Rear Bumper Caster: Help or Hindrance?

Stu Rasmussen

Stu Rasmussen

New member
Jan 29, 2019
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A PO installed a 'hell for stout' receiver hitch on our Birchaven which included a large-ish heavy-duty swivel caster as part of the hitch frame.

The caster was/is obviously intended to prevent the tail of the coach from contacting the ground and perhaps saving the sheet metal bits and black
tank.

When I purchased the rig the black tank was beaten to death and the wheel of the caster was gone, leaving only the swivel. Cause and effect or
coincidence?

Now the question: Does this caster arrangement actually help with reducing coach damage or is it not worth replacing? I bought a replacement caster
wheel but will return it if the consensus is 'useless'. (If it is 'useless' then I'll take it off because it looks a bit 'dorky'.)

Thanks in advance,

Stu

--
Stu Rasmussen W7QJ
Silverton, OR
'77 Birchaven
 
I bought my 23' the last day of April '98, without any rear casters. It's
never gotten any from me, nor shown any sign of needing any. Even 26'ers
don't seem to need them; the 23's with their shorter overhang certainly
don't. Even the most severe dips I've encountered can be negotiated on a
diagonal.

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, Troy-Bilt APU, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com

On Sat, Dec 28, 2019 at 9:29 AM Stu Rasmussen via Gmclist <

> A PO installed a 'hell for stout' receiver hitch on our Birchaven which
> included a large-ish heavy-duty swivel caster as part of the hitch frame.
>
> The caster was/is obviously intended to prevent the tail of the coach from
> contacting the ground and perhaps saving the sheet metal bits and black
> tank.
>
> When I purchased the rig the black tank was beaten to death and the wheel
> of the caster was gone, leaving only the swivel. Cause and effect or
> coincidence?
>
> Now the question: Does this caster arrangement actually help with reducing
> coach damage or is it not worth replacing? I bought a replacement caster
> wheel but will return it if the consensus is 'useless'. (If it is
> 'useless' then I'll take it off because it looks a bit 'dorky'.)
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Stu
>
> --
> Stu Rasmussen W7QJ
> Silverton, OR
> '77 Birchaven
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
The ONLY time I have drug my back end was the first trip We took and BEFORE i got the air system fully functional. The PO had not fixed the leaks and
didn't use the air system properly, so the air bags had to be adjusted at the bags. I was leaving a campground and drug the back of the frame on a
rolled curb on the way out due to the rear being too low.

Since then, I have made the necessary repairs to the air system so I can adjust the rear height from the dash (as it's supposed to work). I run down
the highway in 'travel' mode and when driving on surface streets, on full raise. This keeps the rear up and out of danger, plus lightens up the
steering at lower speeds by reducing the caster a little. This is the Jim Bounds recommendation for proper air system use. It has served me well.

This is on a 26' coach and I have never seen any reason to have castors on the back of the frame.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Found this on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YJHZKW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

On Sat, Dec 28, 2019 at 9:08 AM Carl Stouffer via Gmclist <

> The ONLY time I have drug my back end was the first trip We took and
> BEFORE i got the air system fully functional. The PO had not fixed the
> leaks and
> didn't use the air system properly, so the air bags had to be adjusted at
> the bags. I was leaving a campground and drug the back of the frame on a
> rolled curb on the way out due to the rear being too low.
>
> Since then, I have made the necessary repairs to the air system so I can
> adjust the rear height from the dash (as it's supposed to work). I run down
> the highway in 'travel' mode and when driving on surface streets, on full
> raise. This keeps the rear up and out of danger, plus lightens up the
> steering at lower speeds by reducing the caster a little. This is the Jim
> Bounds recommendation for proper air system use. It has served me well.
>
> This is on a 26' coach and I have never seen any reason to have castors on
> the back of the frame.
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive,
> Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American
> Eagles,
> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
 
I should also include that if your towing chain has the hook ups under the
receiver hitch this will not work.

>
> Found this on Amazon:
>
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YJHZKW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 28, 2019 at 9:08 AM Carl Stouffer via Gmclist <

>
>> The ONLY time I have drug my back end was the first trip We took and
>> BEFORE i got the air system fully functional. The PO had not fixed the
>> leaks and
>> didn't use the air system properly, so the air bags had to be adjusted
>> at the bags. I was leaving a campground and drug the back of the frame on a
>> rolled curb on the way out due to the rear being too low.
>>
>> Since then, I have made the necessary repairs to the air system so I can
>> adjust the rear height from the dash (as it's supposed to work). I run down
>> the highway in 'travel' mode and when driving on surface streets, on full
>> raise. This keeps the rear up and out of danger, plus lightens up the
>> steering at lower speeds by reducing the caster a little. This is the
>> Jim Bounds recommendation for proper air system use. It has served me
>> well.
>>
>> This is on a 26' coach and I have never seen any reason to have castors
>> on the back of the frame.
>> --
>> Carl Stouffer
>> '75 ex Palm Beach
>> Tucson, AZ.
>> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive,
>> Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American
>> Eagles,
>> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Bruce Hart
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Milliken, Co
> GMC=Got More Class
>
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
 
You learn pretty quick what it takes not to drag the rear.

It is a 23' right?? I think those
Are even less prone to drag rear.

Basically dont hit a steeper incline at 90 degrees. Airing up bags also helps, but mostly is just watching how you approach those funky angles.

I would take the caster off- if you need it, it probably will bust anyway.
--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Stu R.:
I think rear casters are un-needed for 26’s and for sure on 23’ers. I drive a 76 Glenbrook 2’ stretch (so 28’ long). The stretch is at the rear and I have yet to need casters - as others have said - take steep inclines on an angle and be mindful of ride height.
Happy Travels,
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> You learn pretty quick what it takes not to drag the rear.
>
> It is a 23' right?? I think those
> Are even less prone to drag rear.
>
> Basically dont hit a steeper incline at 90 degrees. Airing up bags also helps, but mostly is just watching how you approach those funky angles.
>
> I would take the caster off- if you need it, it probably will bust anyway.
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Maybe the septic setup in the rear is different than stock. Possibly why the caster wheels are there. I would keep them..
For the same reason we have tail skids on aircraft. Protection from something expensive....
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
Stu,

My Birchaven came with two caster wheels, and from the condition of them they'd definitely met the road. I replaced the casters when I reworked the
rear bumper supports and reworked the holding tank plumbing. I didn't want to take chances with the low-hanging fruit of the macerator. The wheels
do meet the road on occasion, most frequently at gas stations with steep apron transitions. I consider them cheap insurance.

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777
'76 Palm Beach with 18,477 miles on it.
 
There is no one model that require the caster.
Since there are few hitches, you cannot assume.
We prefer the duel rollers mounted on the frame.
Lot of the coaches need some extension to lower the casters.
We sell those units and like the way they hold up and look.
The big wheel ones look like a Camper and always get broken.
Our all steel rollers are solid and low profile and we weld a plate to make
mounting them versatel.

On Sun, Dec 29, 2019 at 6:50 PM Richard via Gmclist
wrote:

> Stu,
>
> My Birchaven came with two caster wheels, and from the condition of them
> they'd definitely met the road. I replaced the casters when I reworked the
> rear bumper supports and reworked the holding tank plumbing. I didn't
> want to take chances with the low-hanging fruit of the macerator. The
> wheels
> do meet the road on occasion, most frequently at gas stations with steep
> apron transitions. I consider them cheap insurance.
>
> Richard
> --
> '77 Birchaven TZE...777
> '76 Palm Beach with 18,477 miles on it.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
I can't see how they could be a hindrance... IMO, definitely nice insurance to dragging a bumper or worse. Mine see occasional contact as mentioned
above on gas station aprons mostly.

As Jim mentioned, I like the steel wheels for durability, but I run one of the ones with the layer of urethane on the wheel similar to this: (though
you can find them for less $$)

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF48-001011.html?feed=npn&gclid=CjwKCAiA3abwBRBqEiwAKwICA6KOzBgag6OxTBD1PGGVpDqHatsomxs7YvtCiB-VIt2wC8UEDpQDkxoCRt4QAvD_BwE=.reviews

The urethane provides a little bit of cushioning, and is much quieter when it makes contact vs the raw steel. Had them on there a couple years now,
and they seem to be holding up well....

--
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
 
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