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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 22:02:22 GMT 10
Hi there everyone, my name is Trish. I have been on the forum before but a long time ago and I cant for the life of me remember the username I had. It's probably not active anymore anyway... I love caravans, I always have! I have just purchased a 1971? Travel Home de luxe, I think it is 12 or 13 ft long, I am towing it home tomorrow. It is unregistered and I couldn't find a vin number to get a towing permit so I had to have a vin plate made up today with a new number for Vicroads. I have been researching previous threads in the forum on the Travel Home maker and the features that had me come to the thought that it is a 1971 were the name badge on the front roof, the wrap around windows that are tinted and the fact it has a one way hatch and not a four seasons. It needs a new floor inside as it has given away in places, it has also been gutted as it was used for a spare room. Neither of these things bother me because it isn't hard for my cabinet maker hubby to put a new floor in, also I am wanting it completely empty as I am using it as a travelling shop to tow to markets and sell my jewellery. I am fitting it out in a "retro/vintage" fashion to attract attention and to suit the van. There will be shelving and lights fitted, the lights to be run off batteries as I don't think my chances are good of finding powered sites at markets! Its is a nice small manageable size that I hope to manage to tow easily on my own too. I am so excited about it all and just thought it might be nice to share the experience here with you all. Till tomorrow... I'll let you know how I get on with the towing home! Here is a picture:  |
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Post by millard1399 on Nov 15, 2011 7:46:26 GMT 10
G'day Trish, and welcome (back) to the forum! ;D I can see in your picture that the rear side window is a wind-out style, so that tells me your van is either a 1973 model or later. I don't think the Travel Home brand survived the collapse of the caravan industry in the late 1970s, so I'd be narrowing the age of your van to somewhere between 1973 and 1977. I've always thought the Travel Home and Capricorn brands were "twins" because they look like they came out of the same mould. I had a Capricorn van for a short time last year, and it had a chassis number stamped on the triangular plate that the coupling is bolted to. Perhaps you could look around that area. Looks like a good wash and a bit of air in the tyres, and she'll be "good to go"!  There are a couple of Travel Home threads on the forum that you might like to have a read of: Travel Home Deluxe 15ftInfo on a 19'6" Travelhome Delux caravancheers, Al. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 9:33:42 GMT 10
what an awesome van Trish, I just love it. Hope the tow home went well.
Look forward to lots of pics as you transform your 'shop'.
Jean
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Post by millard1399 on Nov 15, 2011 10:58:58 GMT 10
G'day again, Trish... A few bits of information just twigged in my head (I'm a slooow thinker  ), and I realise you are the forum member lacem that is on the Vintage forum. You used to be known as lacem on this forum as well, way back in 2008 when you joined the first time. Remember these threads? Helpidentify, my Viscount__________?? Welcome to our new members (see Reply #6) Whatever happened to those old vans??  cheers, Al. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 21:24:32 GMT 10
Thank you all for your replies and information. The tow home was uneventful, it tows like a dream and our car handles it well and I am sure I can handle it on my own. Here is a close up of the Travel Home decal:  I love this sticker too, so retro!!  And the maker/seller:  One of my favorite features on the van is the sofa bed, it works like a click clack couch and instantly and effortlessly flattens from a couch to a bed!    Is this the chassis/vin number?:  The inside is shot and the floor has collapsed, luckily we are gutting it but I will be keeping the shelf and the click clack sofa!  This is the ground visible through the inside of the van!:     |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 21:27:34 GMT 10
Oh and yes millard1399 lacem is me! I don't have any of those old vans anymore, sold them when we were hit by hard times. I now have just 3 vintage ones (fairholme. hawthorn and the 1948 home made) the globetrotter went to some hot rodders and looks amazing now after a complete resto! They are all too much work at the moment to get my shop going, luckily this has everything I need, I am wondering if it is a aluminium frame?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 21:34:06 GMT 10
I also meant to point out that it is just a block type fibre glass hatch, not four seasons and it has tinted wrap around windows at the front:  Also two windows are broken:   |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 21:36:36 GMT 10
Also, I have push out windows, not wind out.
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Post by millard1399 on Nov 16, 2011 10:28:44 GMT 10
G'day Trish, If you can just push the windows out, I'd be thinking all your winder boxes are stuffed. I can see the plastic brackets on the outside of all your windows, and in the photo just above your colourful plan for the future, I can see a winder box at the back of that cute little shelf. I still think your van is from the time period 1973 to 1976. The Capricorn van I had last year had a fibreglass hatch on it as well, so a few manufacturers were using this style of hatch. The number you've shown on the drawbar is indeed the chassis number, so I've added that into the first heading of this thread. The other Travel Home on the forum that's 19ft6 has the chassis number of 8143, so yours is 1100 vans earlier than that (which could be a year's worth of production, for all I know). It's possible the van is made with an aluminium frame. You might be able to see some of the framework where the fridge vent is now showing. Otherwise, if you examine the internal wall panelling, and see that it's fixed with rivets, then that would indicate the frame is aluminium. Keep in touch with us as you work your way through the revamp. It should look quite a cute little van for the markets! cheers, Al. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2011 19:49:21 GMT 10
Hi Al,
you are right, I went out today and the windows are wind out but I was also wrong about the hatch it is made from tin. So I was given a new Vin number by vicroads as I couldn't find one on the drawbar, this is different to the Chassis number isn't it? Is it one that they need?
I shall check tomorrow to see if the rivets hold the wall panels on or not. Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Trish.
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Post by millard1399 on Nov 16, 2011 20:26:19 GMT 10
G'day again, Trish
If Vicroads has given you a new VIN number then that's the one you are stuck with. All records of the van will now relate to the new number. The welded number you've found could have been used as the correct VIN number, but it doesn't matter now, and no they don't need to know it now.
Because your chassis number is only four numbers, there's no guarantee it would have been accepted anyway. Those numbers might already be in the Vicroads system as belonging to another van. That's the dilemma sometimes with having only numbers as the chassis number.
I remember one of the Victorian members on the Vintage forum wanted to have his 3-number chassis number used in the rego process, but they showed him that the same number was already being used by another trailer (van). He was very disappointed.
cheers,
Al.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 8:48:11 GMT 10
I haven't re registered it yet, I just had to go and get a 28 day permit to move it and I told them that I didn't think that it had a vin number so they assigned me one for the van, then I wen't and had a plate made up at a trailer place to pop rivet to the drawbar. I think seeing as I haven't had it re registered yet I might be able to still use this vin number? I'll have to go in and check. I have been desperate to get out there and get started but it's the silly season and I have a 9 year old and a 13 year old and there are concerts, Christmas parades,excursions and camps! It never ends, hopefully I will have it ready by the time they go to School next year, well that is the plan anyway!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 9:26:46 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 22:32:25 GMT 10
hi Trish, I love what you are planning for your van.
Jean
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 11:21:01 GMT 10
Thank you Jean  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 16:38:34 GMT 10
Floor before: [a href="  "] [/a] Floor after I took to it with a rubber mallet we will be sandblasting the chassis at the end and painting it with bitumen paint: [a href="  "] [/a] Floor after it was cut to size and I lacquered it, not fixed down as yet: [a href="  "] [/a] Im going to have to rethink my towcar!: [a href="  "] [/a] We will be fixing the corner to the right as it was water damaged and replacing the ply: [a href="  "] [/a] |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 16:51:41 GMT 10
I need 2 new tyres: [a href="  "] [/a] And a hubcap like this, is it off a HQ Kingswood maybe?: [a href="  "] [/a] And a new braking system: [a href="  "] [/a] |
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Post by gavo on Jan 4, 2012 18:15:13 GMT 10
Love the van, and what a good use for it. Interesting to see how poor the floor was, must have been stored over a damp spot of ground and little ventilation underneath. The new floor is looking good, will you be leaving it as clear coated?
The hub caps aren't HQ, I used to wash my dad's HQ for pocket money and can tell you they were not the same. I reckon they would be earlier not sure what though.
Cheers
Gavo.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 23:35:01 GMT 10
Hi Gavo,
the floor was really poor quality chipboard and was very easy to remove, just crumbled away. I like the look of the clear coat and will keep it, it has become more matte since it has dried.
I think by the time I finish this van, with the money and time I have spent, I could have just gone out and bought one already done. I suppose the satisfaction of seeing all that I have done at the end will be worth it but at the moment there just seems like there is so much to do! I plan on keeping it a long time so I guess I'll have a near new van in the end that will last. I'll keep telling myself these things to just keep going anyway because I can't stop now~
Chat soon, Trish.
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Post by millard1399 on Jan 5, 2012 6:42:05 GMT 10
Well Trish, it looks like you are well and truly into it with your sledgehammer! ;D ;D The new flooring looks a beauty, and will make your "market stall" the best looking stall around! Once you get to the stage of doing something about the coupling and the braking system, you could maybe get away with just a new coupling and no brakes at all if the finished tare weight of the van is less than 750kgs (which it could easily be, depending on what internal cupboards/shelves/fittings you put into the van). And yes, you'll always be wondering about whether you should have bought a van that had already been fixed up by someone else. The only problem is that you can never be 100% sure that they've done the job properly and you won't be redoing some of their work. At least by doing the job yourself, you can be confident that it's been done to a high standard. ;D ;D Keep chipping away at the job bit by bit. It can be frustrating at times, but if you do just a little bit more each week, then one day you wake up and the darn thing is finished!! ;D cheers, Al. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2012 22:12:43 GMT 10
Well aren't I sore today  . On Saturday I gave two coats of wash and wear paint to the insides of all the cupboards in the van, they are soo pokey but will be nice and clean now to put food and clothes in. Then the next day I gave one coat of paint to the entire interior of my van, with a brush, gee it gets hot in there. Hubby started building the "guest bedroom". The bottom bed/sofa will be a daybed in the daytime with storage underneath and the backrest will lift up to make a bunk at night time. Here is a pic (before I painted and new ply was put on the end) and I will keep updated with pics but we ran out of ply so a trip to the big green shed is needed before we do any more! We also sealed the end on the outside to prevent any more water leaks to the back right corner:  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2012 22:17:26 GMT 10
I forgot ot mention that the floor is fixed down now too!
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Post by millard1399 on Jan 18, 2012 18:16:45 GMT 10
G'day Trish, Coming along nicely! Looks like somebody know a bit about carpentry, so you'll have to keep that person on side.   Look forward to seeing more photos as you work through it. cheers, Al. |
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Post by mausie on Jan 18, 2012 23:01:12 GMT 10
Hi Trish Nice to see another old van rescued. ;D ;D ;D My hubby Joe and I just bought a 13'-0" Capricorn and are now restoring the best we can. Anything modern will be hidden  Let us know how you go Cheers Mausie |
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Post by mausie on Jan 18, 2012 23:01:31 GMT 10
Hi Trish Nice to see another old van rescued. ;D ;D ;D My hubby Joe and I just bought a 13'-0" Capricorn and are now restoring the best we can. Anything modern will be hidden Let us know how you go Cheers Mausie |
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. On Saturday I gave two coats of wash and wear paint to the insides of all the cupboards in the van, they are soo pokey but will be nice and clean now to put food and clothes in. Then the next day I gave one coat of paint to the entire interior of my van, with a brush, gee it gets hot in there.
