Shock Absorbers
Caravan Shock Absorbers
The Two Main Types of Travellers
Reactive owners fix bearings, shock absorbers and other items AFTER they fail.
Proactive owners fix bearings, shock absorbers and other wearable items BEFORE they fail.
If your shock absorber is held into place with two bolts, it is relatively easy to remove them. To test compression, pull the bolts open and push them closed. If your shock absorber pulls open quickly, then it needs replacement.
The tell-tale sign of a worn shock absorber is the degree of stone chips. As mentioned before, these stone chips can puncture, indicating shock absorber wear.
The best caravan shock absorbers on the market are the Al-ko and Couplemate. However, many specific shock absorber manufacturers offer non-standard height configurations.
Why are there different heights? The standard install height is approximately 300mm.
The height depends on the tyre height and, notably, the tent height. Specifically branded shock absorbers are used if it is higher or lower than 300mm.