Shocks removed!

rosieposie
rosieposie Forum Participant Posts: 16
edited December 2015 in Caravans #1

we are buying a 2012 Stirling Eccles Ruby which is fitted with a truma se r motor mover and we assumed it still had the original shocks fitted. Apparently not! They have been removed to allow for the motor mover! Surely we can have both fitted??? Thanks
for any advice kind people!

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2015 #2

    I would have expected that the MM would have been fitted in front of the axle and not a problem with the shocks.

  • rosieposie
    rosieposie Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited December 2015 #3

    It is in front of the axle. So would you insist that the dealer put them back on?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #4

    I would certainly want the shock absorbers replaced Rosie. 

    There may be some reason why the chosen MM will not fit with shock absorbers however. I know that has been a problem on some vans in the past. Surprised if that is generally the case however. Personally I would contact a fitter for both the make of MM fitted
    and also for another mainstream make and make further enquiries. I have had a mixed experience regarding the veracity of different caravan sales dealerships. Mostly good ......... but not all.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #5

    I cannot see why the fitting of the mover would require removal of the shocks, have them re-fit them or prove to you why this is not possible.

    Truma is a German firm, AlKo who make the chassis are also a German firm, German vans had shocks way before UK vans, why would Truma make a mover that required the shocks to be removed!

    We have a 2008 Sterling, I fitted shocks to it myself without a problem.  We also have a Truma mover  (Originally a 2008 model but now a 2013 model).  Our van is a twin axle, the Truma TE mover is fitted in front of the forward axle, so is similar to a SE mover on a single axle.

    If the mover is fitted correctly there should be no problem.

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
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    edited December 2015 #6

    Question - were shocks fitted originally ??

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #7

    I retro fitted Alko shocks on my 2010 Lunar and didn't have any  problem with regard to the MM

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited December 2015 #8

    Same here i retro fitted shocks to our Coachman which has a 4x4 mover with no alterations.

    peter.

  • insignia
    insignia Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited December 2015 #9

    Yes, I had a Bailey Pegasus, the first of the alu tec models and had the mover transferred from my old van and they put the shocks in a bag and gave them to me when I picked the van up saying that they would not fit with the mover on.  I believe that with
    the new movers both are compatible.  To be honest the van towed well without the shocks anyway.

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #10

    Question - were shocks fitted originally ??

    Yes, they are mentioned in the brochure.

    Swift started fitting shocks as standard from 2009 models, and as the Eccles range is mid/upper market, it would have had shocks quite early on.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #11

    Our previous van was a 1998 Sterling with the original Carver mover.  The original Carver was incompatible with shocks, but IIRC most movers from about 2000-ish onwards were compatible.

    Certainly no problem with our 2008 equipment.

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited December 2015 #12

    Some movers were not compatible with shock absorbers, from memory some models of truma movers.  This incomparability was soon resolved but there must be some of these movers still in use.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #13

    Truma bought up Carver, so it would have been those early re-branded ones that were incompatible.

    No way should there be a problem with Rosie's forthcoming outfit.

  • rosieposie
    rosieposie Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited January 2016 #14

    Well it does appear from all your replies (thank you!) that there should be no reason for the shocks to have come off. Yes they were fitted on the van from new as stated in the brochure and the mm does not look very old so I'm now assuming it was a case of taking the easy option. The dealer we are buying it from has promised us that if the shocks can be re fitted, they will supply and fit them! I think we will be pushing quite hard for them now!

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #15

    https://www.truma.com/downloadcenter/mover_ser_ter_installation_operating_de_gb_fr_it_nl_dk_es.pdf

     

    English starts on page 15.  On page 20 you get the installation instructions.  Shocks are referred to on page 23.  Reference to checking clearance on page 25.

    With correct installation there should be no problem.

    Did this dealer supply the van originally, and fit the mover?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #16
  • rosieposie
    rosieposie Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited January 2016 #17

    Here too......

    https://www.truma.com/downloadcenter/installation_mover_gb.pdf

    Write your comments here... Thanks ever so for your help! Really useful  for arguing our case! 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #18

    No problem.

    Just checked ours earlier and we have plenty clearance, at least 50mm.

    Don't let them tell you it won't work!!

    There are, I think , 3 different rated shocks, see they fit the correct ones for the weight of the van, they are all different colours, look them up on the AlKo website.

    If you join SwiftTalk you will get plenty of support from Swift.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
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    edited January 2016 #19

    If they should be there insist on them being fitted. If they will not do it tell them there are plenty more caravans out there and you want your deposit back if you have paid one.