On the spec for my bailey an internal length is specified, but there is no guidance as what this means. Is it floor level inside/outside cupboards or inside longest free space or...? Is there an accepted method of measuring this or is it up to the individual manufacturer? I think its this that has given me problems specifying a caravan cover.
Not sure about Bailey but Swift give the internal length at bed box height.
If you want to order a cover then you need the external length at the longest part and the width of the caravan body, the a-frame length is not included as the cover does not cover the a-frame.
We had two caravans that were advertised as 460/4 and 460/2 and after careful measuring the correct cover was the 17-19ft model. This may give you an idea as to how much to allow for external mouldings etc but there is no substitute for careful measuring.
Rob
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The internal length is the total length of an empty shell without any furniture or appliances installed but excludes the front locker (if there is one). The external length also known as the shipping length is the internal length plus the 'A' frame and hitch.
No they don't mean the same. You need the external length of the body to get the cover size, not the internal length or the shipping length. Most cover manufacturers show you a diagram that shows the length you need to measure.
Our caravan has an internal length of 5.83m and a shipping length of 7.48m so according to Tango's suggestion my drawbar must be 1.65m long!
my confusion increases! this query comes about because our bailey internal length is 18'8, but the 21' cover I bought is a foot too short! I know now that I should have measured it, but its 30 minutes drive away & I assumed I could estimate.
The cover is most likely a foot too short because the internal length goes up to the bulkhead (the section that divides the front locker from the habitation area).
As Rob and Tina have said that their calculation suggests that their drawbar must be 1.65m long is probably right because the front locker is NOT part of the internal length so you need to find out what the body length of the caravan is and buy a cover of the same size.