45 MM lower at the wheels.
8. Now move to the Al-ko coupling at the front of the A-frame. By lowering this will effectively lift the caravan’s front end without getting the coupler to interfere with your car door when the ball is fitted in the lower position.
9. Now cut an opening in the flat of the front of the A-frame to allow the Al-ko coupler slide to protrude from where it will be installed on the lower lip of the A-frame channel iron. Leave some metal at the top to hold the two channel arm frame in position while the big triangle is bolted in place. Once this is done all the strength you require is back again..
10. Position the triangular Al-ko coupler to fit well into the bottom lip support by grinding off very little of the casting where necessary.
11. Mark new holes and drill before final fixing.
12. Remove the hand break lever and cut through the welding where it was set in the factory to one side for convenient operation. Once cut straighten the handle and re weld so the handle will fit in between the two channels when released. Use an overlay plate as not to weld onto the spring mechanism inside the lever tube.
13. Adjust brake shoes to slightly touch the drums when rotating and then adjust the brake linkage to fully engage within about thirty MM of movement against the gas strut.
14. Now you are ready for the great outdoors again with a smart and level Pajero/Chobe rig.
Photos to follow when I manege to load a full file.
Because this caravan has such great ground clearance, it occurred to me that some of that clearance could be utilized to lower the entire van to match the Pajero’s towbar height and be level with the road at the same time. I achieved that by doing the following:
1. Removed the axle and turned the brake backing plates by 180 degrees with the axle using existing bolts and holes.
2. The standard lifting blocks I believe is there more to stabilize the axle against rotational forces when the caravan’s brakes are applied. These blocks are welded to the axle. As I was going to refit the axle upside down I needed to reinstated this stability feature by welding heavy gauge distance pièces between the now upper end of these blocks and the leave springs.
3. Install axle upside down utilizing the same U-bolts and shock absorber mounts. Ensure the newly welded distance pièces now reach the springs within 2 MM.
4. Disconnect the water supply outlet of the water pump and plug the port in the tank by screwing in a plastic plug with glue on the thread. Once the plug is in and secure trim any protruding part so to clear the axle on its upward movement.
5. Now extend the plastic pipe removed above and T connect it with the outlet pipe of the low pressure tap on the right side front of the van. This will re-instate your basin and shower water supply.
6. Fit the brake rods now along the bottom of the axle. Being below the axle is of minor concern.
7. Your van is now about 45 MM lower at the wheels.
8. Now move to the Al-ko coupling at the front of the A-frame. By lowering this will effectively lift the caravan’s front end without getting the coupler to interfere with your car door when the ball is fitted in the lower position.
9. Now cut an opening in the flat of the front of the A-frame to allow the Al-ko coupler slide to protrude from where it will be installed on the lower lip of the A-frame channel iron. Leave some metal at the top to hold the two channel arm frame in position while the big triangle is bolted in place. Once this is done all the strength you require is back again..
10. Position the triangular Al-ko coupler to fit well into the bottom lip support by grinding off very little of the casting where necessary.
11. Mark new holes and drill before final fixing.
12. Remove the hand break lever and cut through the welding where it was set in the factory to one side for convenient operation. Once cut straighten the handle and re weld so the handle will fit in between the two channels when released. Use an overlay plate as not to weld onto the spring mechanism inside the lever tube.
13. Adjust brake shoes to slightly touch the drums when rotating and then adjust the brake linkage to fully engage within about thirty MM of movement against the gas strut.
14. Now you are ready for the great outdoors again with a smart and level Pajero/Chobe rig.
Photos to follow when I manege to load a full file.
Willie from Jo'burg
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
If someone would like to PM me an e-mail address I can forward Echo Chobe pictures. Else tell me how to attach a full file of photos in one go.
Willie from Jo'burg
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
Chobe modification photos.
Attachments:
Willie from Jo'burg
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
Bogwill, you are a scholar and a gentleman. Thanks for sharing this and for my email.
Bigwill,
Thanks for the info. I am going to try the same on my Desert Wolf trailer.
Cloyd
Thanks for the info. I am going to try the same on my Desert Wolf trailer.
Cloyd
Cloyd, are you planning on having the job done by Tie the Dots? If so, then you can sit me down and carefully take me through this process. I'm not in your end Bigwill's league
Roelf,
I hope to have all the "planning" done before ".... the Dots" outing and pending on the size of the job, maybe do the actual modification as well.
My "WOLF" is in for some tent modifications and as soon as I get it back, I want to overhaul the hitch and while it is on the workbench I shall be able to start the planning process.
Cloyd
I hope to have all the "planning" done before ".... the Dots" outing and pending on the size of the job, maybe do the actual modification as well.
My "WOLF" is in for some tent modifications and as soon as I get it back, I want to overhaul the hitch and while it is on the workbench I shall be able to start the planning process.
Cloyd