RV MAIL
LETTERS FROM THE ROAD
FINDING FIBREGLASS
I just want to acknowledge the recent GoRV digital issue # 63 . I am in the market for a new caravan and your e-magazine is a wealth of information and , best of all , it ’ s free .
As an experienced caravanner , we are now in the market for our next new caravan and the key criteria is it must be fibreglass sandwich composite panels . However , living in Victoria it ’ s been almost impossible to find a manufacturer that has a full commitment to fibreglass composite , and any such new caravan can only be sourced from interstate brands such as Zone RV , Mountain Trail , etc .
Your article on Crusader Caravans ’ commitment to fibreglass composite sandwich panels was excellent news and I plan on paying them a visit to explore further as a potential purchase .
Fibreglass sandwich panels are the way to go for both thermal comfort , weight reduction and longevity , but I am amazed how slow the Victorian caravan industry has been in adopting next-generation composite construction materials .
My wish is for leading manufacturers like Crusader to continue their innovation with even more focus on weight reduction and perhaps even extend the use of composite material to the internals of the caravan .
David Sajfar
TOWBAR RATING
Thanks for your article on towing and weights . I have just purchased a second-hand SUV with a maximum towing capacity of 2300kg . I note that the vehicle ’ s towbar is rated at 1600kg with a ball weight of 160kg . Am I right that 1600kg is the maximum I can tow ?
The towbar rating should be another point of discussion when talking about towing weights .
Richard Banfield
Thanks for your letter , Richard . The short answer is yes , if your towbar is rated to 1600kg / 160kg , then that ’ s the maximum you can tow . When it comes to a towing setup , you ’ re always limited by the lowest rating involved , whether it ’ s the towing or towbar capacity . – Ed
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