BPW Swing V-Tec Chassis
The 2008 Explorer range of touring caravans features the advanced Swing V-Tec axle-chassis system from BPW, quite simply because we believe it to be the best available. Our rigorous testing at UK and European proving ground and vehicle test track facilities has proven it's superior reliability and stability over other chassis makes available.
BPW are the European market leader with over 10 million axles sold world wide, and an enviable reputation for producing high quality equipment. BPW axle and suspension systems are designed for high performance, reliability and low maintenance.
The main advantages of the Swing V-Tec are:
- Improved ride stability due to a dynamic self-steering effect (un-noticeable in normal towing conditions), reduces the risk of swaying, sideways movement and side wind sensitivity.
- Greater stability even with sudden steering manoeuvres giving a wider margin of safety in an emergency situation.
- Excellent cornering ability due to increased tyre contact with the road, minimising body roll.
- Safer at high speed.
Winterhoff Stabiliser
The Winterhoff WS3000 is a convenient single lever system for easy coupling and stabilising. The special friction pads in the coupling are pressed against the tow ball of the towing vehicle under high spring pressure, thus suppressing dangerous snaking and pitching motions of the touring caravan before they build up.
The main advantages of the WS3000 Stabiliser are:
- Dampens snaking and pitching of the touring caravan.
- Allows more space between rear door mounted spare wheels, common on 4x4 tow vehicles and the open stabilizer.
- Easy to read wear indicator.
- Clip system for easy replacement of the friction pads.
- Ease of engagement and disengagement.
When combined with the Swing V-Tec chassis, the WS3000 offers the ultimate towing experience, but don't just take our word for it... The RWTÜV Essen, as an objective, independent organisation carried out detailed comparative tests of all towing ball couplings and stabilising gear on the market.*
These tests included criteria such as safety during towing, construction type related limited values, handling and maintenance of each system with a variety of weights.
The comparative investigations were carried out at the Institute for Vehicle Technology in Essen, Germany and on the test area at Trier-Föhren Airfield. The test winner was the Winterhoff WS3000.
Balanced Alloy Wheels
The Explorer Group are the first UK manufacturer to introduce balanced alloy wheels to their touring caravans.
Wheel balancing refers to the proper distribution of weight around a revolving tyre and wheel assembly.
Unbalanced wheels are prone to vibration that can shake the caravan structure and its contents. An out-of-balance wheel literally bounces down the road rather than spinning smoothly. This can affect your speed and handling and may even reduce the mileage of your car.
Proper wheel balance ensures that the wheels, while spinning, do not have a heavy spot that can cause vibration and premature wear of tyres, struts, shocks and other suspension components. When combined with proper wheel alignment, balanced wheels ensure a smooth ride and a more enjoyable towing experience.
Hand Brake, A-Frame and Jockey Wheel
The easy action handbrake could not be simpler to operate and the central position of the jockey wheel aids manoeuvrability. When retracted it is concealed neatly beneath the A-frame to provide a more aerodynamic look to the front of the caravan.
When not in use, the hitch cable plugs fit snugly into the bespoke recessed mouldings in the A-frame cover, and drain holes help to protect the pins from the elements.
For 2007 we've even introduced a clever nose weight indicator built into the top of the jockey wheel to help you maintain the perfect nose weight and further reduce the risk of instability when towing (supplied as standard on all Buccaneer, Elddis Crusader and Compass Rallye tourers).
