Motorhome with a 2.1m overhang

[Murrayclan]

I am looking at buying a motor home with a 2.1m overhang from the centre of the rear wheel to the end of the chassis and only 27cm clearance. It looks quite long and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if this is going to cause a problem for access generally?

 

[MikeH]

2.1m on my Bessacarr 454. Never had an issue

 

[Landy Andy]

Grounded my towbar a few times, and have always been unsure to either leave towbar on to protect the rear, or remove it so I get more room under the bum. In the end I left the t bar on and fitted air assist on the back, gained a good few inches in height, keep the t bar for protection, and better road manners

 

[Clive Mott]

Our Concorde Charisma sometimes scraped on hair pin bends in the mountains or the ferry. Concord later fitted some little wheels right at the chassis end to help. We have a shorter van now.

 

[G-RMPS]

Beware ferries, especially Hebridean ones. I mashed the rear crossbar on my Alko chassis. Not cheap to repair/replace. Try to embark/disembark diagonally or insist on a ramp.

I had previously scraped it in France - my fault. I missed a 3.5 ton sign which would have been a clue.

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[Pausim]

I'm always grinding the underside of my towbar on the Corinium Duo although I'm starting to recognise areas that require a bit more care when maneuvering! The last episode was coming off a weighbridge; as my straight-line exit was blocked I had to turn off early and was not expecting the teeth curling noise from the rear (albeit some distance away ).

View attachment 495970

Blimey that looks like a seesaw. The weight on the rear axle must need watching.

 

[IRHP]

I’ve got a 2.4 m overhang but have 40cm clearance to the lowest part of the chassis extension but can be increased to about 45cm if I pump up the airbags. It would ground before the bumper would. I’ve never had a problem. I’ve been on and off several ferries big and small. Never grounded yet.

 

[IRHP]

Always a great solution; not!

If you want to increase the frequency of grounding (and increase the stresses to boot), it’s the way forward; not for me though.

Ian

If you are clever with fitting you could have them sitting a few mm below the existing lowest grounding point. Can’t see that increasing the frequency much. It would mean a roll rather a grind certainly better if you were reversing.

 

[bigtwin]

If you are clever with fitting you could have them sitting a few mm below the existing lowest grounding point. Can’t see that increasing the frequency much. It would mean a roll rather a grind certainly better if you were reversing.

If you were going to do it, that’d be the way to do it. Fact is though, anything that reduces the ground clearance, even by only 1mm, increases the grounding frequency.

The wheels are really about appeasing the ears of the owners. Yes, it makes less noise but it’s still straining the chassis when otherwise it might not.

Ian

 

[DDJC]

Grounded my towbar too. On a road side camber and once on a ferry ramp.
Overhang is about 1.8m.

Definitely looking at semi air suspension. Tried using a heavy car wheel dolly but didn't work great.

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[Pausim]

The ferry operators should know about overhangs and have blocks ready to lift the back end. Calmac paid for my repairs when they forgot and waved me off.

 

[Ali n Tim]

I am looking at buying a motor home with a 2.1m overhang from the centre of the rear wheel to the end of the chassis and only 27cm clearance. It looks quite long and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if this is going to cause a problem for access generally?

Hi our Dethleffs tag axle has a 2.5 metre overhang, the only problem we have experienced is getting on and off the ferry taking us to Morocco. If the tide is high we had to angle the van across the ferry ramp. Otherwise no probs at all. Cheers Tim

 

[Mclouis700]

Mine's about the same. I grounded it once through my own stupidity a couple of weeks after picking the moho up - forgot what I was driving and pulled on to a too-steep drive to turn around - and have learned the hard way about getting too close to a wall then having to swing out around a vehicle that pulled up close to the front end. No damage done but a lot like Austin Powers trying to turn round in the corridor.

It will need taking into account but once you've driven it a bit it's a learned habit.

That’s a great reminder not to part to close to walls it’s cost me dearly in the past with someone parted up to my front bumper

 

[Emmit]

Someone on here simply bolted some nylon trolley wheels on to the chassis extension

I saw that fairly regularly when we went to the Mosel three years ago.

Most of them were affixed to Carthago's.

 

[AndyVW]

The techy answer.... An over hang Cannot be more than 60% of the wheel base.
A 6 wheel MH, is measured from the middle of the two rear wheels Not from the centre of the back wheel.
(duel rear is still centre of wheel)
Those manufactures running maximum overhang =(60% of wheel base) usually offer rear caster wheels in there build,
As they will touch.

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[Blaydon]

Hi There, We have had Motorhomes with big overhangs and I agree with others, Ferry ramps can be a problem.
We have always had a tow bar not least to act as a reversing aid, and as a skid plate. I did put a 1/4" plate on one vehicle so that if it caught on the ground there would be no damage to the brittle bodywork.
One tip is to keep an eye out on the road - look for scrape marks left by others.

D

 

[bigtwin]

Those manufactures running maximum overhang =(60% of wheel base) usually offer rear caster wheels in there build,
As they will touch.

I’ve seen a few, mostly Carthagos, with under-carriage wheels but never seen any with castor wheels; can you remember which brands you saw them on?

Ian

 

[AndyVW]

we are talking the same thing, caster, undercarriage, wheel deflecter. basically anything that allowes, contact but rotates to minimise damage.
My N&B has, the big Concordes have, the Maurers, the big Phenoix, etc.

 

[funflair]

we are talking the same thing, caster, undercarriage, wheel deflecter. basically anything that allowes, contact but rotates to minimise damage.
My N&B has, the big Concordes have, the Maurers, the big Phenoix, etc.

They are just wheels or rollers Andy, caster wheels should really turn to follow the road,

ours just has plastic skids.

 

[triky]

My " Concorde Charisma 11" Has a 3.2 overhang ,from pivot point (center axel) ,so it took a bit of getting used to.but the underslung 'drag wheels do protect the tail end on uneven ground or ferries etc .
What is VERY important is to allow for 'tail swing' when turning ,or parking close up .A position of middle road is often best on turns ,to eliminate vehicles coming up the sides.

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[Carpmart]

A big overhang you say? Yes sir, I have one of those!!