1977 Coronet poptop H15666

[Deleted]

Just got a message from the Carpenter who can no longer do the job for me
(He hadn't even seen it yet)
Oh well better search for someone else to help.

And ForumMod I will make sure I point out the roof issues to who ever I get to help. After all this effort I don't want water getting in anywhere.

[ForumMod]

Depending on where you live, see if there's a local Mens Shed operating in your area. The old fellas that frequent these Sheds could be old tradesmen who might be happy to take on the project. You never know, one of them might have worked in the Coronet factory all those years ago!

I know of other people on this forum and the Vintage forum who have engaged retired builders to do work on their vans.

Heck, even I'm retired and working on vans, and I'm not even a builder...

Good luck with your search,

cheers,
Al.

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Had a guy have a look at the caravan yesterday and he said he can fix that no problem at all. He's going to work out some figures and get back to me
This weekend I'm planning on stripping the inside of the caravan.
With all the wiring I will undo the fittings and mark what belongs to what to make it easier to identify where everything goes when it's time to put everything back together

[Deleted]

A bit more dismantling of the caravan today (not sure I can call it a caravan anymore though)
Took the couch and back bed out with a lot of effort as the screws that held them there through the floor did not want to move, they had been squashed over from under the caravan, so I had to get underneath to bash them out with a hammer.
I noticed as I'm taking more and more off and out of the van it's becoming more unstable so I have braced it from the roof with a couple lengths of timber to stop so much movement.
I have another carpenter having a look tomorrow to give me a quote on repairing the frame work, the last guy quoted around $800 which seemed a bit too much to me as there isn't that much work to be done.
Doesn't hurt to get a second opinion anyway.

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A couple more photos

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Managed to do a little more to the caravan today. There isn't going to be much left by the time I get to a point to start putting it back together.
There is a section of timber that needs replacing near the wheel arch and I think the only way to do it is to unbolt the frame altogether
Oh well I may as well take the floor off and paint the chassis and have all the breaks etc checked. This is now a complete (almost) rebuild.

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[Deleted]

My Husbands friend was here yesterday and he works at a timber mill and is going to get all the timber I need for almost nothing and all milled to the right thickness. So that will save a lot of time.
I'm almost considering replacing the timber myself as I'm sure it won't be too difficult. Save me $500 to pay someone else. I could put that money towards getting a cabinet maker to do the cupboards for me

[ForumMod]

Funny how these projects start off as a fairly "simple fix" and develop into a major restoration...

You're not the first person on the forum to have discovered a lot more than they bargained for, and you certainly won't be the last. Sounds like you've got some good connections in the timber industry, so I reckon you'll have the van back to best in no time.

Keep plugging away...

cheers,
Al.

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Yes my original plan was just to remove the old silicon then re silicon, then enjoy a leak free caravan. Yeh right I think I was dreaming

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Thanks to another member of this forum I decided to draw up a plan of the caravan frame for future reference
I have done the door side and half the back. Takes some time to do all the measuring, and nothing is perfectly square.

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All cupboards are now pulled out. And lucky me found money after pulling the very last cupboard out
I will use it towards renovations

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[Gidget]

Hi Mandi,

I have a 10ft 1979 Coronet that is in a similar state to your pop top. I'm still working up the courage to start tackling the silicon removal so I'm quite inspired (and daunted) by your experience so far. I know I will find rotten timber behind her facade and I'm still not sure if it's worth all the effort. In the meantime, I look forward to your future posts.

Cheers,
Lisa

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Lisa all I can suggest is ............Run Run away and don't look back lol

Actually I'm enjoying it. It's a slow process but I'm getting somewhere (I think)
Timber is here ready to repair the frame. I'm at the stage now ready to unbolt the frame, I just need a few hands to help with holding the frame sturdy while I undo the bolts and lift each section of frame off the chassis.
I'm also going to remove the floor and get my son who is an apprentice spray painter to paint the chassis for me.
Then I will start the reassembly bit by bit.
I pulled all the wiring out today so will need to have it all rewired. I have a couple friends who are electricians, but I think I will need to get someone else to do that for me so as to get a electrical certificate I assume.

Can anyone point me in the right detection for plans for making cabinets and a double lift up bed?
I'm pretty good with building and construction if I have some kind of guide to help me.

[Deleted]

Hi, just wanting some advice on building new furniture for my caravan Reno I'm doing. I have kept what I can to use as a template. But I'm wanting to make a couple of changes.
At the back was a fold down couch, I'm wanting to change this to a permanent double bed but the space I have is only 1300 wide and a double bed mattress is 1380 wide so I will need to have a foam mattress made to fit.
And I'm wanting to make it slightly higher for extra storage under the bed, and a lift up bed to make access easier.
Any ideas on how I go about it?

At the front of the van was bunk beds which I think I will just have a single bed and some over head cupboards right along the top for two reasons (1 for extra storage and two for extra strength to the frame)
Just wondering if this will put to much weight on the roof beams? Or should I add extra timber along the length to help support the weight of the cupboards?
I'm just thinking ahead and working out the interior set up. But I would really like extra storage where I can.

[Gidget]

Haha, too late to run Mandi, and I've already waved my magic wand over the interior so I won't be doing anything that will ruin what's already been renovated. My van is very small and only suitable for weekend escapes so I know we'll eventually upgrade to something a little larger for longer trips. With that in mind, I'm not prepared to spend too much time/money doing up the exterior of our van - it's just not worth it. But I'm really keen to paint the outside and I can't do that until I've tidied up the edging.

You sound very capable and I'm sure you're going to have a brilliant van for all your efforts.

[2lateagain]

From previous experience you will need more than the width of the mattress(ours was a queen size but the same applies). We made alterations like you are wanting to do and the mattress fitted, but it was nearly impossible to get sheets, blankets tucked in as there was no room. We ended up going to foam and cutting about 100 mm off the width.

You also have to consider that when you raise the bed and base that the mattress is going to slide as it will be against a wall and has to go somewhere. Gas struts are the thing to use under the bed, they may not lift the bed, but will assist in the lifting and if they are the correct pressure should hold the bed up when you want something out of the storage under the bed. Hope this may help as our van we are doing now has more room for the mattress on the bed base.

Graham

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Thanks Graham,
I will take that into consideration. Never though about the sheets. Guess I could use flat sheets and tuck them in. I will make the bed base then get the foam mattress after so I can get the right measurements.
We have a local foam place that will make the mattress to what ever size I need and cover it too. So I will go to them when the time comes.

Does anyone know if over head cupboards would be safe to instal. It's a pop top caravan so I only have a small space to put the cupboards. Just don't want to put to much strain on the roof sides. Will have a good look at the roof shortly and see where I can add extra support if needed.

[greedy53]

my two bobs worth i did the same thing only i used a king single, made it a usable space my wife gave me the nod i do win every now and then

[Deleted]

Well this is my van now. What an effort getting the last of the frame off. But I got their in the end with a little help from a couple people to hold everything sturdy.
Next step is to remove the floor.

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[Deleted]

In terms of building the lift bed check out camich's thread on his re build, he did a good job with plenty of photos. I think this is the link :

ditzygypsy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=10&action=display&thread=1415

[ForumMod]

Mandi, "double bed" mattresses for caravans are usually narrower in width than a household double bed mattress. You'll find a double bed caravan mattress will be around 1250mm width, and the length can be anything, varying from 1750mm to up to 1900mm.

Do a Google search for 'caravan mattress' and you'll get a feel for what's available.


Putting cupboards over the front of the van won't cause any problems if you anchor the weight of the cupboards to both sides of the van body.

Here are some photos of the overhead shelving I built in the vintage plywood van I'm currently working on:









If you follow the same sort of process that I used, you won't go wrong (you can even have doors on the cupboards, where I chose not to).

cheers,
Al.

[ForumMod]

Mandi, if you are hoping to salvage the floor tiles and reuse them, try and lift the floor off in one go and don't twist it or the tiles are likely to crack.

If you're not reusing the tiles but want to get them off and reuse the ply flooring, remember the tiles contain asbestos, so wear some suitable protective clothing and face mask.

cheers,
Al.

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Thanks for that information. I certainly will be careful now I know that. I'm not keeping the tiles so will be removing it. I was going to try using a heat gun to help remove it as it's stuck down with glue. Is that safe to do?

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Excellent thank you so much for the photos and links. That's exactly what I was looking for. Just some ideas and photos will help me go in the right direction.
I have drawn a floor plan to help me work out what is going where.

[ForumMod]

These floor tiles are very brittle, so your aim when removing them is to minimize as much breakage as possible. It is when they fracture that asbestos fibres can be released into the air.

If using a heat gun softens them and stops them fracturing, then that is a good thing. Whatever method you use, try to keep the fractures to an absolute minimum.

cheers,
Al.