RV FEATURE
Aluminium frames offer a slight weight advantage over woodframed vans , which is important in caravans today . Everyone wants to have a big van will all the mod cons so every kilogram that can be saved in construction adds up .
Some critics say aluminium frames are prone to issues arising from metal fatigue such as cracking around rivet points and welds , especially offroad vans that have seen years of travel on corrugated roads . This would seem odd given most of the big names in offroad caravans use aluminium frames .
I ’ ve spoken to a few caravan repairers who all say such cracking is extremely rare and that is usually associated with a poorly constructed frame .
If you ’ re looking at purchasing a caravan with an aluminium frame , again get down to the manufacturer ’ s factory and have a look to see how it builds its frames . Ask the manufacturer if it makes its own frames or if it has them made elsewhere and , if so , by whom .
One thing you definitely want to see in an aluminium frame is protection for any wiring running through the frame . The last thing you want is for the 240V wiring to wear away and short out on the frame .
This van has an aluminium frame skinned in aluminium composite panel .
Wiring protection on an aluminium-framed Roadstar .
Kedron is renowned for its aluminium-framed offroad caravans .
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