interesting to note that both manufacturers Elddis and Bailey, have used the "innovation" in manufacture to drastically reduce interior quality. I can say I am disgusted with the standard of build and finish inside my Pegasus: with trim which doesn't fit, edges which should be beaded are simply foiled and bathroom and wardrobe doors coming adrift. The new Bailey worktop surface is about as tough as a new coat of gloss paint and the design and installation of the electrics is "shocking".
The wood floor is a puzzle. Athough I thought it was a wood floor when looiong from beneath, when drilling for the motor mover, there was no wood waste, only inner skin, insulation and outer.
And finally: is it monocoque? Well it ain't framed, and its a self supporting shell, but is mounted...dunno
Not to dissagree but I thought in one of the old caravan channel videos they showed construvtion of a sidewall. It was framed but with a composite.
I think...
Simon
I used to pull fridge trailers shipped from Holland off Harwich dock with loads of veg & bacon for UK supermkt RDCs. The trailers were mainly Dutch makes Vanhool, Pacton etc, very intensively used on a 24/7 basis so they only lasted a few yrs until they were scrapped. I did this on & off for 30 odd yrs, in that time they went from ally sided to the modern construction which reduced weight by about 2tonnes. Its fair to say the very lightweight ones didn't last that long but they wern't really intended to, the money was in the extra payload.
Hi Tentz i'm sure pacton is now Lamboo which is probably the least desireable fridge in Europe even the Russians dont want them, you dont really see many vanhool fridges in the uk either but they are better than Lamboo.
The joys of road haulage, i work for a large trailer rental company selling our old trailers mainly to Dubai or Russia only about 20% of what we sell actually stays in this country
Quote: Originally posted by simon23 on 06/9/2012Well our brand new ElddisTempest went in for first service last year and was full of damp
Rather proves my point I think, although caravans have always suffered from damp you would have thought new tech materials and designs they would have got better. They haven't in fact they are all worse.
So is this down to manufactures trying to push the barriers or cutting corners for cheapness, bad design and bad construction.
The trouble is as long as we keep accepting this lack of quality and buying there vans then nothing will change it would be nice if the caravan clubs did some decent and honest reviews but of course they won't because they get advertising revinue from them.
So, in your opinion, does the Eldiss "watertight" construction match up to the Bailey monocoque construction?
I'll nail my colours to the flag: Bailey Alutech avoids structural problems whether water gets in or not. And without a pressure test on each 'van, Eldiss will never get every one water tight. And as timber is still used in the construction, delamination will still occur.
Nice try, but a bit short on innovation IMHO.
You already know the answer - if it's got wood in it, it will rot.
IMO, there is only *one* caravan worth buying in the UK, and that's the 'alutech'
I know enough about caravan construction (bitter experience, expensively obtained!) to appreciate the value of a caravan that has no timber framing or wall board.
Swift, Eldiss, et.all. can put luxurious cushions in their caravans until the cows come home - but they still have the same old wooden framing that has cursed caravans since bonded construction was introduced in 1980.
Only one brand has invested in what should be the *norm* for caravan construction - and that's the only brand worth buying. In my opinion.
------------- Getting Old, Staying Active (much to Mrs Folder's dismay..)
Wood is good, in caravans or houses or anywere else apart from spacecrafts. It isn`t hard to protect sffectively for upwards of 20 years - outside. So it should be easy to stop water ingress totally. Before the caravan is sold!
No new methods are required; just more care and attention. And an MD who knows the business. In my opinion.
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
Quote: Originally posted by Oldfolder on 08/9/2012
Quote: Originally posted by strax on 06/9/2012
So, in your opinion, does the Eldiss "watertight" construction match up to the Bailey monocoque construction?
I'll nail my colours to the flag: Bailey Alutech avoids structural problems whether water gets in or not. And without a pressure test on each 'van, Eldiss will never get every one water tight. And as timber is still used in the construction, delamination will still occur.
Nice try, but a bit short on innovation IMHO.
You already know the answer - if it's got wood in it, it will rot.
IMO, there is only *one* caravan worth buying in the UK, and that's the 'alutech'
I know enough about caravan construction (bitter experience, expensively obtained!) to appreciate the value of a caravan that has no timber framing or wall board.
Swift, Eldiss, et.all. can put luxurious cushions in their caravans until the cows come home - but they still have the same old wooden framing that has cursed caravans since bonded construction was introduced in 1980.
Only one brand has invested in what should be the *norm* for caravan construction - and that's the only brand worth buying. In my opinion.
Pity the so called alutech system has been used for years in the commercial van/lorry and certainly do not last that long but that was not important for hauliers as long as the lorry cost was covered by the amount of work done.
Solid construction has its drawbacks as others have pointed out a lack of flexing meaning that where the van can flex is possibly where your fatigue fractures will occur
I believe all this rubbish about new systems is a cynical attempt for van makers to try and fool the general public that they have improved the rubbish they have been producing I have yet to be convinced by any of them.
But in this throw away society perhaps quality is no longer required
Its probably best to condem this new system without even trying it I suppose. Yes, that's most likely the best approach. Never bought one, never tried it, don't really believe that the Henkel, who have made aeroplanes, formula one cars and boats know anything about putting stuff together. Yes that's the way to go. I'll stick to my tried and trusted thoroughbred
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Iv recently changed my unicorn Barcelona due to the amount of problems we had with it in the 15 months we owned it! We've had 3 new baileys and each one has had water coming in from somewhere! Not to mention the 40+ faults on it in the first month. Let's not forget the stone chip problems to with alutech. The build quality of new caravans in my opinion is appalling with shoddy workmanship on the interior. Yes they may look stunning in the showrooms but start using them and the faults appear. Our elddis hasn't had many faults just minor ones which can be expected so from a buyers perspective I would say elddis build quality inside knocks the socks off baileys, and, with long warranties that are given if it suffers from ingress then it's covered under warranty. Let's not also forget the fixed price servicing costs that come with alutech, yet another way of fleecing more money out of the customer! The second year costs are in excess of £350 to supposedly check the alutech, calculating the service costs over 10 years and it's a lot of cash. These companies are all trying to find new ideas, only time will tell how good they really are.
I would never buy a bailey again.
Im sure Elddis now offer 10 years water ingress warranty?
Bailey did offer 10 year Insurance backed but for some reason have moved it back to 6 years???? Is this a lack of confidence in the product or to save £££££
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 08/9/2012
Its probably best to condem this new system without even trying it I suppose. Yes, that's most likely the best approach. Never bought one, never tried it, don't really believe that the Henkel, who have made aeroplanes, formula one cars and boats know anything about putting stuff together. Yes that's the way to go. I'll stick to my tried and trusted thoroughbred
I have thought about one of those but if we all start doing it think of the amount of tax the government will start putting on hay,straw and grass not to mention the recycling charge for all waste products
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 08/9/2012
Its probably best to condem this new system without even trying it I suppose. Yes, that's most likely the best approach. Never bought one, never tried it, don't really believe that the Henkel, who have made aeroplanes, formula one cars and boats know anything about putting stuff together. Yes that's the way to go. I'll stick to my tried and trusted thoroughbred
Phil
Nah! They rot like crazy, and you can't get wheel locks to fit. Avoid
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Topic: Eldiss Solid Construction
