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Post Info TOPIC: Need for a Quality Standard for Caravans


Veteran Member

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Posts: 29
Date:
Need for a Quality Standard for Caravans


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 DesignProduction 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). 

 



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Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4375
Date:

Please don't cross post.

There needs to be great care taken with the sort of standard that is proposed. It is essential that it DOES NOT limit construction methods or materials used.
For instance "Chassis rigidity". 95% of trucks DO NOT have a ridgid chassis. Why should a caravan have a rigid chassis?

There is already an internationally recognised manufacturing quality standard. ISO 9001.
I suggest that every manufacturer could already be a responsent to that.
Are any?
I thought GoldStar's Chinese factory was certified, but can't see mention of it on their web site.
Cheers,
Peter

__________________

OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 



Guru

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Posts: 1081
Date:

MDC are IS9001 accredited according to their website.
They are also CRVA approved.

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Monty. RV Dealer.



Guru

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Posts: 4706
Date:

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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


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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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"

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Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4375
Date:

Mike Harding wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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


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


 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



__________________

OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2061
Date:

If used as intended ISO9001 does a good job. Problem is that it is often not used as intended.

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Sta

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