How to Correctly Install a Marine Bearing Seal
Grease is applied to seals and bearings for one reason only, to reduce friction. Friction produces heat, excess heat through incorrect installation destroys bearings.
Is it true that 40% of all bearings do not live their full engineering life due to bad installation practices?
Caravan Wheel Alignment
If the tandem wheels are not square, call your service agent for an alignment. It is quite likely that your u bolts have come loose and your rig has sustained some shock loading during your travels, This moves axles backwards and out of alignment.
Blog: Hot Joints in Caravan Electrical Connections and Fire
Hot Joints are a common problem to find in electrical connections on your trailers and inside your caravans. A hot joint is an electrical connection that becomes loose over time or connected by only a few strands in the connector ferrule.
Electronic Control Units (ECU) and Towing Looms
Why do I need an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) on my towbar? It would be true to say, being an Electrician, I can wire almost anything. Then along came the computer in motor vehicles. Computers are energy management systems. Computers monitor and control most of the...
News: Lanyard Breakaway Switch Safety Alert
The Lanyard on your breakaway switch is likely to have been installed without being shortened. A simple adjustment could save your life.
Video: Truck Trailer Pintle Coupling Scales
If you are heavy on the scales, shift weight from the front of the axle set to a more central location. This action will lower the weight on your tow ball, allowing your vehicle to become lighter and therefore brake more effectively.
Why does my Caravan push my Car when stopping?
Quite a normal question. Many people I talk to have asked themselves, without asking out loud. Back in the day when dad towing our caravan with his Holden, hitch-ups were something dada did and knew about. Truth is, he knew where the fuel when in the car and the...
Video: Bearing Buddy® fallen off or stolen?
Bearing Buddy® is a machine fit as opposed to a compression fit. Machine fit sizes are not as flexible as compression fits. Unless you are aware of precautions that need to be taken, you may lose your bearing buddy® on the first bump in the road.
Video: How can I reduce Caravan Sway
How can I reduce Caravan Sway is a great question. Learn why we recommend tow ball weights should be 5% to 7% on a tandem trailer and 7% to 10% on a single axle trailer. The key to greatly reduce caravan sway is knowing the weight on your tow ball. Once you have...How to avoid a Towing Disaster
Towing your caravan is not as simple as you would think. Whilst enlarging your existing receiver bar from 22mm to 32mm might not seem a big deal, it will quickly become obvious a this is not a solution for towing your $80,000 rig.
News: How to fix Dangerous Caravan Vibration Fatigue
If Vibration Fatigue can bring down a Boeing 747, you can be sure it will bring down your Caravan too. Boeing has taken precautions against vibration fatigue and so should you. Consider the following article, there may be a few precautions you can take or at least check.
Upgrade begins replacing Broken Caravan Springs
Imagine driving down the highway, listening to Jimmy Barnes on the radio when you notice your caravan feels a little different. Upgrading your rig is not for everyone and certainly not for later model caravans on the roads today.
News: Why do dirt roads destroy Electric Brakes
Learn how dirt roads destroy Electric Brakes. Unsuspecting caravan owners discover their electric braking systems and electric drums are being rendered defective by vibrations transferred to braking systems by corrugated roads.
Why U-bolts may be the Major Cause of Accidents
U-bolts are the only thing holding your entire caravan onto the road. They bind your axle to your springs and then your chassis.
New Caravans and Weighbridge Certificates
Buying a new caravan should be a breeze, but there can be hidden pitfalls that you need to check first. I hear complaints from caravan owners, the dealers and manufacturers may be using inferior springs in rigs, and they are breaking fairly quickly after taking...Can Caravan Overlay Axles be inverted?
Bill asked me a great question on the Couplemate website yesterday. He asked “I want to invert my overlay axle, so my caravan gains extra height. Currently, it hits the top of the mudguard.” So Bill here is our answer. Overlay axles have changed over the...Wrong hanger location cause Spring Problems
Spring problems are more likely to be caused by incorrect rear hanger location than wrong size spring. 90% of Shackle Springs have hangers located so that the axle is the centre of the mudguards but the rear hanger can be out of the correct location by as much as...
Premium Caravan 4WD and Trailer Parts prove a great investment.
Caravan and Trailer parts can be hard to find, not at Couplemate.. Caravan and trailer parts like 635mm short shackle springs can be difficult to find because most stockists do not carry a large inventory of parts.
Galvanising and de-rating Caravan Parts
Loss of Tensile Strength Claims have been made that galvanising of steel’s affected their tensile strength and performance. To ensure that factual information was available, a testing program was undertaken that galvanised these steels to establish the effect of...
D -Value for Pintle Hooks
D -Value for Pintle Hooks is critical when selecting the correct pintle hook because depending on your truck and trailer weight, the D-Value is changing.
Dee Shackle Tips to Select the Correct Size
Dee Shackle rating is often too high for your caravan. Learn how to calculate the correct dee shackle size? Your Dee Shackle must be of a comparable size to your safety chain. The only way you can prove comparability is with a rated shackle or a stamped dee shackle.
Axle under Springs to raise Caravan Height
It is not unusual for caravan owners to increase the load in their rigs over the years with new appliances and whiz-bang new parts. Increasing caravan load caused spring compression further lowering your caravan. What are the things that can go wrong? A strange,...
How to Clean your Caravan Air Conditioner
This How to Clean your Caravan Air Conditioner secret will knock $$$millions of electricity bills nationally so listen carefully and share. May even STOP a few blackouts. Air Conditioner seldom get attention and their electric power usage can be just outrageous. You...
Mag Wheel Nuts and Lug Nuts
Mag Wheel Nuts and Lug Nuts are just a fancy accessory I do not need. Well, the word RUST may change your mind. Your nuts will lock onto your stud when your studs become rusty. So your rust wheel studs are the culprit. Wheel nuts are impossible to remove with a...
Why Caravan Bearings and Boat Bearing fail
Caravan and trailer bearings can be a contentious issue especially when they fail. Seeing a wheel off a caravan on my way home on Australia has triggered this article. I would appreciate it if you could share this with your mates as many folks forget to do bearing checks. Failed bearings can also cause a wheel to come off and roll into incoming traffic with really nasty outcomes.
Dee Shackles and Safety Chains by Couplemate
If shackles or dee shackles are not stamped, they are not compatible with your safety chain. Safety chains must be stamped at least every 4 links.
How does a Pintle Hook work?
“Well, I incorrectly installed my pintle hook and ring coupling equipment, and within one month my equipment is ruined.”
How long do Caravan Shock Absorbers last
How long do caravan shock absorbers last is a great question that we get asked a lot. If I said 5000klms you would say I am stupid and had no idea. So first read a little of shock absorbers and how they keep your caravan on the road. Shock absorbers are quite possibly...
Video: Vibration Fatigue in Caravans and Boat Trailers
Vibration fatigue in caravans and boat trailers is one of the leading causes of spring failure, axle failure and failures associated with your running gear. Have you ever seen an axle wobble in the middle as its owner drives down the highway oblivious to what is occurring under his rig?
10t Tow Ball Collar
The customer felt the installation was weak and would not withstand the loads asserted by a 10t gooseneck coupling. We agreed and produced a 120mm x 36mm deep dia axle collar that could be welded into position. This collar provided a broader base for the tow ball to distribute the load from the gooseneck horse float.
Caravan and Trailer Breakaway Kit
Caravan trailer breakaway kits legal requirements are same for all States and Territories except for NSW. N.S.W. Vehicle Standards Information No. 22 for Vehicle Owners Operators in New South Wales Issued April 1998 Electric Brakes fitted to Large Trailers...Online Lower Freight and Postage Costs
Online Lower Freight and Postage Costs Recently Couplemate brought online lower freight and postage costs to its customers. We know that every dollar we save you is a dollar that can be spent elsewhere. These online lower freight and postage costs have now been passed...
Caravan Spring Choices
The right trailer spring choice helps prevents holiday accidents. I hope this helps you when making your trailer spring choices. Yes, these matters are serious and you will need professional help unless you happen to be an engineer or a tradesperson who understand a little basic engineering.
Express Australia Post / Qantas Caravan Parts Service
The professionals at Couplemate Trailer Parts manufacture axles, electric brakes, electric braked drop axles, independent suspension, pintle towing equipment and more…
Call Bruce, Mike or Chris 07 33483822. we will do our very best to get your caravan or trailer parts to you on the fastest carrier possible,
Caravan Shock Absorbers
Early last century, Henry Ford thought shock absorbers were essential equipment on his cars. Henry said, “the driver and passengers are the shock absorbers”.
Independent Coil Suspension
Independent Coil Suspension by Couplemate features zero camber, designed to help reduce tyre wear and maximise durability.
Axle Steel for Caravan and Trailer Axles
Buying Australian axles from Couplemate means you are providing jobs for Australians! For no other reason is it appropriate to argue the point of Australian or Chinese steel. Buying Australian Axles provides jobs for Australian’s.
News: Pintle Hooks and Testing
All Couplings, Pintle Hooks and all towing equipment over 3500kg must be Dynamic Cyclic tested over 2,000,000 cycles at full load to comply with Australian Design Rules for use on Australian roads for all trailers after Jul 2009. If your supplier is claiming ADR approval ask for the CRN number.
How do you tell a Tested Pintle from an Untested Product? A label or engraved piece must identify the following as minimum requirements:
The Company Name, Rating and the Part Number.
Bearing Buddy® – The Great Australian Furphy
Using the grease nipple on bearing protectors to insert fresh new grease on top of OLD DIRTY grease is NOT recommended as this will accelerate bearing wear. Check grease for contamination before greasing your Bearing Buddyt™
Electric Brakes made Simple
“I do not think I really need electric brakes on my camper as it is pretty light.” is a comment I get all the time.
Caravan and Camper Upgrade Tips
Most caravan and campers are upgraded because existing 39mm Round Axles and 40mm Square Axles are underperforming. Talk to our experts on how to tune your suspension for maximum loadings.
Video: Caravan Electric Brakes FAQ
The correct method using 5mm cable is to run a cable down EACH chassis rail and connect each magnet independently. This type of connection is called parallel.