After receiving countless complaints, and observing a multitude of serious problems with caravans over the past decade or so, and considering all of the practical and constructive suggestions received from 'vanners, it has been proposed that a Quality Standard - or Code of Practice - for Caravans be produced. 

The options are: 

(a) Produce an Industry Code of Practice for Construction & Quality; 

(b) Petition Standards Australia to develop a suitable Australian Standard for Caravans.  

A number of Australian Standards are incorporated in the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). 

Likewise, a number of Australian Standards - applicable to Compliance and Safety requirements - are included in VSB1... such as for Wheels and Tyres. 

Gas and Electrical appliances and installations are legally required to fully comply with the relevant Australian Standards. 

The VSB1 mandates that the following components are also fully-compliant: 

AS 4177  Couplings & Safety Chains 

AS 5601  LPG Installations 

AS 1850  Fire Extinguishers 

AS 2444  Fire Extinguishers 

AS 3001  Electrical Installations 

AS 2513  Electrical Connectors 

The proposed new Standard is intended to best-ensure that all caravans - locally-made and imported - provide reasonable levels of reliability and durability, as would typically be expected by their owners. 

The new Standard would not be "design-restrictive" in any way... that is, it would merely specify "minimum requirements" that need to be met, without stating how this is achieved.  It is intended to best-ensure that all caravans - locally-made and imported - provide reasonable levels of reliability and durability, as would typically be expected by their owners.

It is anticipated that all well-resourced, well-established local Manufacturers would currently comply with the vast majority of the proposed Standard, thus they would not be required to make any significant changes to their Design, Production and Quality-Assurance operations. 

The intent of the new Standard is to raise the level of professionalism of Manufacturers and Importers who need to improve the Quality and Reputation of their caravans, so as to best-prevent unacceptable problems... and subsequent complaints by Owners. 

The new Standard would not, in any way, conflict with the new RVSA, or the revised version of VSB1...  It would, in fact, complement them, and would cover items that are not included in the requirements of these two vital Regulatory documents. 

Anyone with an interest in the caravan industry in Australia is most welcome to forward their constructive and practical suggestions to the Caravan Council of Australia at:  caravancouncil@optsnet.com.au  regarding items that should be included for consideration. 

After discussions with industry veterans and aggrieved 'van owners, it has been suggested that the Standard - or Code - should cover at least the following Items: 

Definitions of "Off-Road":  e.g.  Mild / Moderate / Severe / Extreme  or  Level 1 / Level 2 / Level 3 / Level 4. 

  Body Roof: 

  Body Walls: 

  Attachments of the body to the chassis: 

  Chassis Rigidity: 

  Chassis Rust Protection: 

  Preventing water ingress: 

  Preventing dust ingress: 

  Under-side protection from damage: 

  Grommets: 

  Suspension Design: 

  Dampers: 

  Wheels & Tyres Balance: 

  Tyre Selection:                                       

  Tyre Pressures: 

  Mass-Distribution: 

  Effect of Contents of Water Tanks on the Coupling-Load:                                                                                                                             

  Certified weigh-bridge Certificate: 

  information that the driver may "reasonably be expected to know": 

  Owner Manuals: 

  Servicing Instructions and Warranty Details:  

  Sealing: 

  Spare Wheel and Tyre: 

  Approved Jack:   

  Awning: 

  Fasteners: 

  Final Inspections - Compliance & Quality:                 

  Caravan Hand-over to Customer: 

  The following items are to be clearly explained:  Ratings & Masses (Caravan & Tow-Vehicle), etc.      

  Crucial Safety and Legal Items: 

              Suggested Additional Items: 

  Reliability & Durability Performance:       

  Determination of Acceptable Coupling Loads: 

  Water Ingress Test Specifications:  A recognised standard test procedure to be adopted. 

  Dust Ingress Test Specifications:   A recognised standard test procedure to be adopted (such as SAE J726). 

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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There is already an internationally recognised manufacturing quality standard. ISO 9001.

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All ISO9001 and similar standards ensure is that if you manufacture concrete parachutes the are all of a similar and consistent level of quality.

Mike Harding wrote:

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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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There is already an internationally recognised manufacturing quality standard. ISO 9001.

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All ISO9001 and similar standards ensure is that if you manufacture concrete parachutes the are all of a similar and consistent level of quality.

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 Correct. 

So if you see something and buy "one like that", it will be "like that", not something else.

It also requires the manufacturer to have a full specification on exactly how the concrete parachutes are made, what grade of concrete is used and know and record any concrete parachute that was sub standard for any reason.

So in the RV world they MUST have a full wiring diagram and always put those wires in the SAME place each time they build a van, for instance.

Cheers,

Peter