Van back home
Submitted: Friday, Jan 01, 2010 at 21:34
ThreadID:
74803
Views:
2622
Replies:
2
FollowUps:
4
This Thread has been Archived
John Watkins
G'day,
John Here again,
Well thanks for all that helped out last time with my Reno questions, but now that works begins.....
Well i got the Van home today, i was mistaken by the make its a
franklin not a Millard, but it towed better than i expected, i sat on 95ks most of the way home from port arlington back to Tullamarine,
After close examination, the brakes worked as
well as can be expected from a old van back made in 1980 ish (
franklin 1900 ). even all the liights worked, Bonus!
Anyway i have decied to update the van even though i have had mixed reponses but i am going to keep it simple. and it cost me nothing to date!
So this is what i am asking, I am going to pull out the twin bunks and replace with a double and queen, I have no idea
where to start looking to find a caravan bed or will a normal bed or futon do? all my searching is getting me nowhere.
Also where can i get internal paneliing from and will it be too expensive an exercise to do?
Thanks in advance to all.
cheers
John
Reply By:- Friday, Jan 01, 2010 at 23:12
Friday, Jan 01, 2010 at 23:12
G'day John, the first part of the van I would be checking before spending money on the interior would be the floor which is probably a ply and after 30 years could be starting to separate. I would be wary of the external skin becoming loose under corroded screws in an old dry timber frame. Same for the interior lining where staples or small nails may have been used. Rather than remove the single beds, you may be able to bridge
the gap and place a double mattress across them. Salvage yards would be a good place to look for off cuts and out of fashion materials. Wishing you a rewarding project. Happy Days. Pauper.
AnswerID:
397267
Follow Up By: John Watkins - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 09:52
Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 09:52
No probs, i will check the flooring when i pul up the lino. we got stuck in a bad storm on NYE and there was no leaks other than a cracked window, which i will replace anway. Salvage yards sounds like a good idea too.
thanks Pauper
FollowupID:
666126
Follow Up By: Dasherdes - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 13:17
Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 13:17
Some of those early
Franklin van's were made of aluminium sheeting, bonded to styrene foam with ply bonded on the inside and had little framework to support it all. Reno's could be a tad difficult to do if it was.
FollowupID:
666141
Follow Up By:- Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 16:15
Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 16:15
If this is the case, removing the bunk bed frames and any other interior cabinet work may weaken the rigidity of the walls and roof. Happy Days. Pauper.
FollowupID:
666163
Follow Up By: Fatso - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 16:59
Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 16:59
The internal cabinet work is the frame of a caravan.
It is like the frame of a boat.
The outside skin is there to keep the elements out.
To build a caravan you start with the chassis & put down the floor, including the vinyl covering. Then comes the cabinet work & then comes the walls.
If it has not been leaking you are off to a good start.
FollowupID:
666168
Reply By: John Watkins - Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 10:25
Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 10:25
OK......
Well there is a small soft spot on the floor near the kitchen but its no big deal at the moment..
I had figured out that internal cabintry work gives it iits strength, so i will be replaceing whats in there with the same ( with the exception of a old wardrobe)
I spoke to a caravan manafacturer yesterday (in camberfield) and he said the same as what you are all saying, but he also said he would help with the update and the replacement of all structual elements.
He also sells the internal panneling @ $30 per sheet 1.8m x2.5m in any colour.
and a light weight bed queen bed from $130 and individual caibnets from about $60 made to measure.... how do these prices sound?
Also are Windows structual also? depending on the cost i was wondering if it was possible to remove the 2 small bunk windows and replace with 1 large one but i kinda guess it is a strength thing.
Thanks Guys
AnswerID:
397410