Oops. Big bang. Bent suspension?

REALLY BAD NEWS
Motorhome was low loaded about 9.00. Just heard from repair .... bent chassis rails. Likely to be a write off. I feel sick.

Apparently, the air suspension attaches to the chassis rails and they become a weak point. Chap said the rails could have bent when I went off the road or it could have been happening for a while.

He said they've never been able to find anyone to repair these on an alko chassis. Likely to hear from the insurance by Friday that it is a write off.

We've so much kit on it. Solars, lithiums, lpg tanks. Not sure how much we will be able to take off or even if it is worth it.

We've lived in it and love it.
 
Clunegapyears said:
REALLY BAD NEWS
Motorhome was low loaded about 9.00. Just heard from repair .... bent chassis rails. Likely to be a write off. I feel sick.

Apparently, the air suspension attaches to the chassis rails and they become a weak point. Chap said the rails could have bent when I went off the road or it could have been happening for a while.

He said they've never been able to find anyone to repair these on an alko chassis. Likely to hear from the insurance by Friday that it is a write off.

We've so much kit on it. Solars, lithiums, lpg tanks. Not sure how much we will be able to take off or even if it is worth it.

We've lived in it and love it.
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Perhaps worth contacting Al-KO to see whether they can advise?

AL-KO Vehicle Technology UK​

South Warwickshire Business Park
Kineton Road
Southam, CV47 0AL

+44 1926 818500
mail.uk@alko-tech.com
 
Surely the Alko bit is a bolt on, so another should be able to replace it, assuming it's available and financially viable of course.
 
Such a shame when you have found the right van fitted it out etc, a really bummer.

Main thing K is no one got hurt, with it being a chassis/suspension thing it could have been very serious and although you won't think so yet it could have been an even bigger disaster if it had let go on a say a motorway.

It does make me wonder if it isn't a one off and the recovery firms know of the problem why it hasn't been dealt with by a recall as I'm certain Alco will be very aware of it.
 
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If the rails had been weakening over time, there is some small comfort in that it didn't happen in Morocco .... gutted for you.
 
wildebus said:
Having said that, I did manage to get 2 pints of Madri lager down yesterday in less than 5 hours!
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Madri "the Soul of Madrid"

Brewed in the UK.
 
Clunegapyears said:
REALLY BAD NEWS
Motorhome was low loaded about 9.00. Just heard from repair .... bent chassis rails. Likely to be a write off. I feel sick.

Apparently, the air suspension attaches to the chassis rails and they become a weak point. Chap said the rails could have bent when I went off the road or it could have been happening for a while.

He said they've never been able to find anyone to repair these on an alko chassis. Likely to hear from the insurance by Friday that it is a write off.

We've so much kit on it. Solars, lithiums, lpg tanks. Not sure how much we will be able to take off or even if it is worth it.

We've lived in it and love it.
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Don't be pressured by your insurers.

I find it very surprising that this cannot be repaired.

Have a word with Fraser at Fraser Brown Engineering based in Scotland. They are AlKo experts.

01862 851600

He's a very resourceful fellow and is the type of guy who can fix anything. Their main business is repairing farm machinery.

If he can't do it I'll bet he knows someone who can.
 
Some further thoughts.

Speak to Goldschmitt and see if they've encountered this problem and if so was repair feasible. I don't see why not. It's a chassis and separate from the rest of the vehicle. Surely it can be straightened and welded.

The vehicle is yours and you decide what is to be done, not your insurers.

Not wishing to be negative but are you sure your insurers will pay out anyway?

If it was a car which suffered structural failure they probably would not. It would be deemed to be wear and tear, or caused by corrosion.

Worth checking your insurance policy.
 
Canalsman said:
Some further thoughts.

Speak to Goldschmitt and see if they've encountered this problem and if so was repair feasible. I don't see why not. It's a chassis and separate from the rest of the vehicle. Surely it can be straightened and welded.


Depends on which Alko chassis it is, if it is the type with the longitudinal chassis rails running right through to the rear cross member then the geometry will be screwed and getting it back will need a jig and the chassis decoupling from the habitation plus strengthening where the crack/bend is, so £££££££££. If it is the chassis with the Alko extension, then yes that could be unbolted and replaced. Given the repair garage's view, it sounds like the former.
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@Val54 I'm uncertain whether or not this is an insurance claim. If not then even an expensive repair might be a viable option.

If it is claimable under insurance you'd need to do the sums based on the likely payout value, cost of purchasing a replacement, and the considerable inconvenience.

If it was my 'van, which incidentally I've owned since 2015 and have no intent to change, the very last option I would consider would be writing it off.
 
There will be someone out there who can repair it for sure, particularly considering its value when fixed as it has no value at present, though maybe not the way AlKo would go about. It's what the insurers opinion is. It was a road accident that caused the problem, was there anyone else involved or caused you to go off road?
 
yeoblade said:
There will be someone out there who can repair it for sure, particularly considering its value when fixed as it has no value at present, though maybe not the way AlKo would go about. It's what the insurers opinion is. It was a road accident that caused the problem, was there anyone else involved or caused you to go off road?
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If the insurers are content to settle it still remains @Clunegapyears vehicle unless writing it off is agreed.

As the insured you can choose a suitably qualified repairer if you wish so quotes could be obtained and submitted to the insurer for consideration by their loss adjuster.

It's sometimes easy to be steered by the insurance company but they are not acting in your interests. They are acting in theirs!
 
Some really good information in the above posts with regard to steering your insurance company towards a repair.
They may not like it, but it is your choice who to use.
 
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