1975 Franklin Statesman - W1962 - 16ft

[Deleted]

G'day all, this is my first post on this site as a newbie, I have just purchased a nice but very dirty old Franklin Statesman if I measured it correctly I think it is 16' that has been used as a storage shed built in 1/2 under a verandah. It is in the condition you really like to find one, little or no water damage that I have found yet - only had it 4 days, I'm excited! Can someone please tell me what year model this chassis number is W1962 welded on the drawbar, the last registration label on it is 1987. Part of the side striping looks like it finished with a large letter "F". Gas bottle is stamped 1974.
Thanks in advance, regards, norm

[ForumMod]

G'day aussiedingo, and welcome to the forum!

I work on the basis that the "W" series of Franklin chassis numbers is from 1975. I might find out one day that I'm out by a year, but that'll be close enough for the time being.

Another forum member will be pleased to see your van on the forum, because he too has a Franklin Statesman and will want to pick your brains about how yours is built: 1974 Frankin Statesman V3110 15'9''x7'6''

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Thanks Al, I was leaning toward 1974 with regard to the gas bottle being stamped 1974. thanks again. here is a pic of how I found it.

[Deleted]

Hi Norm,
I see that you have a Franklin with the Franklin made wind out windows.
Parts are not available anymore for these windows,so look after them!
Cheers
Hughdeani

[Deleted]

Hi thanks for the info, I havn't checked them yet but they are all grey - so what I have seen they are original, has been a shed for 20 plus years! I would like members info as to what & where I need to check for ROT as the rear has been exposed to the elements, the rear windows leak & I need to repair them as well, maybe luckily the leaking windows dripped onto the mattress instead of on the floor so I still need to know where to look for any damage to the framework, also do they have ford or holden wheels fitted? thanks again, dingo

[peter92]

Hi Aussiedingo,
And welcome to the forum
As Al. was saying i have the same van and if you look on this link 1974 Frankin Statesman V3110 15'9''x7'6''
You will see where i have had water damage and also check out my thread as ive asked alot about water leak and how i have fixed it, i have put a 4 season hatch in mine with pics of how its pulled apart and repaired
Would love to see pics of the inside as mine has the dressing table in the rear right hind side
I have messured mine and it doesnt come to 16', so is yours the same size as mine
Will be great to be talking to some one with the same van, we could offer each other help and advise
Regards Peter

[Deleted]

G'day peter, thanks for your reply, not sure where to measure from with the in bits 'n the out bits! as you walk in the door on mine on the left there are double bunks (top one is missing here) to the right is fridge 'n stove/oven then the back is sideways double angle iron spring frame, then door side lounge/dining has "L" shaped table/lounge that I can't seem to lower, all info will be greatly appreciated, thanks again, norm

[peter92]

Thank Norm,yeah yours is like most ive seen on the net, have you seen my lay out in mine
Any qs ,just feel free to pm me or ask on here as there is a wealth of knowledge on here
When you messure your van go from the longest points on the van, bulge to bulge, hope you under stand that
I have just put in another rear window frame in the rear of ours and if you look at the pics in my van you will see where the leaks were, i hope it helps you out
Regards Peter

[Deleted]

Hi Norm,
Your wheels were usually Holden ht,14inch,but of course could have been changed over the years!
Best advice would be to remove a wheel,which will require 2 jacks,one to jack the axle and the second to raise the van body by the main spring hanger chassis rail.
Then take it to your local tyre place and they can tell you for sure.
To replace tyres they have to be light truck tyres,not car tyres,as they have a much stronger sidewall that resists flexing and sideways movement.
Hope this is helpful for you
Hughdeani

[peter92]

Hi Norm, thought you might find this interesting as your van is the same as this, well behind the panel
ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/1688/1976-franklin-arrow-15ft-x739
If you look in hall of fame you will get alot of pics of what others have done and its helped me out a hell of a lot, and good reading
Regards Peter
This is a good place to look at ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/296/links-websites-usefull

[peter92]

Hi Norm ive done some reno stuff on the rear of my van and took the ply off the wall, you might want to check it out, may help you to know whats behind it
Regards Peter

[Deleted]

G'day again Peter, thanks for your reply. Today I removed the bed frame. I was amazed as there was very little or no water marks at all, it looks like the expensive after market mattress has been absorbing the drips from the windows then drying ready for the next drips as the van was exposed to the western sun - I have pic's of that mattress, yuk! but a lifesaver for my timberwork! I don't think I will have anything to do inside, but I will need to check underneath maybe there is a seam/join under the windows that may show water damage? The windows have had very primitive repairs as to not be able to close properly. Some of the semi circle corner bits are missing 'n have just been filled with silastic but still some windows can't be closed, thanks for your advice, regards, norm

[peter92]

Hi Norm
Ive started this thread so feel free to add yours,http://ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/2700/who-owns-franklin-caravan
If there is some signs of repair on the windows i would take them out and seal them properly, best to be safe than sorry, its not a hard job, undo the screws and pull the window out, clean up and put a good sealer back on and screw it back on
Im glad yours is in reasonable good nick, better than mine by the way
Would love to see in side picks
Could you messure the piece of ali at the front where the annexe goes, the long one in front of the door, as mine is missing and need to know how high it goes to the roofplease
Regards Peter

[peter92]

Hi Again Norm, i dont know about your windows but found this so you may find it help full
ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/2195/windows-closing
Whats your window rubbers like, if the have shrunk ,they need replacing, I just did my double rear ones at a cost of $10.00 per metre, $30.00 it cost me
As your van is 39yrs old i would say they would need replacing and the ali angle on the edge of the van would also need to come off and cleaned up and resealed, Ive just done mine and the sealer, which was a mastic , was hard as a rock, which meant it wasnt sealing
I used a wire brush on a drill [brass one] to take the sealer off, but wear a musk as it could have asbestos in it
This is only an idea but its up to you
The sealer i use is sikaflex 291 marine
Regards Peter

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2014 19:59:28 GMT 10 @hughdeani said:

Hi Norm,
Your wheels were usually Holden ht,14inch,but of course could have been changed over the years!
Best advice would be to remove a wheel,which will require 2 jacks,one to jack the axle and the second to raise the van body by the main spring hanger chassis rail.
Then take it to your local tyre place and they can tell you for sure.
To replace tyres they have to be light truck tyres,not car tyres,as they have a much stronger sidewall that resists flexing and sideways movement.
Hope this is helpful for you
Hughdeani

thanks houdini, the wheels that are on it now have 650.13 tyres with very crinckled 99% tread - still I pumped them up to tow it home! will be replacing them with 14' LT new tyres,thanks for your advice,

[Deleted]

G'day all' My new aquisition of 5 days, I would like to know how to raise the table in my 1975 Franklin '16. I have unscrewed the tap handle screw & hit the table base with a sledge hammer - still won't lift/drop, is there a collet or something in the base tube that may be rusted? as it hasn't been used for the last 27 years!! what can I do? thanks, norm

[Deleted]

G'day all, the brakes on my '75 Frankie Laine - are the brake shoes early Holden? front or back? My brake drums are hub 'n drum in one piece - can they still be bought? Wot wheel cylinders are they?  Is there any point in putting on a straight axle? I am taking the springs off to have them heat treated/reset & maybe an extra leaf or two fitted anyway. thanks in advance, hoo roo, norm

[ForumMod]

Just giving this a bump, to see if anybody can answer aussiedingo's last two questions...

[Deleted]

Gday aussiedingo.

If your van is anything like my franklin hunter the brakes are probably the same.
Brake shoes could not be matched to anything so had to be relined,
Dont know if you can get new hub, but they can be machined like new again.
Bearings could be holden or ford or even both, take bearings to repco for i.d.
Wheel cylinders could only be matched to a valiant, even then had to file brake backing plate fit.again specialist brake repairer for these,
Hope this helps
Scotty

[Deleted]

Thanks Scotty, I will recondition the wheel cylinders myself as I am a automotive mechanical engineer (retired) I have the hones 'n other tools here to repair then & keep original, if they were popular holden or ford it usually cheaper to buy new (chinese?) not as good as original. thanks again for your help, regards, norm

[Deleted]

Hi Norm.

Just had a dig around on this forum and heres a pic of my brake setup. Franklin Hunter 1976
ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/2503/override-brakes-slack

If you do all your own mechanical it will be easy, but I did ask the brake shop if they had a kit for them and because they could not find the right wheel cylinder info said no, but they did go out and found wheel cylinders that were a close match.

Scotty

[Sharky]

If your wheels are original and 13's I would be thinking probably early holden, do they have sort of slots in them? Are they like this

[Deleted]

Thanks sharky, those wheels are torana wheels, my wheels are original Holden FC/FE wheels with 600.13 LT tyres - unused but tooooo old!!

[Sharky]

No worries Norm good to see ya got it sorted and yeah looking at them they are very early holden. Hang on to them mate as they are getting hard to find, might be worth a few bucks.

Cheers Steve