1970 19' Franklin 'Regent' 6 berth tandem - No: 2459-0

[Deleted]

The day I brought her home

Annex up for the first time yippeee!!!

The only Internal Shot so far

First trip behind 'The Cruiser' & the Starboard Side

from the Front

The Port Side

and from the Stern

[Deleted]

Thanks for the photos,
I have always said the Regents were the best looking vans of all time,and still look great after all these years!
Look after her,she looks very original.
Cheers
hughdeani

[Deleted]

Thanks Hughdeani,

Yeh we luv her and she is very original.

We are plan to keep her that way but do the required maintenance as we go along.

She's not perfect and we do use her a lot so there is a lot to keep on top of.

Cheers, Des & Thora

[snoops]

What a lovely van. A few more interior shots please if you don't mind - it looks like a cracker.

[Deleted]

Hey Snoops,

I actually don't have any but I do need to get some as I have still haven't taken the required internal pics for the insurance mob.

I'll get on it.

Cheers, Des & Thora

[awbeattie381]

I am not a massive fan of tandem vans but I have to say this is the second tandem franklin I have seen and I really like it! Love the originality of it - good purchase!

[Deleted]

Thanks Andrew,

We luv it!!

Cheers, Des & Thora

[Deleted]

Hey Ted,

What do you reckon about my Spare Wheel mounts??

I've done about 300km since having them fitted and they haven't fallen off yet.

Looks like they will be ok.

Cheers, Des

[Deleted]

Oooops ..... forgot to post the pic - lol

I really should put the RED away - lol

Cheers, Des

[peter92]

Hi Des
the van looks great so far and your carrier looks similar to mine, i like the old vans, i recon she will last a lot longer for you both, enjoy
Regards Peter

[doublechevron]

Gee's I like these old eggs.... I'd never seen a twin axle "egg" shaped franklin until yours started appearing all over the forum

I don't like the wheel carrier.... I hate the idea of all that weight hanging off the very back edge of the 'van. I'd try to carry one spare as close to the axle group as possible. You will find one of those big twin wheel carriers in the middle of QLD (or was it NT). When I was a kid we spent 6months going around Australia... My grandparents followed us for the 1st half of the trip... There caravan kept swaying all the time.... The fix was to remove that huge twin spare carrier off the back and leave it on the side of the road with one spare still attached... keeping the other spare under the bed inside.

It stopped swaying as soon as it was removed.

seeya,
Shane L.

[Deleted]

Thanks Peter,

It has solved the problem of carrying two spare wheels inside and what to with them when you have set up and are using the van.

I have designed it so I can adjust the height of the wheels which is what I am in the process of doing at the moment (when I have time to hitch up and head up the hi-way).

More trial & error to come in order to get the best height for towing comfortably & safely.

Cheers, Des

[Deleted]

Thanks for the advice Shane,

Yes I was expecting a change in the attitude of the VAN when towing with the spares so high but to be honest there has only been a slight change so far(touch wood) and that's when coasting down a long downhill. As I said above I have done about 300km so far testing the tow attitude and am confident that after I make some adjustments she will be comfortable & safe to tow - if not there maybe two wheel carriers on the side of the road somewhere in Oz lol lol.

My biggest problem is that I have a very steep foot path angle so the spares can not be to low or else they will hit first when I'm reversing in.

Cheers, Des

[Deleted]

Some more pics of the spare wheel carrier

This is my latest addition to the Van - sorry about the fence - I will post better pics soon

[Deleted]

Hey Peter,

Do you have any pics of your spare wheel carrier mate??

Cheers, Des

[peter92]

Here ya go Des, sorry about the ladder
Regards Peter

[Deleted]

Thanks Peter

[tedalley]

Sept 15, 2014 21:25:56 GMT 10 @dntbear said:

Hey Ted,

What do you reckon about my Spare Wheel mounts??

I've done about 300km since having them fitted and they haven't fallen off yet.

Looks like they will be ok.

Cheers, Des

Des Hi.

I recon the spare wheel mounts look great and having 2 spares is handy.

Make sure the weight is fairly balanced with the correct ball weight.

I had a tandem jayco that had two blowouts and two treads peel off (they were cleanskins) so the two spares helped me limp into the next town to get new tyres.

Any chance of a photo without the wheels on the carrier?

Ted

[Deleted]

Hey Ted,

I'll see what I can do for you when I am making adjustments next time.

I notice you have a rear bumper as well.

Cheers, Des

[tedalley]

Sept 17, 2014 9:54:52 GMT 10 @dntbear said:

Hey Ted,

I notice you have a rear bumper as well.

Cheers, Des

Des Hi.

Yes I do have a rear bumper but it is at an angle and I would like to change it. that's why im interested how yours look without wheels on it.

No rush - I'm months away from changing mine.

Some old photos.

I tried bolting a wheel bracket onto the bumper.

This is the 1989 Jayco I had.

I hope this is what you wanted

Ted

[Deleted]

Yeh Thanks Ted,

I will post the pics you want as soon as I can get them.

Cheers, Des

[doublechevron]

Sept 17, 2014 18:07:58 GMT 10 tedalley said:

Sept 17, 2014 9:54:52 GMT 10 @dntbear said:

Hey Ted,

I notice you have a rear bumper as well.

Cheers, Des

Des Hi.

Yes I do have a rear bumper but it is at an angle and I would like to change it. that's why im interested how yours look without wheels on it.

No rush - I'm months away from changing mine.

Some old photos.

I tried bolting a wheel bracket onto the bumper.

This is the 1989 Jayco I had.

I hope this is what you wanted

Ted

I wonder if you could use a spare tire winch from a local car ... and just mount the spares under the floor as close to the axles as possible.  That way there out of the elements, aren't putting huge weight at the very rear of the caravan (the worst thing you could possibly do from stability viewpoint).  The negatives of course are they'd suck to get too and check/top up with air.

seeya,
Shane L.

[tedalley]

Sept 19, 2014 15:17:52 GMT 10 doublechevron said:

I wonder if you could use a spare tire winch from a local car ... and just mount the spares under the floor as close to the axles as possible.  That way there out of the elements, aren't putting huge weight at the very rear of the caravan (the worst thing you could possibly do from stability viewpoint).  The negatives of course are they'd suck to get too and check/top up with air.

seeya,
Shane L.

Shane Hi.

I tried that idea many years ago.
The problem I had was with two flats on the same side I couldn't get the tyre out from underneath the van.

Ted

[Deleted]

Hey Ted,

As promised, here are the pics of my spare wheel mounts you wanted:





So then I did this:







And now, I have this:



This is the comparison:



Hope these pics are helpful to you.

Cheers, Des

[tedalley]

Thanks Des.
Which position do you prefer?
The lower position looks good - shouldn't be a problem bottoming out should it?

You have given me some ideas about altering my rear bumper.
Ted