If you own a caravan or trailer, regular wheel alignments play a critical role in maintaining handling and performance.

In this Cruisemasterclass, Andrew and Kierran from the Towing Performance Center provide a step-by-step guide on how to conduct a wheel alignment on your caravan or trailer.

Cruisemasterclass Episode 5: Wheel Alignment

Tools Needed for Wheel Alignment

Before getting started with the wheel alignment process, you will need a few tools to complete the job. To undo/tighten the hinge bolts on all suspensions, you will need a spanner and a torque wrench. 

Depending on the type of suspension, you may also require a different socket or spanner to turn the adjusters.

Cruisemaster offers a universal Toe/ Camber Adjuster tool that helps in turning the adjuster and doing the knot up simultaneously, making the alignment process easier. 

Additionally, you will need measuring equipment, such as two straight edge rulers to check the toe and a spirit level to measure the camber.

Step-by-Step Guide to Caravan Wheel Alignments

By conducting regular wheel alignments, you can help your trailer perform at its best and prolong tyre life. Below is a  step-by-step walk through on performing a wheel alignment on your caravan or trailer.

If you are uncertain or not confident in performing a wheel alignment yourself, most service centres, such as the Towing Performance Centre, can complete this as part of or in-between regular servicing. 

Step 1: Find a Suitable Surface

Firstly you will need have your caravan on a nice flat surface where the tyres can move a bit to account for the adjustment. 

For demonstration purposes in the Cruisemasterclass video we have lifted the caravan undergoing the alignment on a hoist, but this is not necessary.

Step 2: Adjusting Camber

The second step in the wheel alignment process is to measure and adjust the camber. To do this, you will need to first take a measurement of the camber using a digital spirit level. 

This is done by placing the level on two even flat sections of the rim, this is to avoid a miss measure from high and low spots.

The ideal measurement for wheel camber is 90 degrees. If your camber is not correct, you will need to make adjustments to the nut using a spanner until you reach the 90-degree mark. 

When tightening the nut make sure to keep measuring the wheel to ensure it doesn't change. Tightening the nut is easier with two people, with one person measuring and the other adjusting simultaneously.

Step 3: Adjusting Toe

Next, it's time to adjust the toe-in and toe-out. To do this use two straight edge rules and make sure they are on even parts of the tyre. Once you have the straight edge rulers in place, this will allow you to measure the toe from the chassis to the edges of the tyre. 

If the measurement is out of alignment, you will need to loosen the nut on the toe adjustment to align the wheel. Once you've got the measurement right, it's time to lock the nut and hold the adjuster to make sure it doesn't move. 

If you are struggling to measure the toe, checkout the additional short video above for some additional tips.

Step 4: Torque The Changes

Lastly, it's time to do the final measurement to ensure nothing has moved while adjusting and tightening the nuts. 

If everything is in the right place, torque the nut to the owner's manual specified torque settings, in this case it was 190 newton meters.

Importance of Wheel Alignments for Your Caravan

Wheel alignments are an important part of Caravan and trailer maintenance to improve handling and reduce uneven wear on tyres. 

Regularly checking your caravans wheels are aligned can help ensure there is even pressure on the tyres and increase their lifespan.

We suggest performing a wheel alignment every 10,000km with regular use or more frequently if you are taking trips through rough terrain as this is likely to knock wheels out of alignment.

For more caravan and towing tips, make sure to keep an eye out for the latest episodes of our Cruisemasterclass series by subscribing to the Cruisemaster YouTube channel and following us on Facebook & Instagram.