2. GAS BAYONETS
The same goes for gas bayonets mounted to the chassis rail. Why oh why can these not be protected by some checkerplate or other material? Goldstream RV is one manufacturer that does it well, with the bayonet neatly surrounded by checkerplate and out of harm ' s way. Other manufacturers take things a step further by mounting the bayonet coupling flush with the nearside wall of the caravan, well and truly away from the ground – an excellent solution. My message to the Australian caravan industry: can we see more of this, please?
Without so much as a cheap stoneguard, this tap is going to cop it.
While this gas bayonet coupling( fitted to a Goldstream) sn ' t mounted flush to the body of the van, note that it is at least housed within checkerplate with a plastic cover – much better than what we often see.
3. A-FRAME TAPS
Virtually every Australian caravan will be fitted with a fresh water tap on its A-frame, allowing the owner to wash their hands or fill a bucket without having to go inside. Great! But what’ s not so great is the way they are so often left vulnerable to stones or gravel flicked up from the wheels of the tow vehicle. I’ ve seen plenty cop a hiding this way.
The need to protect these taps is something I’ ve been banging on about for longer than I care to remember. It bamboozles me that some caravans still roll out of a factory without a cheap piece of folded checkerplate or any other durable material to guard these taps against stone strike.
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