GIVE IT A RIP!
ROADSTAR CARAVANS' LITTLE RIPPA
GETS THE FIBREGLASS TREATMENT.
| WORDS & IMAGES: MAX TAYLOR
Roadstar Caravans has long
been interested in fibreglass
sandwich panel caravans. To
Roadstar owner Ken Nizam,
this construction methods
was one of the final pieces
of the puzzle.
His vision for his company
has long been the ability
to offer customers any
style of van they wanted,
from caravans with meranti
timber frames to aluminium
frames, to one-piece
fibreglass construction.
14
gorv.com.au
The launch of the GT Sport
Mk2 late in 2016 heralded a
new era for Roadstar. With
one-piece fibreglass walls
and a one-piece front, roof
and rear section, seamless
joinery and a healthy dose of
clever thinking, the GT Sport
Mk2 brought Roadstar a step
closer to the fulfilment of
Ken’s vision.
The Little Rippa, a light semi-
offroader, was the next van in
the range to get the fibreglass
treatment.
GOING ’GLASS
The sandwich panel walls
and roof of this van utilise
an ‘extrusion’ foam core
rather than ‘expansion’ foam.
Extrusion foam, Roadstar
says, is more thermally
efficient than the alternative,
and it doesn’t hold moisture .
It’s also light and strong.
In fibreglass form, the Little
Rippa looks every inch the
serious, long-lasting caravan.
As Ken says, these fibreglass
vans take weeks to build,