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a few years ago whilst out on the CC Longleat site we spotted a prototype Caravan called The glass slipper. It was about 4.50m bodylegth and entirely built out of fibreglass in what looked like one piece, rather like an upturned boat hull, with very sleek smooth lines and 'Normal' caravan hitch, height, windows and interior. It looked very smart indeed, and may have been there at the invitation of the Caravan Club from one of the major british manufacturers, it certainly wasnt in private ownership as it was open for viewing at certain times.

Anyone know what happened to it, or if any similar designs ever went into production? It certainly wouldnt have suffered from any of the damp probs like conventional vans can do, as it was a totally seam free body shell.

Julia

Just been having a google, its a three berth 20ft shipping length, 17ft internal body, and was up for sale mid July on a private classified adds site.

Just a shame that as far as i know they never went into full production

Julia  

wheres the link ??

Look at Googles Cached pages here .

atb

Wizard

Thanks Wizard and Bordercaz, I tried that link and got the motorbike threads too, all a bit strange really when the google search main title gives quite an acurate discription of what we spotted at Longleat, the Glass Slipper in the flesh lol! 

The obvious advantages of being watertight through being a seamless body would certainly have attracted me as a buyer, and indeed we did look at the freedom vans for this reason before we bought our last one, but found them just too small for our needs due to our family often joining us for trips when they all camp out in the awning or come round from their tents for a BBq in the evenings. Shame really that someone doesnt produce a larger bodied one piece fibreglass caravan, im sure there would be a market for one.

Julia

Wow! so good to see this and the piccies after so many years, the Caravan must now be over 16years old, and still looking good and very modern for its age.

I am also wondering why such a design never came into full production, but from my boating hobby, I have a few clues and guesses why this maybe so. Fibreglass is not as fire retardant as metal,should you be so unfortunate to have one break out. The weight is probably more than a conventionally built caravan of the same size produced for the mass market, as around the time this caravan was built, to tow a caravan weighing over 1200kg was considered to be rather heavy, with most tourers weighing in around the 850-1000kg mark. 

There is also the possibility of Osmosis occuring in later years through the fibreglass, although there are plenty of 30yr+ old boats around where their hulls are still going strong with a bit of TLC along the way, and being as a caravan does not have the contact with water like a boat hull does, its more lightly than not to be trouble free in this respect for far more years than any boat hull is, but a consideration all the same for any manufacturer,

Julia