We have a 2010 Swift Conqueror 480. The end of the waste pipes were screwed to a small piece of wood that was glued under the caravan. This wood has totally disintegrated and the pipes are no longer fixed to anything.
I was thinking of fixing a short length of aluminium angle under the caravan, bolted to the side panel, and then bolt the two pipe ends to that. I am not keen to try to glue a new piece of wood in place as it is hard to get glue to stick to older, dirty surfaces.
Can anyone see any problem with my solution, or do you have a better idea?
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
Quote: Originally posted by Bluesjnr on 04/6/2017
What and where will you be drilling into?
I am not sure of the correct technical terms, there is a "skirt" of plastic hanging down about 60mm below the floor, it is about 6mm thick. I was going to drill through that, the bolt heads will be seen but I accept that. I will use adhesive as well but I simply do not trust adhesive to hold.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
The block of wood that the grey waste bracket is screwed too is itself usually screwed to the floor,rather than glued, so the wastes exit under the skirt. This also ensures that is some fall on the waste pipe to aid drainage.
I got the caravan out of the drive today and had a good look. The aluminium side of the caravan hangs below the floor by about 60mm. The inside is lined with some sort of wood. There was a piece of wood about 15mm x 15mm x 150mm fixed to the inside of this with the ends of the waste pipes screwed to it. It did not touch the floor of the caravan.
I managed to remove all the nails and remains of the old block. I then cut a length, 600mm long of 50mm x 50mm aluminium angle and drilled 4 holes in the "skirt". I fixed the angle to the skirt with 4 coach bolts and loads of grip fill glue. I then bolted the ends of the waste pipes to this aluminium. It all seems secure. I decided that the aluminium was better than wood as I could use a much longer piece and it will never rot. It also gives a long length to spread out any load on the “skirt”. I did not want to mess with the floor and risk any damp getting into the floor.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
Sounds like a good job. My only concern would be aluminium is a soft metal and vibration could enlarge the holes for the coach bolts and eventually loosen them. The use of the grip fill stuff will hopefully lessen any vibration so I think the innovation will work.
There would have been no issue in screwing the block to the floor - just look around at the number of other fasteners used by Swift to attach all sorts of things to the underside. Further back on waste pipe there will be either other spacing blocks or P clips also screwed to the floor.
I'm sure you have created a sturdy repair for the moment, but unless you have used stainless fasteners, expect them to go rusty, when they will look unsightly I'm afraid.
Further,the aluminium bracket will corrode rapidly due to being in contact with the steel bolts in what is always a damp environment.
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Topic: Waste pipe fixing
