Caravan construction techniques

Hilly64,

The majority of vans are made with Meranti frames.

Dont know why this is so, I am sure someone wiser than me will tell us.

Cheers,

Cruiser

Hilly,

Just to throw another option out there - there appears to be an increasing trend by manufacturers to make some models or in some cases all their models without frames. Instead they use a foam amd fibreglass sandwich (2 fibreglass sheets with foam between them) which apparently is very strong and chip resistent (outside fibreglass is a gel coat similar to that used on yachts). One advantage of this method is that it ends up a lighter van. I first saw this with gem hunter caravans but now other manufacturers are using this technique as well.
I have no association with gem hunter.....but was very impressed with this construction method and would be my personal choice if I ever can afford a new van.
Cheers

I think the most important thing is the quality of the construction rather than the materials used in the frame.

I've had my first van with a Meranti Frame and a then a Van with Aluminium, both were very good vans. My latest van has Meranti.

If going for meranti, I'd ask the manufacturer to use yellow-meranti as opposed to red

Yellow is termite resistant whilst all other colours are not, red, pink

May cost more but will double the life of van

There is Pacific Maple which is very close to Meranti, but the latter is harder for more rigid building frames

I was at a caravan repairers recently and was shown 8 vans that had leaked and were in for repairs. Top brand names too !! External panels had been removed and all had wood rot.

Buy a Jayco so you won't have any leak problems or timber issues. With Jayco you have a well insulated van for summer and winter and quality Australia wide backup.