Shock horror no full height rear panel

Nov 11, 2009
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I have been looking at various Knaus models and came across a Practical Caravan review of the Starclass 480. It got a good review albeit with some criticism that it did not have a full height rear panel. But I bet the rear arrangement wasn’t as susceptible to ABS panel cracking as are those vans with full height panels. Trust a German make to combine form and function.
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
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Did they detail what the failings of not featuring a full height rear panel are?

Has not proved a failing with our dry twelve year old Hymer so far, what should I be getting worried about?
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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Did they detail what the failings of not featuring a full height rear panel are?
Yes. Aesthetic. You would expect a full height panel on a caravan of that price was one of the comments. I would agree that it doesn’t look as glitzy as UK caravans but whose going to see it the most? The following traffic mainly.
When caravans had a roof seam lower down on front or back you didn’t read or hear of cracks. Admittedly they might leak but repairs if caught early were not expensive and a good DIYer could do it themselves, certainly no where near the money required to replace a full height cracked panel panel. And damp ingress policies wouldn’t exclude the “ old style “ seam joints, which given today’s bonding and sealing technology could be miles better than the ones of yesteryear.
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
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Thanks Clive, I personally would far rather the integrity aspect of the design was "right", than having what in some eyes might be thought a pretty rear end.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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We had a good gander around a Starclass with an island bed about 3 years ago and admit it was built solidly. Sadly the blinds never covered the window and left a large gap at the bottom. Went to use the skylight blind and it came away from the runners. For the price they wanted it was a very basic caravan and just about everything was an extra making it a lot more expensive than an equivalent top of the range British caravan.
 
May 7, 2012
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Provided it is sealed correctly then I see no problem with the seam. It is a matter of opinion on the appearance, but I saw nothing wrong with it on the ones I checked out at shows.
They look very well built, but with that comes weight, but if you can afford something big enough to tow it, that is probably not a problem if the rest suits you.
 

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