1976 Franklin Hunter X7929

[Deleted]

Hi all!
I am Keith, my wife is Sylvia. We are fairly new to caravaning, having bought our 1978 Franklin Hunter about 18 months ago. The van is in very good condition and a real credit to it's previous owner(s).
We have used the van several times in the last year and the only thing that needs adding is an air conditioner! I'll fit one this autumn. I'll be picking some brains on this one! The van is extremely comfortable and we are very happy with it.
We surprised ourselves buying this van as we had intended getting a trailer with the tent on top! This is much, much better.
I tow it comfortably with a 2003 Mitsubishi Magna, because my "old" cars are far too old!

Keith

[kiwijim]

Howdy Keith,

A big welcome to you, especially being another West Aussie,

There are not a great number of us C Cers here in the West but, as time goes bye, we hope there will be enough to organize some sort of a get-together.

May I ask, what part of this Sun-burnt State are you located,

I am playing with caravans in Beckenham, or if you don't know the area, it's next to East Cannington.

It sounds like you are more than happy with your Franklin Hunter,
There are a number of members with Franklin's on this Forum,
So if you have any questions, I am sure there will be an answer pretty quick from some-one.

Cheers kiwijim

[Deleted]

Hi kiwijim,

Thanks for the welcome.
We live in Upper Swan, just to the north-east of Perth. (A quarter hour north of Midland, adjacent to the Great Northern Hiway)
We're very happy with the Franklin Hunter and would welcome the idea of a get-together.

Regards - Keith

[Deleted]

Hey Keithd,
Welcome aboard!
I see you're from up a Swan, which is course much preferable to in a loo!
I'm not far from in Morley (previously Wanneroo) and the female fruit of my loins is in Ellenbrook.

The Kjam is right, we'll be havin' a get together soon, I feel it in me very marrow!

[bobt]

gidday keith

Welcome to the classics..

how about some pics of your pride & joy..

bobt

[Deleted]

Thanks for the welcome folks!

I have attached a photo of the van the day we bought it from a dealer in Midland.

It also has a full length annex including walls, that attaches to the door side of the van.

Regards - Keith

[Deleted]

I'll try again with the photo!

Keith

Attachments:

[millard1399]

G'day Keith,

Assuming the drawbar on your van is still the original one, there should be a chassis number welded near where the jockey wheel clamps on. It's usually on the top of the drawbar channel, and should be a letter (V, W, X, or Y) followed by some numbers. Can you tell me what that chassis number is, please?

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Al,

I'll be very happy to give you the number, but it'll have to wait a couple of weeks or so until I go to my brother's farm in Donnybrook where the van lives in a nice dry barn!

Regards - Keith

[Deleted]

Al,

Just returned from fitting A/C unit to our Franklin Hunter caravan down in Donnybrook. The number in "welded" letters on the drawbar is as follows:- X7929. I presume this is the chassis number. According to the rego papers she is 1978.

Regards - Keith

[kiwijim]

Howdy Keith,

I can't understand, coming back to Perth from a lovely spot like Donnybrook.

If you happen to know of a spot down that way, that is nice and private, near a stream and, with a bit of shade,
I am sure there are a few Classic Caravaner's around here, that would love to know of it. ;D

Any-where out of this heat would be well worth paying the owner of the land to camp on their property.

kiwijim

[millard1399]

G'day Keith,

I've changed the heading of this thread to reflect the actual details of your van. Makes it easier for people to search the forum if they have a similar van to yours. I've also shifted you over to the Hall Of Fame section, so you can now be with all the other famous people on this forum. ;D ;D

The information we have at the moment about Franklin chassis numbers says the 'X' series is from 1976. In 1977, Franklin introduced the "Truline" range of vans, and the Arrow and Hunter models seem to have been phased out. I say "seem" because Franklin advertising dropped dramatically in the later 1970s when the caravan industry collapsed. Very few of the manufacturers were advertising in any great detail...probably trying to save every penny to keep themselves operating.

However, going on the information I collected in the research I did a couple of years ago, your Hunter van is more likely to be from 1976 than 1978 (but I won't be betting my house on it though )

cheers,
Al.