Been perusing the variouse new Vans being built today and with the odd general enquiry i ask "What Type of Frame "does the Van have ??...And its mostly between timber or alloy and the argument against either is that one is suseptible to rot and the other to stress cracking ??...
Would be interesting to hear others point of view in this regard ?? , which is stronger and best?? Timber or Alloy frame .
Caravan build appears to have come a long way with some of the new variaties with one piece fibreglass roofing or cladding etc as well as the Aluminium foam sandwich , which the argument says you cannot rivet sucessfully !!???...
Would be an interesting topic as sometime in the future i guess we all might be in a position to upgrade and with SO!! many manufacture of Vans out there it might take some of the guesswork out of the equasion :)...
blaze said
02:20 PM Oct 28, 2016
My choice would be total fiberglass, that's how they make good boats and the get a lot rougher ride than a van and don't sink
cheers
blaze
ps
all mounted on a galv chassis
Radar said
02:25 PM Oct 28, 2016
Hope you get some interesting replys not dramas with either.
I like a wood frame caravan, I do tend to be a bit rough with them (I have only owed one) going down any road I chose unseal or sealed, only thing that changers is the speed.
Our caravan repairer found some wood rot in the caravan when we had him check a water leak caused though poor workmanship in the building possess, easy repair and at the sometime van was fully resealed ensuring the overall longevity of the caravan.
To me this is a plus to a wood framed aluminium clad caravan.
Hope this helps.
Ron-D said
03:54 PM Oct 28, 2016
I have a wood framed caravan like most people do and am very happy with it, but if I was one that hit the corrugated roads and the rough stuff,I would spend a lot more cash and buy one with independent suspension,and aluminium frame,cupboards screwed into wood will only take so much punishment ,cupboards on an alloh frame support would be much tougher in my view.
but if you don't get your jollies on the rough stuff,my opinion here and I could be wrong,save yourself a lot of cash and buy a stock caravan they stand up to normal wear and tear and are just as nice inside and out...
-- Edited by Ron-D on Friday 28th of October 2016 03:57:35 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:40 PM Oct 28, 2016
The best?
Fibre glass sandwich panel. No frame. Superior insulation.
Cheers,
Peter
macka17 said
07:10 PM Oct 28, 2016
Providing the glass has enough mat/tape etc in mix
and layered to thickness to take the stress.
I've seen 4in thick yacht hull that you could put your fist through
We used a hammer (56ft Cheoy Lee, A famous name) on the slips.
and I had a less than 1\2 in thick bottom, Yacht hull yrs ago.
that bounced on the rocks in the leads.overnight.
Then towed to beach next tide, without a leak.
Heavy weather. rudder snapped off inside leads. whoops.
Same as Timber/Ally/steel.
It's NOT what.
but how (it was made) . and by whom..
Personally I wouldn't have a plastic boat or caravan.
Timber and ally cladding. constructed properly and to scantlings
are super strong. will take impact and vibrations better than most.
And probably easiest to repair back to new again.
There was a Glass panel van rolled a few yrs ago that I saw.
it just disintegrated. Dissolved in front of your eyes.
They have to have ribs or framework moulded in with them
to stiffen flat areas.
That's why the Jayco's were going back to factory with collapsed in roofs.
and walls cracking out at stress points.
Did I mention stress cracks?.
If a glass van body was built in situ to strengths req'd for the stress of off road.
They'd be heavier, and more exxy than the ones used nowadays.
That's why they not around much.
The BEST mfg's still use Timber and ally sheets interlocking.
9
Hetho said
07:15 PM Oct 28, 2016
Hi Papou.
Agree with Peter, Fibreglass composite panels are excellent. Keep the cool in and the heat out as well as great soundproofing.
However; there is one downside, "Drumming" of the aircon when the compressor kicks in. Mine is mounted centrally in the roof; a Truma.
Regards.
Hetho.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:03 PM Oct 28, 2016
This company makes sandwich panels specifically for building RVs. vanglass.homestead.com/index.html They supply panels to RV builders (including several caravan makers) and DIYers. We are very happy DIY customers. Despite what some say, the finished product can be both stronger and lighter than conventional construction methods.
Check the specs...... http://vlp.homestead.com/Caravan.html
Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Friday 28th of October 2016 10:06:46 PM
aussietraveller said
10:59 AM Oct 29, 2016
We own a fibreglass van that is 11 years old with an alluminium frame and there are no cracks or stress fractures and we have travelled over 80,000 klm with some dirt roadtravel but no off road.
The issue is more about how you look after your van and the regular maintenance as well as being aware of the limitations of the van. Each of us have our preferances on frame materials and with Wood and Alluminium having been around for many years I would be happy to own either.
Been perusing the variouse new Vans being built today and with the odd general enquiry i ask "What Type of Frame "does the Van have ??...And its mostly between timber or alloy and the argument against either is that one is suseptible to rot and the other to stress cracking ??...
Would be interesting to hear others point of view in this regard ?? , which is stronger and best?? Timber or Alloy frame .
Caravan build appears to have come a long way with some of the new variaties with one piece fibreglass roofing or cladding etc as well as the Aluminium foam sandwich , which the argument says you cannot rivet sucessfully !!???...
Would be an interesting topic as sometime in the future i guess we all might be in a position to upgrade and with SO!! many manufacture of Vans out there it might take some of the guesswork out of the equasion :)...
cheers
blaze
ps
all mounted on a galv chassis
Hope you get some interesting replys not dramas with either.
I like a wood frame caravan, I do tend to be a bit rough with them (I have only owed one) going down any road I chose unseal or sealed, only thing that changers is the speed.
Our caravan repairer found some wood rot in the caravan when we had him check a water leak caused though poor workmanship in the building possess, easy repair and at the sometime van was fully resealed ensuring the overall longevity of the caravan.
To me this is a plus to a wood framed aluminium clad caravan.
Hope this helps.
I have a wood framed caravan like most people do and am very happy with it, but if I was one that hit the corrugated roads and the rough stuff,I would spend a lot more cash and buy one with independent suspension,and aluminium frame,cupboards screwed into wood will only take so much punishment ,cupboards on an alloh frame support would be much tougher in my view.
but if you don't get your jollies on the rough stuff,my opinion here and I could be wrong,save yourself a lot of cash and buy a stock caravan they stand up to normal wear and tear and are just as nice inside and out...
-- Edited by Ron-D on Friday 28th of October 2016 03:57:35 PM
Fibre glass sandwich panel. No frame. Superior insulation.
Cheers,
Peter
and layered to thickness to take the stress.
I've seen 4in thick yacht hull that you could put your fist through
We used a hammer (56ft Cheoy Lee, A famous name) on the slips.
and I had a less than 1\2 in thick bottom, Yacht hull yrs ago.
that bounced on the rocks in the leads.overnight.
Then towed to beach next tide, without a leak.
Heavy weather. rudder snapped off inside leads. whoops.
Same as Timber/Ally/steel.
It's NOT what.
but how (it was made) . and by whom..
Personally I wouldn't have a plastic boat or caravan.
Timber and ally cladding. constructed properly and to scantlings
are super strong. will take impact and vibrations better than most.
And probably easiest to repair back to new again.
There was a Glass panel van rolled a few yrs ago that I saw.
it just disintegrated. Dissolved in front of your eyes.
They have to have ribs or framework moulded in with them
to stiffen flat areas.
That's why the Jayco's were going back to factory with collapsed in roofs.
and walls cracking out at stress points.
Did I mention stress cracks?.
If a glass van body was built in situ to strengths req'd for the stress of off road.
They'd be heavier, and more exxy than the ones used nowadays.
That's why they not around much.
The BEST mfg's still use Timber and ally sheets interlocking.
9
Hi Papou.
Agree with Peter, Fibreglass composite panels are excellent. Keep the cool in and the heat out as well as great soundproofing.
However; there is one downside, "Drumming" of the aircon when the compressor kicks in. Mine is mounted centrally in the roof; a Truma.
Regards.
Hetho.
This company makes sandwich panels specifically for building RVs.
vanglass.homestead.com/index.html
They supply panels to RV builders (including several caravan makers) and DIYers. We are very happy DIY customers.
Despite what some say, the finished product can be both stronger and lighter than conventional construction methods.
Check the specs...... http://vlp.homestead.com/Caravan.html
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Friday 28th of October 2016 10:06:46 PM
The issue is more about how you look after your van and the regular maintenance as well as being aware of the limitations of the van. Each of us have our preferances on frame materials and with Wood and Alluminium having been around for many years I would be happy to own either.