As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Caravans are a UK success story. Record sales into a market that the foreign makers have largely failed to enter. Factories will be throwing them together as fast as the workers can earn their production bonuses. Dealers will be rushed off their feet struggling to keep up with customer demand.
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 14/12/2017
They need to get consistent quality!
Which in all honesty is unlikely, as sales are increasing quality control seems to decrease in the caravan industry.
Joints not being properly sealed seems one major issue with new vans, again poor quality control during production.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
Quote: Originally posted by VangoMan02 on 15/12/2017
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 14/12/2017
They need to get consistent quality!
Which in all honesty is unlikely, as sales are increasing quality control seems to decrease in the caravan industry.
Joints not being properly sealed seems one major issue with new vans, again poor quality control during production.
I've been saying this for years, the UK caravan industry is similar to the UK car industry back in the 60's or 70's.
We all remember going out to your beloved car on a cold frosty morning and having to hope and prey that it starts. Then in the eighties we had the "far east invasion" of Japanese cars and all of a sudden, we had cars that were reliable, that wouldn't break down because there was a B in the month.
I've visited a "modern" caravan factory, and although they seemed to be moving with the times, it still seemed like a car factory about forty years ago.
Who knows if they will ever be able to totally modernise a caravan factory, possibly it just wouldn't work, but considering that a decent new caravan these days can cost well over 20K, you would hope that they at least stop water ingress, something that even the top of the line Baileys seem to struggle with (not picking on Bailey, just that its one of the more "prestigious" caravan manufacturers, it applies to all of them really)
to make a decent durable leak proof caravans.. firstly it would have to be heavier than they currently are.. it would have to have real suspension and not the (cheap) simple rubber type they now have.. and above all it would have to cost twice as much..
and you can buy them.. but for obvious reason not many people do.. they just expect miracles and blame the manufactures when they dont get them..
Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 15/12/2017
to make a decent durable leak proof caravans.. firstly it would have to be heavier than they currently are.. it would have to have real suspension and not the (cheap) simple rubber type they now have.. and above all it would have to cost twice as much..
and you can buy them.. but for obvious reason not many people do.. they just expect miracles and blame the manufactures when they dont get them..
trog
That does not explain why the 5 berth Lunar I had in the 1990s came with shower fridge cooker and weighed in at 875kg unloaded 1100kg loaded and at 20 years old was as dry as a bone. Bought a new Lunar 2015 weighed 1250kg max 1375 and after a court battle got my money back useless doesn't begin to cover it
my old avondale mayfly has a one piece fibre glass top that sits on the van like a lid.. but it was known as being heavy..
one could ask a simple question.. why dont all vans have roofs like my old avondale.. the answer is simple they cost more and weigh more.. the same with the front and rear panels..
UK towing laws dont help they force towing weights down..
people also want larger vans stuffed with with all the home comforts and they want them cheap..
the end result is a flimsy structure with crappy cheap rubber suspension designed for trailers..
not all vans leak.. maybe the percentage that do is too high but that is all down to having the wrong priorities.. a cheap light-weight overly large structure stuffed full of luxury items..
the bottom line being manufacturers could make a more sturdier caravan but most people would not buy them..
...And an offshoot of the increase in sales of caravans, motor-homes and etc. and resultant "stay-cations" is that site fees will rise dramatically - a simple (if cruel) demonstration of the laws of supply and demand, as already proven by comparison of school holiday periods and other....
From when I first started "caravanning" thirty years ago, site fees have risen astronomically, far more than is warranted by the admittedly improved facilities - part of the reason that I have sold my van....
Gram
------------- What's the difference between a chicken?
my bailey ranger leaked like a sieve and gave me a lot of heartche and greif. my coachman has actualy leaked but i have to constanly keep an eye on it (with a damp meter) and seal it so that lasting damage does not occur.
the baily was purely bad design, putting a joint strip accross the flat roof. the guy who does my servicing is an ex Bailey engineer and he told be the warranty claims from the series 5 and 6 design that covers all models in that period nearly bankrupted Bailey. mostly due to the fact they didnt drill out the screw holes in the end panels the corect size and cracked them when putting the screws in. other manufacturers, german, french or Slovenian would have (probably) just done the job properly.
i have been to the hobby factory myself, installed a galvanizing furnace there, and they make 100s of thousands of caravans a year and its a world away from what i have seen of uk manufacturers.they also dont use an ALKO chassis they make there own hence the Galvanizing plant.
how is it that adria make light weight cravans that dont leak as much as the british built caravans?
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
i am flying to spain for 10 days with 2 adults and 2 kids, hiring a 6 bed villa with its own pool, hiring a car, all in the may school holidays and it is only costing £300 more than my summer holiday in the vendee for ferries and campsites. that doesnt include the depreciation on the caravan, the insurance the servicing, the running costs of the car or even the fuel to get to the vendee.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
BJ, there is a post edit button for use up to two hours after posting, saves multiple posts.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Caravan Sales
