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 Topic: Caravan floor strength
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07/7/2013 at 8:57am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave
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A recent topic on delamination reminded me of a discussion I joined in whilst staying a few days at a C.C. site last month.
Two pitches from us was a fairly new Swift Challenger. The owners were large people, and the guy must have been 20 stone in weight. At night and in the morning we could hear them clumping around, and I got into discussing the Challenger floor strength with our immediate neighbour; my interest being that we also have a Challenger.
Our thoughts concerned the width of the floor bearers (considering that they are only about 40mm in vertical thickness), and what the spacing was between each bearer.
Considering the variations in the weight of people who might use a van, we also wondered how Swift (or for that matter other manufacturers)determined the ultimate strength of the floor, and what safety factor was implemented.
In addition, the recommendations are to place 'heavy' objects on the van floor and above the axle. With the current state of our roads (we also hit some bad national roads in France), along with speed humps which seem to shake a van no matter how slowly they are taken, these 'heavy' items must impose significant shock loads when meeting a piece of particularly rough road.
I feel sure there must be other caravanners who have pondered this question. Has anyone found a valid answer?
Bertie.
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07/7/2013 at 12:09pm
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H
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Good question, Bertie, I wondered if all floor plans were the same or on known 'hot spots' for constant traffic ie, door, or in front of kitchen sink,fridge,cooker combo, (where mine is going), were given additional support? Or is that too much like common sense, surely it wouldn't cost that much extra?
Dave
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07/7/2013 at 2:18pm
Location: Staffs
Outfit: Swift Challenger 490 SEL & VW Tiguan
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Our first van had a spongy spot on the floor, so I boarded the floor with3/8" ply. It was rock solid afafterwards. I think you'd need a high spot load to damage the floor, but it would certainly lessen the time until it needed attention.
This 20st chap...he wasn't in stilettos was he...that could be an important factor.
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07/7/2013 at 3:09pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave
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Dave - I found two caravan assembly videos on You tube (Bailey and Elddis), but both commenced with the floor already completed, so no joy there.
I don't suppose all makes of van have the same design method for building the floor (material dimensions, etc.), although this could be possible if the van makers source the floor assemblies from a single supplier.
takisawa - To be fully effective, would you not have to remove all the internal fittings and fully cover the floor in 3/8" ply? This would add considerable weight to the van. Would that have to be removed from the permissible payload?
I think you mean it would increase the time before it needed attention!
No idea of what he got up to INSIDE his van!!!
Bertie.
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