Millard approx 1976 M46913

Thanks for the gee up Kiwijim.

Yeah we want to take it up to Yarrawonga along the Murray River for a bit of bush camping, the day after Boxing day. Although that will depend on the better half as she is pregnant. Two years ago we had about 5 days in a row over 40deg up there, she ain't doin again that again.

So all this hard work could be for nothing.

However getting this much done is easy when you have two people working on it.

The aim is to tow it to the inlaws new place this weekend, where I can get to work cleaning and painting the chassis, cleaning the interior and a good cut n polish.

We still has to registered it tho. Won't get a chance to do that until the 22nd.

Hi kylarama

Yep have to agree with the others. You sure do win the race for the pace your progressing this at.

I gather there are some longer term longer distant travel plans what with the jerry cans on the front and the twin gas bottles.

Bubs on the way.... _{hmmm now do I say congratulations or other wise...................}

when is the little one due?

My kids literally grew up in/around caravans. We did lots of travel in them. daughter use to get withdrawal syptoms if we didn't go away at least once every month................

Now I just wish she would get a life and stay home............more occassionally ;D

No current plans for a big trip just yet. We did a 3 1/2 month 4WD trip 3 years ago, went up thru the centre to Darwin, across the Kimberley's to Broome and back home. Most of this was offroad, didn't tow anything, just the 3 (partner and step daughter) of us in my trusty Hilux dualcab with a southern cross single pole tent.

In the last 3 years we've had full use of the inlaws offroad camper trailer, but this was lost in the bushfires . So the caravan will be good with a young family. Soon as there's a bit of spare money a caravan adventure sounds like fun.

As there will be a few people using the van at Rosebud we fitted 2 gas bottles as one will be used for a BBQ. The van has a 70 litre water tank, so a bit extra water is always handy. Plus the tow cars a V6 Pajero so towing will be thirsty work.

Would you believe bubs is due on the same day as my other daughter! 24th April.

I never did any camping growing up. My fathers idea of roughing it is 4 star accommodation! Since I turned 18 camping is all I've done, however I prefer the ute, swag and esky type camping. So a caravan is 5 star stuff for me.

Thanks wahroonga,

The Skylight is a 4 seasons hatch like this one.
www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=38_99&products_id=473&osCsid=a11a501c9a7c0fe0dd100b1779f7df17

I just ordered some more bits and pieces from CaravansPlus.

Some replacment seals for the hand pump, a tub of that tank cleaner (the water in the tank is very murky), some new 12v switches for the interior lights (old ones were burnt out) and some end caps for a pole carrier.

No luck with getting any PVC pipe for the pole carrier from my plumber mate, so just brought a 3m length from Bunnings for $39.

They must be good hatches wahroonga, they look unchanged in 33 years!

Hav'nt got much done in the last few days. Had a stomach bug during the week, then had a couple of big days at work yesterday and today.

We did get some painting done.

Drawbar and rearbar with a couple of coats of Killrust 'aluminium'




The rearbar is only out like this to paint, although it's got me thinking about a bike rack.

Welded an extra jockey wheel clamp on.


These brackets are for the pole carrier.


The old step cleaned up and repainted. Along with the old ID tag, complete with rust holes.


New rear stabilizers fitted.






Hopefully get a bit more done tomorrow.

Unusual awning you've made yourself there. It looks really good but best of all it will do the job.

Drawbar fully loaded and looking sharp.

Good luck on Tuesday!

Howdy Kylarama,

I've gotta say, you've done an excellent job on that Restoration of your Millard,

Ever thought of going into caravan repair full time ?
with your talent mate, you would have a better chance than half the "Dip-Sticks" I know who call them-selves trades-men.

You've done a real neat job of installing the brake controller,
looks like it was made for that hole,
it's good to see there isn't any butchering to make fit as I have also seen done by these so-called experts.

Yep it's a good idea to "take 5" and double check everything before heading off, I think two of the most common things that can come loose are the trailer plug and the jockey wheel if it is only raised in the clamp and not removed.

Have a safe and happy tow mate.

cheers kiwijim

Its doing my head in.

Bad luck with the bearings and the brakes but glad you got it sorted.

Good thing you have a bit of time between your inspection and when you have to head off, just in case you have to fix anything that doesnt pass/

I'll be shocked if it doesn't pass first time.

Shocked because VicRoads actually inspected something properly!

VicRoads inspections are a bit vague. My mate who helped me do the caravan built himself a huge tandem trailer earlier in the year. 12 x 6 ft, 3T capacity, weighs 1T empty, did everything himself. He read the National Code of Practice for Building Small Trailers (see here www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/publications/pdf/roads_vsb_01.pdf) cover to cover and followed the code to the letter.
Took it to VicRoads for Rego (no engineer's inspection in Victoria required), they measured the width, the length and asked him to turn the parkers on, that was it!
Didn't check tyres or test the breakaway system, let alone check to see if it has one.

Not to mention the cars me and my mates have registered over the years. One dropped a 350 chev into a 60 series cruiser and simply took it to VicRoads and had the engine number changed. Was never questioned about the V8.

Having now said all this. I'll get the resident 'Mr By The Book' and fail badly.

It shouldn't fail, I've done everything they ask for, including loading it up with reflectors. 4 white on the front, 4 red on the rear and a couple of yellows half way down the sides.

Pretty much done everything now except for the water tank and plumbing.

Refitted what was an extremely rusty step.




Fitted some nice catches to my homemade front screen.






Most importantly I fixed the problem of the to high jockey wheel I spoke of yesterday.
I never liked the pump up tyre, they always go flat. I asked for the large semi solid wheel but that was all they stocked.

So I took the insides of the Millards original jockey wheel complete with 5 inch solid wheel and swapped it with the swing away wheel.



With the smaller wheel I can get the drawbar 120mm lower, which is more than enough. I have fitted another jockey wheel clamp on the inside of the drawbar so I can use the pump up tyre if I need to move the van around on the gravel driveway.

REGISTERED AT LAST! ;D

Good old reliable VicRoads.

Went down today with the Father inlaw. He went inside and sorted out all the paperwork while I waited with the van in the inspection bay.

VicRoads inspector came out, checked the VIN no. measured the length and width and didn't look or check anything else.

The brakes work a treat now. When we headed off they didn't work to well, once they bedded in however I started locking them up until I wound the voltage right down. They only need about 3-4 volts to work effectively.


I stuffed up on the drawbar length however.




WOOPS!

Miss out by about 75mm.

Oh well, door still opens enough, just have to watch I don't bang the door into the gas bottle.


And the $ cost so far.

$2,366.00 including rego.

Another $50 or so for bits and pieces and thats it!

At least until the next list of items requiring my attention ;D

Na didn't need a weighbridge certificate as it was a re-register and the van is pre 1989. All trailers built after 89 require a VicRoads assigned VIN no. and weighbridge certificate.

She asked me if I knew the tare weight, I said I think it was around 850kg, which she seemed happy enough to put on the rego label. I told her the gross weight was 1400kg as this is what the axle is rated at, but she was'nt interested in that.