Offroad Caravans: The Five Fundamental Features

Offroad Caravans: The Five Fundamental Features

Offroad caravans are designed to traverse through all kinds of challenging off-road terrain. As such, their different features are designed to withstand these different conditions to maximum capacity.

In this article, we’ll be talking about the five fundamental features of an offroad caravan, along with their functions and their importance.

1). The Caravan Frame

The caravan frame is what gives your caravan its shape and durability in responding to changing driving conditions such as climate patterns. 

Caravan frames are made of different types of material. Some caravan frames are made of tinder or wood as their flexibility and susceptibility to metal fatigue is seen as a point of advantage. 

However, other caravan frames are made of aluminium and are considered to be better material since they do not rot or suffer from water damage as timber does.

2). The Chassis

On any type of caravan, the chassis serves as the primary building block. For an offroad caravan, it is critical that the chassis be sturdy enough to withstand the bumps and obstacles that an offroad caravan will typically encounter.

For a long time, steel has been the primary component of the chassis; however, throughout the years there have been more substitutes for this material such as aluminium since steel is considered to be quite heavy and can have a debilitating effect for your caravan. 

Some chassis are also created from a combination of materials such as steel and aluminium by using aluminium cross-members and steel main rails. 

Nonetheless, the chassis serves as the skeletal framework of your caravan, and on an offroad caravan, it is important that the chassis be firm, durable, and strong.

3). The Suspension

The suspension keeps the appropriate distance between the ground and your caravan which allows you to have a smoother ride. 

Moreover, it helps to keep all the structural components of your caravan in place by equalising the load and eliminating more stress on these components, which is why some manufacturers make use of a load sharing or trailing arm suspension.

However, there are also independent suspension systems available that can ensure the smoothness of your travels by absorbing shocks with coil springs. 

Nonetheless, make sure that your suspension system is specifically designed for offroad use as this can often be confused with rough road usage.

4). The Caravan Underbelly

The underbelly of the caravan is primarily where water storage tanks are located.

Because of this, it is important that the underbelly of your caravan is safely secured and protected to avoid any damage to the storage tanks and their delicate PVC structure.

There are also other components in the underbelly such as the chassis, the suspension system, the axles, electric wirings, and other components that you must make sure are well secure and protected.

As such, it is important that the material of your caravan’s underbelly is strong and durable. Usually, galvanized sheet metal is added to the underbelly for increased protection.

It also helps to situate your PVC plumbing at a higher point from the ground so that it does not suffer any damage or scrapes. 

The underbelly should also be fashioned so that it does not permit the entry of water into the caravan, which could be a possibility if you are travelling on different road conditions and terrain. 

5). The Coupling

Caravan couplings, which is what connects your caravan to the tow vehicle, come in different varieties in terms of the angle rotations they can achieve.

For offroad caravans, it is best to get a coupling that can rotate in all directions or 360 degrees. Common types of these couplings include tow ball coupling, poly block coupling, and the pintle hook and ring coupling. 

It is essential that offroad couplings match the brakes and maximum weight of the loaded caravan and that they are easy to disconnect in the event that you need to fix the caravan when it is placed at a difficult angle. 

Final Thoughts

For offroad caravans, all of their components play a specific role. However, it is important to note that though these fundamental features are general features of a caravan, offroad caravans need specific types of features in order to function properly.

For example, their coupling must be able to rotate at a 360-degree angle and their suspension system must be designed specifically for offroad usage for safer and smoother travels.

If you are looking to explore WA and beyond, then there is no better way to do this than with your very own caravan. For the best new or used off-road caravans for your next holidaying adventure, then look no further than Luxury RVs WA.

We have over 40 years of experience in the caravan industry ranging from sales and custom vehicle building through to service and repairs.

Please call our super-friendly customer service team today on (08) 9509 6083 or contact us through our website for all your caravanning requirements.

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