Drawbar steel thickness

[53vicky]

Hi All
I need to replace the drawbar on my 14' fibreglass Franklin/kennedy van as the current drawbar is cracked.
It currently has 50x50x5 mm angle iron with a supporting bar but I was planning on using 75x50x?? or 100x50??
Not sure on the thickness either maybe 3mm RHS ? Any information would be appreciated. I have based the RHS size on trailer at the local hire place which had a tare of 1000kg
The van is about 800-900kg I think??
Thanks

[Franklin1]

G'day 53vicky,

A typical drawbar for a 14ft caravan would have been 75 x 40 x 3mm C-channel in the old days, and the channel is boxed in (blocked) where it supports the front crossmember. If you use 75 x 50 x 3mm RHS tubing, you'll have a drawbar that is more than adequate.

If you block the ends of the tubing where the coupling is bolted on, just make sure you drill a half inch diameter hole on the underside of both tubes, near the end. The holes will allow any water to drain away, and allow air to circulate throughout the inside of the tubing. Some of the Franklin caravans from the late '60s and early '70s have suffered badly from corrosion inside the drawbar tubing, because there was nowhere for the water to drain away.

cheers,
Al.

[53vicky]

Hi Al
Thanks for the information, was hoping 75x50x3 would be sufficient but being new to this thought it best to ask some more experienced people
Will keep drainage in mind also.
Cheers Ted