08/08/2016
2013 saw the introduction of the first fully bonded caravan, since then manufacturers are starting to move away from mechanical fixings, but why is this trend happening and why change a design that appears to have worked well over the years?
Weight Reduction in Caravan Manufacturing
Removing the heavy timber, nuts and bolts found in previous caravan designs reduces weight significantly! Less weight will allow customers to use a lighter tow car and add accessories without exceeding weight limits. More importantly it opens up the door to people who may not have had a suitable towing vehicle in the past. Another benefit of weight reduction is the lower fuel consumption on the tow vehicle, even more savings for the customer!
Stay Dry - Sealants and Adhesives for Caravans
British Summer time is no stranger to the odd downpour, which in turn presents a big challenge to caravans with timber frames and metal fixings. Any leak ignored could potentially trigger a domino effect and cause further damage to the caravan. Fortunately designing a caravan with sealants and adhesives eliminates any leak paths providing peace of mind when on holiday. The advantages of sealants and adhesives is so big that some manufacturers are offering water ingress warranties lasting several years!
Reliability during Caravan Repair
Traveling over miles of bumpy roads can cause a great deal of stress on a caravan‘s panels and joints resulting in the odd vist to the garage to undergo any maintenance. Sealants and adhesives are engineered to have high strength and to also allow a degree of movement. Consequently the caravan is likely to be subjected to less vibration and potential damage. Manufacturers have tested the strength of adhesive technologies on test tracks and have generally found an increase in perfomance over traditional designs, which is why the migration away from mechanical fixings is taking place.