Hi everyone. I'm new to this caravanning malarky, so please show some pity if I get my wires crossed.
I have an old Mk2 VW Golf with sone accident damage in the rear end.
My understanding is that if I remove the rear axle and cut the body down to the floor, keeping the chassis unchanged, I will not need to get an SVA test if I bolt the a frame of my caravan directly to the floor, making effectively a motor home.
No my problems start as I read that a caravan chassis should not be drilled or welded. Will sikaflex be strong enough to hold it together?
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 01/10/2010
As long as your car is front wheel drive, I don't see any problem with that.
Indeed your only difficulty would be deciding where to post any future questions on this topic.
Do you write to Caravans? Or Motorhomes? or a Please Get Me Out of Jail Forum?
I would think Repairs Servicing and Maintenence is more suitable. There will be a lot of roadside repairs to do that's for sure.
Actually, if the AlKo chassis is attached to the car chassis, I would suggest this is a change to the chassis (it's certinly being extended by the length of the caravan) and so would need SVA testing.
Thanks for the sensible replies. I admit I was unsure where to post, but as the rig is currently a car and a caravan at the moment, I opted to post here. Once it's complete, I will have to consider moving to the Motorhome section, but I hope I don't need the Repairs section.
As regard to the chassis. Neither the car or the caravan chassis will be modified, just joined together. That way, neither gets extended so no SVA.
I'm dubious about using nails though as I think they could work loose. I will go out tomorrow and buy a welding set. I think AlKo are just scaremongering when they say the chassis can't be welded. As long as it's a good strong weld it won't weaken it (I hope)
>>> I will go out tomorrow and buy a welding set. I think AlKo are just scaremongering when they say the chassis can't be welded. As long as it's a good strong weld it won't weaken it (I hope) <<<
This part in red does suggest that perhaps you may need a little practise, say on a tin can or 20 before you could hope to obtain, in your own words, "a good strong weld".
>>> They might pop out when you pop out in the ummm.... carotorhome. <<<
If he changes it to a Carrot-Home, atleast he will be able to see his way home in the dark.
Quote: Originally posted by DIY-Dan on 01/10/2010
Thanks for the sensible replies. I admit I was unsure where to post, but as the rig is currently a car and a caravan at the moment, I opted to post here. Once it's complete, I will have to consider moving to the Motorhome section, but I hope I don't need the Repairs section.
As regard to the chassis. Neither the car or the caravan chassis will be modified, just joined together. That way, neither gets extended so no SVA.
I'm dubious about using nails though as I think they could work loose. I will go out tomorrow and buy a welding set. I think AlKo are just scaremongering when they say the chassis can't be welded. As long as it's a good strong weld it won't weaken it (I hope)
Sorry mate thought this was a wind up ! try here & here may get more joy !
Quote: Originally posted by DIY-Dan on 01/10/2010
Well it's a good job I have a sense of humour or I might have taken offense at some of the replies.
How hard can it be to get a strong weld? The kid in the garage up the road can weld and he's barely out of short trousers.
If I call it a Carrot-Home and can see in the dark, does that mean I won't need to connect the lights up?
Anyone used a Clark easi-arc 105n ? any good?
I can weld - very often weld up a chassis, it's very easy watching someone else do it.
There's absolutely no reason why you can't learn to weld, best way is to take a course through college forget the arc welder though - go for mig.
As for welding a caravan chassis to a car chassis think you'll have fun there, as far as I know the golf doesn't have a chassis as such as it is a monocoque construction, the metal on it is going to be fairly thin compared to the thicker galvanized chassis of the caravan, and incidentally the galvanizing gives off toxic fumes when welded and the weld won't like it one bit, but hey-ho seeing you're trying to avoid a SVA on the finished product does it matter?
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Topic: custom built
