Call for caravan builder Code of Practice
Caravan quality expert calls for higher standards to help reduce shoddy RV manufacturingThe Caravan Council of Australia is calling for the introduction of a 'quality standard' or Code of Practice for all Australian caravan manufacturers and importers, as disgruntled buyers continue to complain about shoddy manufacturing and dodgy retail practices.
While acknowledging there are already various consumer laws, Australian Standards and VSB1 regulations designed to protect buyers and reduce the chances of purchasing a poor quality caravan, the CCA's Colin Young said they should go a step further with either an 'Industry Code of Practice for Construction and Quality' or a new Australian Standard for Caravans.
Young said a Code of Practice was required after receiving "countless complaints" from buyers and observing "a multitude of serious problems with caravans over the past decade".
The proposed new 'Standard' would cover a number of safety and compliance-related items including definitions for off-road caravans, the amount of distortion allowed and minimum sealing requirements for roof and body wall structures, chassis rigidity and rust protection, and the minimum amount of information supplied on trailer plates and in owner manuals.
"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," he said.
"(It) 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."
Other proposed requirements include every caravan or caravan model sold being subject to recognised 'torture testing' as well as water-spray and dust-spray test procedures, and supplied with an up-to-date certified weighbridge certificate as well as a detailed, signed and dated final inspection checklist.
"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," he said.
"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. It would cover items that are not included in the requirements of these two vital regulatory documents.
The CCA is currently working on a draft proposal and is inviting further comments or feedback via this email: caravancouncil@optsnet.com.au
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