Bailey now use GRP sheeting in the now confusingly named Alu-tech system. It is used on both outside and inside faces of the sandwich constructed sides and front/roof/ and rear sections but [IMO unfortunately] not yet in the floor.
Swift from 2016 in at least their Smart HT range have gone to GRP again extensively to skin the sandwich, sides, the front and rear panels and the floor.
Older ones from Swift used ABS front and rear moldings, IMO best well avoided in any van from any maker.
Teardrop is not a make & not usually made of grp. TaB is not made of grp, it is made of composite which is what most caravans are made of now. If you buy a new Go Pod then keep it for £30yrs because you would never sell it for more than a fraction of retail price.
Grp caravans are not necessarily leakproof because the water comes in through failed joins not through the material itself which is true whatever a caravan is made of.
Thanks for replies, I know the GRPs can still leak, but was lead to believe repairs are easier. Important as I'll be getting 2nd hand - presuming I can find a 2nd hand Go Pod, lol! Leaning towards the Freedoms currently, just making sure I wasn't missing something else to compare.
The Freedom and Go Pod Caravans are fundamentally different. They are essentially a one piece moulded GRP shell with no joints between roof, floor, ends and sides. In this respect they shouldn't leak other than around something like a window, roof light etc.
As others have said the likes of Bailey, Swift and others use GRP but not in the same way. They might use it as the outer skin on side panels and/or to produce the front and back end panels. The panels still have to be joined together though.
I'm with JTQU and would personally avoid any caravan using ABS plastic end panels.
Cost, injection moulding is cheaper than laying up grp. Nothing wrong with abs as a construction material, the faults are all with the methods of construction.
I think they need the floor to be wood so they know if there is a leak!
GRP is excellent, my boat's made of it and that needs to be water tight. Amazing how much it can take in the way of knocks. Repairs are easy too.
However in caravans there is always the risk of leaks from holes such as access hatches, roof lights, windows road lights etc.
My new Bailey has GRP inner and outer skins and very good it looks too with a very high gloss.
The back panel is neat because all the light pods and the number plate pod are separate units simply screwed on. If these are damaged they can just be replaced by unscrewing the old and screwing the new on. Saves replacing the entire back panel.
I've yet to find out if there will be any condensation. Hope to go away next week so will find out.
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Topic: GRP fibreglass caravans
