Viscount Aerolite
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 13:06
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meercat
Hi Everyone, new to caravanning and have just purchased my first van albeit a 1983/4 Viscount Aerolite which to my dismay appears to have been the wrong move according to the
forum in general. The issue of the chassis cracking is of great concern as I am a single mum and decided to buy a van so that I could holiday with my
young daughter as a cheap alternative.
I bought the van privately so relied on the seller to be conscientious. I have now looked underneath the van but not sure where exactly I should be looking for cracks. Someone told me to look underneath on the door side where there are 4 bolts. If there is
sign of cracking then I have a problem. There are 4 bolts on a plate on the other side so should I be looking for cracking here too. Now for the big question - what should I do if there are. Member Reiner G from QLD mentioned that he has fixed a lot of Aerolites in his time so would appreciate any further advise you may be able to give - welding a supporting piece - is this expensive. Finally if anyone can offer any further advice on this subject, it would be greatly appreciated. Also as I am in
Melbourne CBD, if anyone knows of or can recommend someone who specialises in these types of repairs/service I would also be grateful. I haven't towed the van anywhere yet but now I am reluctant to do so.
Reply By: res.q.guy - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 16:46
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 16:46
Hi meercat..
We bought an Aerolite from my parents that had a couple of small cracks. I had use of a mates mig welder, so welded them up. It was fine for the 5 or 6 yrs we kept it, but it wasn't taken off road. An engineering/steel
shop should be able to weld them, if you should have any cracks. I have used Westy's (Engineering/steel
shop) in Ferntree Gully for other work and can recommend them, or if you want a caravan repairer, then Harding's at Bayswater are quite good. Sorry don't know of any closer the CBD, other's forumites might know of closer repairers !
Regards
Neil
AnswerID:
222479
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:46
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:46
Hi Neil, thanks for this - unfortunately Bayswater is quite a distance (1 hr) from me so if anyone can recommend someone closer, would be grateful.
FollowupID:
483581
Reply By: live4theweekends - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:33
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:33
Hi Meercat,
If you are taking out insurance on it, it might pay to
check the policy out thoroughly. When we looked at buying our first van we looked at an aerolite but we had trouble finding someone to insure it (Im assuming yours is the same as the one we looked at with the holes in the chassis) because of the chassis. Just something to think about should the unthinkable happen!! Better to be sure than sorry.
Cheers
AnswerID:
222539
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:47
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:47
Hi there, insured vehicle through AAMI and they didn't mention any potential problems with insurance but I believe that structural damage eg wear and tear are not normally covered anyway. Thanks for your tip
FollowupID:
483583
Reply By: Graham & Lynne - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 21:05
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 21:05
I welded two small cracks up in one last year a local doctor bought it new in 1984 he loves it but doesnt go off road
AnswerID:
222546
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:49
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:49
When you say off road, what do you mean eg not take off the black top. Some camping sites (non caravan park ones that is) are usually dirt roads - sometimes corrugated but nothing that a normal car couldn't take, so do you see this as a potential problem as I don't plan on spending to much time in parks.
FollowupID:
483584
Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 08:28
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 08:28
Hi Meercat
Don't panic about it. I don't know any in
Melbourne but try to find a repairer who has been around for 20 years or so and ask him to have a look at yours. If it needs a brace it wont break the bank. As mentioned by others don't take it of road.
Enjoy your trips
Reiner
AnswerID:
222614
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:51
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 20:51
Thankyou - I talked to a caravan yard in Sunshine who also repair caravans and he basically said that if it had or was showing signs of cracking then to get rid of it as to mount caravan onto a 'proper' type caravan chassis would cost around $3k which as I am sure you would agree would be ridiculous to spend on a van of this vintage. Do you think if I contacted some locan engineers/welders that they could do a repair job or even if there isn't major cracking yet - to do some preventative welding/bracing. Any idea of what I should pay for this so I don't get unexpectedly ripped off. Thankyou
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Graham & Lynne - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 21:11
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 21:11
The Doctors van would have been %100 on black top & stayed in caravan parks.the cracks where were the
suspension bolted to main chassis.You should be ok if say last 10 to 20 km is dirt & drive slow say 50 to 60 kmhs
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 21:38
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 21:38
There is no need to replace the chassis. I would keep ringing around until you get the right bloke. All it needs is run a piece of flat ( 60mmX5mm) on edge along the bottom line of the chassis. Depending if it is a single or dual axle you make a cross brace like an X going from right to left out of maybe 20 mm solid square parallel to the axle. That stops the chassis leaning in or out.
Not sure if that makes sense.....probably not. Ring around until you find somebody who tells you something that sounds close to that.
Price back in the 80's around $400......today maybe close to $1000.
Well worth it if you want to keep the van.
Shame I never took photos.
There must be a repairer preferably with gray hair in
Melbourne who has done lots of them.
Back on the phone :-)
Reiner
AnswerID:
222775
Follow Up By: meercat - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007 at 12:42
Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007 at 12:42
Hi there me again, how can you tell what chassis you have with an Aerolite? As mentioned in my previous post, it states Alko on the drawbar. Did all Aerolites have a Koeber chassis?
Finally I am taking some photos of the cracking but not really sure where I should be looking - someone said on the drawbar directly behind the gasbottle but obviously underneath the van, and another person said on both sides of the van near the wheel axle. Chassis are chassis to me so would appreciate any advice you could provide. Cheers
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007 at 12:56
Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007 at 12:56
The German chassis had long oval cut-outs in it. Not all Aero lites had the German chassis. When Viscount realised they cracked they changed to a better Aussie chassis. If you do have the koeber one
check for cracks near the axle(s). The chassis tries to bent inwards there thats why cross braces would be a good thing.
Reiner
AnswerID:
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