1975 Petersville Camperman Bushwacker

[jaderd]

]Hi,

Im Simon from Doreen Melbourne,

On Sunday 10th Feb wife and i acquired our first camp trailer

Long story short it was on ebay and i put in my max i would pay and it came in nicely under which is always good.

After some delving around on the net to find out what exactly it was and finding the 2nd owner who did the minor tidy up a few years ago on the Vintage Caravan Forum (user- winterwood) i figured out what i had.

1975 Petersville Camperman Bushwacker


Before Max did anything to it



From what i can tell Max (Winterwood) got it off the first owner, did a clean and tidy up and added a few bits n pieces on 2011.

Guy i bought it off got it from Max in Feb 2012 and then i grabbed it.

Guy before me did the wheel hubs etc as he lost a wheel while driving, other than that he only used it once or twice. I got it with a basic stove & cook / washup table, 2 mattresses, one is brand new and also gas bottle, jockey wheel etc

Wife and i were originally looking for a tent so finding this at a price that suited made us both very happy.

When i got it



Since i got it i have done the following:


replaced all elastic with new marine grade elastic rope
remade all new occy straps to correct lengths using these

Added cobination bolt lock to rear access door



converted to 7 pin flat plug

LED tail lights have been ordered, others were cracked and faded
Looking to get a new licence plate light in LED also

Solar light kit ordered from Bright Light Auto Parts, won bidding nice and low on a kit. Paid $31 winning bid, retail for $85


Bought heaps of other bits and pieces like toaster, kettle, table etc already had alot of stuff in garage so atleast now can store it and hook on quick to go away for weekend.

What i am after and cant find anyone that does them is a toggle lock / over centre latch X 4 to use to hold down the sides once folded back to centre.

i want the latches to have adjustability but also have key lock option as i dont want 4 padlocks to deal with.

i have found a toggle latch local with key lock but zero adjustability, unless anyone knows of something or another option i might just have to go with normal over centre latches and use a padlock on each or the padlocks with wire so can just use one at each end of trailer.

Might just go these ones - stainless steel and local pickup available - only $50 for the 4 in stainless.

Main purpose of these is more so feel secure leaving parked if travelling and going to pub for lunch or something etc. it will be ratchet strapped down, have a table on top and then a tarp but some ppl are pretty cunning.

On Sat 16th spent all day sorting out the Camper, rectified lots of twisting and looseness the camper had when beds folded out and weight on. Now sits tight with no movement when weight on beds.

i straightened and reinforced all the leg hooks as they were bent instead of transferring the weight to the trailer floor via the hooks the weight was resting on the sides of the trailer thus flexing the sides of the trailer out / pushing the sides of the trailer down towards the ground, attempting to separate sides from floor. This was not as much of a problem up the front as there is no door so the sides can not move further apart from each other as the front panel holds them together. the rear was a different story, with door open the sides would flex heaps as some rotten wood (inevitable for its age)on both rear corners meant the floor was not attached to the sides of the trailer too well. i Fixed this (temporary for next few months) with some treated pine wedges bolted in to keep floor tight to frame which worked perfect and added some elbow brackets to door frame to reduce flex, this combined with rectifying the leg hooks to transfer load to floor has meant the trailer is now tight as and no twists with weight on beds. Also added an LED number plate light in & painted / added grip tape to step, the LED tail lights have arrived at home though im away in Sydney for work so that will wait till this weekend.

Spent sunday loading the trailer, was pleasantly surprised with the size of the cupboards, we were able to store everything we need for camping in the trailer with majority in the cupboards, just camp seats and the sink setup etc within the floor area.

Havent got onto any over centre latches that i want yet so have just used tie downs to hold lid down, might just go this path for a while.
Got Canvas slightly repaired and reinforced the edges inside camper so poles cant rub and new main zipper.




Added Alko Legs, tool boxes, Flipped Axle over for more clearance, 14" BMW rims etc.
Recently got a great old school Coleman Camp Kitchen.

[ForumMod]

G'day Simon, and welcome to the forum! ;D

That's a handy little camper trailer there!

I reckon you'd have to explore how tradies keep the lids on their ute trays secure. That might give you some ideas on how to lock the lids on the camper.

You can apparently get locking versions of that adjustable catch you've pictured, but I don't know whether they are available in Australia: www.erde-trailers.com/abslock-pair-of-replacement-locks-for-erdeacute-abs-lockable-trailer-covers-1025-p.asp

cheers,
Al.

[jaderd]

Cheers Al - yes i have seen those one and have a place in melb where i can get them but they are not adjustable and rely on the lid always closing to the exact position. I wanted to be able to add in some adjutable length maybe 10-15mm so as i might store more things in the trailer so the lids may not close fully and there fore not meet a standard lock. I think i am going to go with the ones i pictured then 4 padlocks all keyed to the same key, that makes it a bit easier.

[jaderd]

Installed the LED tail lights on weekend and also welded in a bracket to further support the 2 rear corners for when the sides are down and weight on the beds, now even sturdier.





Now im just sussing out rolling diameter of current wheels / tyres to see what size i can go up to as i recently bought some BMW E30 rims for my car which came with 5 and ive found another rim cheap so would be looking to put that on their if fits. Just need to check the centre hole diameter required and rolling diameter / offset to see if will sit within the inner wheel arch.

This is the wheel im thinking of putting on

[jaderd]

Picking up the other rim and tyre today for $35.. Bargain.

Should look nice rolling on some BMW "bottle caps"

Checked centre hole diameter appears to be perfect fit at 55mm.

Width should fit in wheel arch and overall diameter ain't too much larger so will fit, being a light weight camper trailer the suspension hardly moves up and down anyway compared to a caravan.

Will let know of results of test fit soon, worst case I have more spares for car

[jaderd]

Bit of an update.

i jacked up trailer the other day and was surprised by fact that even the 10 rims once jacked up and wheel nuts off you still had to yank on tyre to wedge it out between wheel well and hub.

So there and then i decided to flip the axle to below the leaf springs, went and got some new U bolts as others were fairly shagged, though fish plates were fine, fitted up axle which made a change of around 4-6 inches more height and space between hub and side of wheel arch.

This enabled me to fit the 2 spare E 30 rims i have which run 195/65 tread profile, too large for my low car but fine for a trailer.

Fitted fine, tuck into wheel well and have round 3 inches travel before the rim would scrub out on wheel arch, as the diameter of wheel / tire is large than the wheel well.

i jumped up and down on trailer and it hardly moved so will be fine doest use much travel the trailer and it is already loaded ready to hook up and leave.

Will see what type of angle the trailer sits on when hooked to car, down want it having too much angle.

I'm likely to have another two wheels very soon, 10" again thugh mags from a mini which i will swap to if E30 rims create too higher angle.

the legs still work/ have enough extension to stabilise even with the 4" ish height rise.

[jaderd]

Well the trailer did her maiden voyage to swan hill and return (700km's). Towed solid and straight, no real bounce, no swaying, cruised at 110kmh fine and even solid at overtaking, like the wide 195 tread profile.

All went off without a hitch, checked axle U bolts after 150km all tight no probs.

From trip i have decided i want to do the following.

Replace main zipper as it broke while away, old and perished
Replace legs with caravan wind down style / flip down ALKO type.
re add pole pipe and change position to under rear of trailer.
add spare wheel U mount to hold under draw bar now trailer higher.
convert an old solar pump setup to run some basic LED strips, think its a 2.5w solar setup from memory
front boxes setup that "hang" on front with bracket and held on with centre over latches so can be removed and placed hanging over rear end on each side of door to access what is within.

some pics from camp.

the sun shade cover worked well, its supposed to connect to a tent at one end, instead i stretched it out over the camper and its clips lined up with camper trailers eyelets perfect

Also bought a massive tarp and smaller tarp to work as annex in future setups, dont trust the roof so much on tent and tarp over top as a fly is the best option anyway.

My current solar lught / phone charger 1 W system worked very well, and our Aldi canvas boxes (see on and under table in pic 1) worked brilliant, i ended up buying 16 of them at $7 each a while ago, they lay flat then fold out with two U shaped metal frames, stackable, strong canvas material, brilliant as stack into campers side cupboards no prob and easy to store 4 flat ready for food once purchased on trip

[Deleted]

I had one of the same that I bought for $800 from a guy in Geelong. Solid little units. Spent a lot of time cleaning it up, replacing electrics, sanding, painting etc and pretty happy with the whole job actually.
My very first effort at renovating a camper and, as a 56year old woman I was quite proud of myself! Wish I could do the mechanical/structure stuff too.

[jaderd]

Sounds good Janel,

im in love with my camper at the moment, enjoying tweaking it to how i want it etc.

I have been away interstate for work over the last 10 days so no work on the camper though i did score some bargains that i had been hunting for, and one bargain not for camper, but for the shed to enable easy working on motorbike frames with tools close by.

The collapsible / mobile tool cart, including all tool boxes i got for $50

Black Isuzu Tool Boxes $10 each, i have the contacts details if ppl require them, he has 20 + for sale / add on melbourne gumtree.

ALKO adjustable legs $150 which i though was good as brand new are around $250 + for a set, they were my dream legs, didnt think i would ever find a set for sale at a good price. These are the 430mm up to 590mm ones, perfect for my now jacked up camper as it stands around 450mm off at each corner.

pics below.

[ForumMod]

Crikey, you get the "Bargain Hunter of the Month" Award!!

Gotta be happy with those prices you paid! ;D


Great result on the camper as well. You should be quite chuffed with how it's all worked out! ;D ;D

cheers,
Al.

[jaderd]

Cheers Al,

Saturday i did he driving trip to pickup the trolley and legs, from doreen to spottswood then out to Tynong and return, decent few km's.

Once home i degreased, sanded, painted and re greased bearings in trolley castors so the trolley is like new. my toolbox fits perfect in the channels on top so im guessing tool boxes are a set size. I cut a piece of wood to fit so the top ends up as a full work space instead.

Sunday arvo i spent some time and fitted up the two rear AL-KO legs, had my first go at welding and i can def tell its one of those things that yiou get better at every second you do it, first weld was a bit messy but worked and is solid on which is good.

Cant do the fronts yet as im missing one mounting bracket so ill ring around a few AL-KO distributors, otherwise ill drop into a metal shop near home and get them to replicate the one i have.

Going to have an attempt at a spare wheel mount this week using a post support stirrup and an old wheel hub, will see how we go, worst case i fail and think of another mount position etc.

Cheers

[jaderd]

Fronts installed last night, and started fiddling with a spare wheel mount, am using a post stirrup, then addind bits to that to make it all work, well hopefully work.

a nut and some old wheel studs worked well to make a wingnut type item

[jaderd]

Ok,

Another update, measured up and drilled the tool box holes and sealed prior drainage holes in toolbox and some prior mounting holes. Still need to drill some drain holes in new "bottom" of tool box.

Made up some internal mounting brackets from some square tubing, this stops the metal flexing at all, the two mount points from the tool box work good at the top, I then added a bottom fixing point to stop and flex or twisting in the panel. I leant on the toolbox with 20+ kg and hardly any flex so I'm happy as wont have that much weight in each one, they will mainly hold things like tarps, rope, tie downs,small folding shovel, pegs etc.

Happy with this final look of the front, especially fact that even if spare wheel falls off mount it cannot go anywhere, it's fairly wedged between the boxes and to get the wheel off the bolt you need to remove the gas cylinder to get enough room so basically can't go anywhere.

Have also removed the power socket from its old location as tool box covers that spot, I relocated it to the side of trailer and rewired with brand new wiring.

Fluked also that the mounts for the tool boxes leave a 1 inch gap approx between their back and the trailer so I can still access all the hooks for the tarp and tent.

Ill add some pics later on, am in Launceston at moment for work just having a lunch break.










Cheers

[jaderd]

ok, all done.......well for now atleast, whether its my car, motorbikes or this camper trailer i always find other ways to mod them and make them how i want.

completed the spare wheel mount, i added a further bracket 45 degrees to ensure the top L cant bend.

relocated the power plug to the side as tool box now at front and rewired the inlet plug and replaced the single powerpoint with a double. One thing i did notice is that a normal extension cord will not fit into the outlet unless you shave away the extra lip on a normal extension cord, is this because my inlet port is old? or do all caravan parks use special power cords that are smaller in diameter at the actual female outlet spot ?

Made up the other two brackets so tool boxes are on solid, i put some household scales on top of one then pushed down, put 60kg of weight on and basically zero flex or movement which is great as each will only hold prob 5-10kg of stuff.

Bought myself a short handle kincrome pop rivet gun, never really done any riveting before, damn they are a good tool no wonder pop rivets were used for making planes.

after much thinking i decided to go with basic galvanised lockable latches, was thinking of centre over latches, but i really dont need the adjustablility and they cost a fair bit. these were $5 each.

Bought 8 padlocks also, 4 per set all keyed etc, so i key covers my trailer hitch lock, tool boxes and pole tube.

other key handles unlocking the lids 4 locks.

I also mounted the pole pipe tube under the rear to balance weight a little with tool boxes now on front, it is held up underneatch with 2 brackets, the zip ties are purely a secondary measure incase the brackets come loose or anything.

Standard tire lever is now labelled with "Legs" and "Wheels" which works perfect as smaller than the proper ALKO leg winder and fits in tool box. I have still packed the ALKO one inside trailer for i figure if i need to change a tyre i can wind front one while wife winds rear and lift one side of trailer off ground enough maybe to change tyre ? have ppl done this before with a light weight camper ?

Finally i did 3-4 coats of lighter blue "Hammer" paint on the front and edge of sides to protect from rocks and recover some areas where paint was peeling

When i go camping i take my toolbox with tools etc, i also have spare axle U bolts and nuts and spare wheel nuts, WD40 etc.

are there any specific things ppl always carry with them, at the moment the camping will be caravan park style and decent size town, no real off beaten track stuff.

some pics below







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[jaderd]

finished it off this morning added further strip of paint along the side and a little around the back near the lights as a few flakes of paint were coming off so wanted to neaten that up.

Another question also re. insurance, im with RACV for this, $1000 trailer, $1000 contents.

thing is now that i have fixed up and changed things, added toolboxes and added legs worth a couple of hundred i would like to increase insurance to around $1500. Thing is they upped it to $1000 from what i paid ($720) and wont really up it anymore unless i get a written pricing from a caravan place etc, thing is noone knows these old campers or what they may be worth.

Anyone on here have any idea where i could go in melb ? or better still have a camper / caravan business and be willing to write $1500 on a letter head, as ridiculous as it sounds thats all they need to up my insurance, simple letterhead and a price written on it.

Other thing i can do is just ring AAMI, go with them and lie stating i paid 2k, then it will be insured for 2k, problem is im too honest when i rang to get the insurance.

Ill try the offering photos and pricing of parts added to see if that has any effect.

any info would be great

[ForumMod]

Struth, Simon!...you've got everything covered there! You'll even be able to set up a little travelling business of fixing other people's campers on the roadside!

Now tell me...at what point does that single drawbar become overloaded with all the additional add-ons that are on the front of the camper? Do you think it is still well within the engineering load that it was designed for? I'd hate to see you hit a decent pothole, and the drawbar suddenly bends into a V-shape.


I can't give you any info about upgrading your insurance, other than to say that we've done it with our house insurance with AAMI when we had the large shed built. (And that proved to be a bit of a funny exercise, because their computer system only allowed for a 'garage' and a 'garden shed' option to be nominated, but not a 13m x 9m man-size SHED. We already had a double garage, so they had to put a note against the garden shed option to say it was HUGE! ).

cheers,
Al.

[jaderd]

Cheers Al,

Load is all good, tool boxes weigh around 5-7kg each, with spare around 10kg.

Only weight on actual draw bar at front is spare tyre, whilst the draw bar at that point is where it splits out to the rest of frame.

Tool boxes are affixed to trailer itself, so weight transferred straight to axel more so

Tow ball weight even now complete is only around 45kg, as the rear pole pipe balances out a fair bit of the front weight.



Cheers, ill ring RACV tomorrow and see what they say

[jaderd]

Dropped tent off today at Diamond valley canvas in diamond creek.

Ladies in their have always been great to deal with grabbing different things over the last 6 months.

Getting a new heavy duty zip to replace main front zip and also getting the 4 corners where the sides push out and the cross pole pushes against reinforced so that there is no way it pulls apart over the next few years usage.

Cheers

[Deleted]

good job time to enjoy

[jaderd]

Got the tent back from Diamond Valley Canvas, did a great job and nice n cheap, whole lot under $100.

Replaced the zip with a new one, nice industrial one and added in around 5-10mm extra give so that not so much pressure on zip.

Also they added a internal reinforcement patch over the 4 corners where the poles push, this way there is zero way it can tear through at all.

[jaderd]

Spent the weekend just gone in Dromana, basically a weekend away to test the camper out now decked out how i want it.

Also added a 2 way little spirit level to the draw bar, enabled easy leveling of trailer.

Well it rained Friday night, all night Saturday (heavy as) and sunday once we left.

I was able to setup, and tear down while no rain around which was nice.

Wouldnt have mattered as the large tarp which i have made a "fly" enables you to fully collapse the tent, pack up tent and fold up the trailer while protected from rain, if it was pouring the ppl packing up get wet but mattresses and inside of camper fully dry.

Looking forward to all the future trips

[Nigel gardener]

Great to see some still around. I picked mine up in glenfield NSW from Ted. It was a Petersvile and I re-sprayed it white ... It had already done halfway around Australia and after that I took it around clockwise up the old south road to Darwin. I did Majour modifications such as solid axle and Toyota hubs with Holden bearings. Also wind up stands as well as electrics.. Metal fatigue was an issue but some young lads in a paddock took time out to weld the front hitch as it snapped were BHP welded a continuation in leanth. We had fun times in it... I will see if I can find pictures. As a 4WD camper it was great..... PS the mini wheels and stub axle took to to being a bush mechanic in the outback when the stubs gave away..... Ho what fun that was

[drylander]

the zip ties for the underslung pipe might get you in a bit of bother if 1 drops off. Constant moving while towing will see them wear quickly. Try and get some cable or some thing stronger maybe even some large hose clamps. Other than that you have a top little camper there and will give many years of fun
Pete

[Deleted]

I just bought Bushwacker myself! Great condition, minor surface rust and a few minor canvas repairs needed ( corners re enforced, few pin holes). This is a great thread for me as I want to fit 14 inch wheels, tool box & mount the spare etc. so its given me great ideas while still keeping it looking original. Have you had an issues with the camper at all? Cheers!

[jaderd]

Long time no post.

Camper is still in same condition, it is coming out for an Easter trip, heading away with 2 other couples, all of us now with a baby under 6 months so we are keeping it close camping in Seymour.

"Bushwhacker" I found a handy thing was to flip the axle to the under side of the leaf springs so it adds some ground clearance and allowed not only the easier swapping over of spare tyres but also allowed figment of the 14" alloys.

The other great addition was the ALKO adjustable legs, they work fantastic and though I haven't tested you may even be able to use them to jack up one side of the trailer for changing spare over.

My uncle who is a car upholster has a double bed mattress which has been covered in waterproof vinyl to give me for free .

Really love the little camper, best part is it's got two double beds off the ground

Good luck with yours, show me some pics of your progress