Swift adopts no-rot plastic frame

Most caravans have frames made from either timber or aluminium, but the UK’s Swift has turned to a man-made material for the skeleton of its latest models.

According to Swift, the new “strong timber-less body frame” to be used across all 2014 models comprises a hard, polyurethane-based product called ‘PURe’ that is impervious to water.

It’s a bold move by the top-selling British manufacturer, with polyurethanes more commonly used to make hard plastic parts like automotive suspension bushings, skateboard wheels, and wheels for roller coasters and escalators, as well as synthetic coatings and fibres like Spandex.

According to Swift its new SMART intelligent construction system, “prevents the transfer of moisture from the 5000 Series marine grade aluminium sidewalls to the wall board inside, making the caravan highly resilient to moisture”.

The new material will be used in different densities depending on the type of fittings, which include windows and doors.?? As it's lighter than timber, weight savings of up to 14kg are expected without sacrificing strength.

“A special waterproof sealant is used around fixing screws and they are engineered so that they do not go all the way through the ‘PURe’ frame,” said Swift Group Commercial Director Nick page. ?

“The ‘PURe’ material being totally impervious to water and having no veins means there is no passage for water from the outer skin to the inner wallboard, combating moisture ingress.”

The new body frame has been extensively tested for safety and durability, at the punishing Millbrook test track as well as cold chamber testing as low as -15 degrees.

However, timber hasn’t been completely eliminated from Swift’s caravans, with the popular natural construction material still used for flooring.

Swift, which has been officially selling its caravans in Australia since mid-2012, also recently introduced other ‘exclusive’ features across its range, including Duvalay Duvalite mattresses made from a new hypoallergenic memory-type material, and EcoXtra low rolling resistance tyres made by a supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship.