Caravan build 18ft
Submitted: Saturday, Dec 25, 2021 at 12:56
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Jwh
Hi
I’m starting my second build (first was just an enclosed trailer with 3mm composite cladding)
This time around will be a caravan, would like to hear from others that have self built on what frame method they used and how they found it?
I have access to the below
aluminium channel, tube, etc - but can’t alloy weld
Steel rhs, shs - good supply, reasonable price - can weld this
well.
Timber meranti - I work for a supplier of timber and should be able to get in quantity for reasonable price.
My thoughts at the moment is SHS/RHS frame in 20x20 1.6 or a mix of 25x50 and 25x25 in 1.6. With 500mm centres, 4mm composite cladding with foam insulation. 3.7mm caravan ply internal.
I’ve considered the weight and steel will be more but still under my target TARE
Done right, steel should have less impact if water leaked?
Should I seriously be considering timber frame over steel? Or aluminium given I can only rivet together?
I’m not considering the full composite panels as I am too far away from suppliers, they won’t ship? And I may make internal changes on the fly.. and cost would be about triple?
Any general thoughts on caravan frame?
Thanks
Jason
Reply By: Keith B2 - Sunday, Dec 26, 2021 at 22:15
Sunday, Dec 26, 2021 at 22:15
Hi Jason,
Can I put my hand up for the Epoxy Composite brigade?
You can see caravan manufacturers claiming to have a one-piece floor or a one-piece roof and maybe even a once piece wall. I built my van from honeycomb epoxy composite (about $100 and 4.4Kg per sq m) and finished up with a one piece caravan.
Everything in glassed in including the composite furniture and composite water tanks. It's dustproof, leakproof and vibration-proof. And it's quite light.
The downside is that it's expensive (particularly the paints, fillers, resins and adhesives), very very very labour intensive and needs to be planned out in detail
well in advance. It took a lot of planning as
well as ages to build. So don't go this way if you need it in a year or expect it to cost less than twice what you originally planned.
My chassis is steel with very few cross members and no stringers or outriggers, on a soft air bag
suspension.
We have just done a 12 month lap in ours, down the
Gibb River Road and up to
Lorella Springs without any structural problems.
If you are interested, you can see my build on Myswag.org/My camper trailer build/Worlds Slowest Build. But you might have to register first.
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Follow Up By: Dixie61 - Thursday, Dec 30, 2021 at 08:56
Thursday, Dec 30, 2021 at 08:56
Nice DIY job mate !
FollowupID:
917781