Understanding your Chassis
After a long winter and few months away, the last thing you will want to do after stepping foot back inside your caravan for the first time is go back outside and check the chassis. Although it’s not necessarily the first thing static caravan and park home owners think about at the start of the season, chassis inspection and maintenance should feature highly on the list of priorities. This is particularly true for those whose chassis are only painted steel, part- or pre-galvanised. Owners who have a fully galvanised foundation, can take a more relaxed approach. Depending on chassis type, signs of wear and levels of ongoing maintenance will vary and it is important to understand how this can affect the chassis warranty. The first question is, do you know what chassis type you have? Once you have obtained this formation from your manufacturer, this helpful guide from chassis manufacturer Bankside Patterson will ensure you keep the foundations of your investment in top condition. Painted Steel Chassis The chassis type that is most susceptible to corrosion is one that is simply made out of painted steel. Although this is the most cost effective option upon unit purchase, in the long-term it will mean more of your leisure time being spent on maintenance. This includes regular painting when the steel becomes exposed and rusting starts to appear. It is important to regularly check for rust spots and touch-up as required using a coating conforming to specification ISO 12944 C4. (See Bankside Patterson painting tips). 2 year warranty from the date of chassis manufacture; or 1 year anti-corrosion (perforation) warranty from date of sale. The above warranties become invalid unless touch-ups with the correct coating are carried out at least once per year (these will be required more frequently in coastal locations). Part or Pre-Galvanised Chassis Such chassis are made from pre-coated galvanised steel and are the mid-range option. Although they provide a higher level of corrosion protection than painted chassis, steel edges are left exposed when cut and, over time, a fine cosmetic film of rust will appear. This will not affect the rest of the chassis. However, to reduce the frequency of this occurring, grease/oil should be regularly applied to welded areas and cut edges. 2 year warranty from the date of chassis manufacture; or 1 year anti-corrosion (perforation) warranty from date of sale. These above warranties become invalid unless touch-ups with the correct coating are carried out at least once per year. Fully Galvanised Chassis A fully hot-dipped, galvanised chassis provides, by far, the highest levels of protection from rust and corrosion. This should be the only option considered if siting a caravan in exposed locations such as coastal areas. Selecting a fully galvanised chassis will eradicate the need for repainting and edge protection. Although the initial outlay maybe higher for a fully galvanised chassis, it does mean that after initial maintenance upon siting, you can just sit back and relax! 12 year warranty from the date of chassis manufacture; or 10 year anti-corrosion (perforation) warranty from date of sale. How can you keep your chassis in tip-top condition? Although it is sometimes easy to think you know what you are doing. Following industry-standard maintenance guidelines will help ensure the best coating is achieved when painting and the important areas of your chassis stays lubricated. In-turn, this will help keep your chassis in the best possible condition and your warranties will remain valid. Chassis painting Only conduct painting in warm/dry conditions (8-25◦C). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn during application e.g. safety glasses, gloves, etc. Prior to application: remove all corrosion using a sanding disc/wire brush remove dirt/dust/grease with diluted detergent rinse with clean water and dry Lightly stir paint and do not apply thinners Apply paint with a clean brush and ensure all edges and corners are covered. Additional painting should be undertaken periodically as and when surface rust is found Bankside Patterson can supply the correct paint if required. Chassis lubrication Corner Steadies/Jack stands Clean/grease and wind all four through their full range of movement Jockey Wheel Clean and oil all moving parts Hitch head Clean and oil hitch handle and grease ball area Wheel and wheel stubs Protect tyres from direct sunlight Maintain tyre pressure at the level indicated on the wheel hub Protect the wheel stub with grease if removed after siting The Bankside Patterson Protech Range: Protech 300 & 500 Series – for regular Holiday Homes Protech 700 & 900 series – for lower weight Park Homes Next Generation Park Home (NGPH) – for higher weight lodges and park homes Understanding the alternatives with Shaun Gadsby – Senior Sales and Commercial Manager at Bankside Patterson “At Bankside Patterson we are not saying never chose a painted or part/pre-galvanised chassis,” explains Shaun, “in certain inland siting situations, they can still have a place. Also, it is important to understand that money is often a factor. However, when you consider the initial outlay, paying that little bit more for a fully- galvanised chassis to not have to worry about maintenance is worth serious consideration. “As a result of ongoing innovation, our Protech galvanised chassis is the number one fully-galvanised chassis choice. It adds resale value for the owners and eradicates the need for torepainting and edge protection. A holiday home is for relaxation time not more work. “However, irrespective of chassis type, all should be inspected when first sited to ensure no damage has occurred. This needs to be followed up with regular checks and required maintenance. “For anyone currently looking to buy a new caravan or upgrade, I would suggest chatting through the chassis options as part of the buying process. Making an informed decision in crucial.” You can learn more about chassis on the Bankside Patterson website www.galvanisedchassis.co.uk alternatively you can call the team on 01964 545454.
Bridge Leisure comes to the rescue after Thomas Cook collapse
Twenty families, who had their holidays cancelled due to the collapse of Thomas Cook, have been given a free holiday by UK holiday park owner and operator Bridge Leisure Parks. The Milton Keynes based company posted a message on all of their parks Facebook pages this morning asking for people to tag and share the offer with any friends or families that were due to fly out with Thomas Cook this week so they could get in touch. They were able to offer a few free breaks at each of their nine UK holiday parks located across the country in Scotland, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Devon and Cornwall. Many of the families who contacted the company were in tears when they found out they were still able to enjoy a holiday with their families. CEO for Bridge Leisure, Andrew Howe said: “We understand just how much family holidays mean to people. They can take months or even years to plan and save up for, so to find out at the last minute that your dream holiday isn’t happening is devastating. We wanted to try and do something for as many of those families as we could.” “We appreciate a UK holiday may not have been the holiday they were hoping for but at least it will give them time away together to make some special memories as planned. We wish we could do it for everyone but hopefully other operators in the industry will pull together and help where they can.” A number of the families who got in contact had been due to fly out this morning and had to try and explain to upset children why they were no longer able to go on holiday. One family had been due to fly to Florida today on their daughter’s 11th birthday and have been planning the trip for two years. They are now going to stay at Hedley Wood in Devon for a much-needed break. Bridge Leisure invests over £3 million in UK parks Bridge Leisure Parks has announced a £3.2 million investment programme across its nine UK holiday parks, including the introduction of new luxury caravans and pet friendly accommodation. The biggest portion of that spend is focussed on Sand le Mere Holiday Village on the North Yorkshire Coast, where over £900,000 has been earmarked for the park’s development. The investment is being used to develop new pitches and purchase new self-catering caravans of various grades and improve the infrastructure. Trevella Park in Cornwall will benefit from over £330,000 of investment which is being spent on new superior lake view caravans, new safari tents and a substantial refurbishment of the touring shower and toilet block. In addition, Trevella, along with Silver Sands in Moray Firth, Scotland, will be the first parks to get new luxury pet friendly caravans, which include wood effect flooring, stable doors, dog guards and outdoor taps. Further to its new pet friendly accommodation, Silver Sands will be upgrading all its electric and water hook up points for touring guests as well as developing further locations for holiday home ownership situated next to the famous Lossimouth Links golf course and the beautiful Moray Firth. Ashbourne Heights in the beautiful Peak district will receive a new and expanded children’s play park as well as a new café facility for the park. Bridge’s Devon holiday park Hedley Wood is developing new pitches for holiday home ownership at the park and increasing the number of luxury ensuite touring pitches available following the popularity with customers of these as part of its development. In North Yorkshire, Bridge Leisure’s newest addition, Bowland Fell will upgrade and improve the holiday accommodation including the provision of accessible holiday unit. General upgrades around the park will see a car charging point and improvements to lighting and landscaping. CEO Andrew Howe said: “We are investing an additional £3.2 million which reflects the success and growth of the business overall. Staycations continue to increase in popularity, and we are expecting an even busier year due to continuing uncertainty around BREXIT and people making the smart choice to holiday in the UK. “It’s important to keep the parks facilities and accommodation fresh but it is also important to offer a choice of different accommodation, from value to luxury to suit all budgets. Customers have increasingly high expectations and we need to ensure that we continue to update and improve all of our parks to stay ahead of our competitors. We believe this increased investment will help us do that.” Find out more
