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Post by pisces51 on Apr 7, 2015 21:33:07 GMT 10
G'day Brent, I was a Moderator, but I'm not one any longer.  I'm not sure that most people searching for info about their vans realise that this forum primarily caters for vans manufactured between 1970 and 1979. I think they just go searching on the internet, and this forum link pops up in their search results. There's nothing on our Home page that smacks you in the face to say this forum covers any particular time period. That's how we've ended up with vans outside the intended time frame. Let's say, for instance, we extend the upper year out to 1985. What will we end up with?? In 1976/77 twenty five smaller caravan manufacturers around Australia closed down due to the impact of the recessions in 1973 and 1975, and the oil crisis in '73/'74. Of the major players, Coronet bought out Newlands in 1977 and then shut down a year later in '78 (talk about a poor management decision!  ). Chesney shut down in 1978. Glendale gave up in the late '70s. Millard/York bit the dust in 1979. Franklin managed to survive a bit longer until March 1981. The few companies to survive into the early 1980s were Viscount (who continued to build the Millard Series 80 vans under an agreement with Millard prior to Millard closing down); Jayco; Coromal (?); Olympic (?) So, if we extend the upper limit out to 1985, we'll get the Viscount Grand Tourers; the Millard Series 80 vans; the Jayco camper trailers; and the Franklins from just 1980. We certainly won't be knocked over by a rush of vans, I don't reckon. Maybe we could just continue to accommodate those few vans the way we do now. cheers, Al. |
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Post by Mustang on Apr 8, 2015 19:08:45 GMT 10
Wise Words Al, as with all our respondents.
I recently visited "Who, Where, How, Why & Whateva" & read about possibly 1200 members, but that dilutes to about 30/50 that actually post.
One reason for prompting the lengthening the "Classic" era.
I guess when one "performs the resto" & moves on there is little to contribute.
As you say "Maybe we could just continue to accommodate those few vans the way we do now."
Certainly it needs spelling out on the home page under conditions. I originally registered on VV, was told to move over to here, & still didn't know the era was 70/80 until after I started posting
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Post by bobt on Apr 9, 2015 17:36:16 GMT 10
Hey Mustang
Now if I could spell "Grand phobar" (or what ever I would use it. Mark and his now gone to other parts partner set this forum up so long as we don't muck up Mark will be happy for it to keep going the way it is. Yep we will always welcome people with caravans regardless of the year of manufacture.
You are correct once people do the reno they tend to post lots less. We really should get a posting travels with the van thing happening. Some use to do that.
Must go look over on the vv forum
bobt
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Post by bobt on Apr 9, 2015 17:53:01 GMT 10
Mr Mustang Some numbers for you.. 798 registered users 380 that have never posted (majority registered in 2014) & Some been on here for years, log on but don't post.. 200 approx that have posted bet 1 & 6 times geez I should be out in my shed... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 19:42:44 GMT 10
Off topic but a reply....
Yeh I just posted to "Show off" ..
I posted last months ,rapid travel pics ,..now I will post slower rambling pics with different towcars...I will try and post "skid pics" as well ,....why ,...because I can.
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Post by atefooterz on Apr 9, 2015 22:20:01 GMT 10
My Arrow looks & feels trapped in a caravan park cage, among white boxes & converted courier vans. Will try and take a pic to capture it.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 9:03:20 GMT 10
Hello All,
Personally I don't think the 'Classic Era' should be changed.
As has been stated at length, this CC'ers forum welcomes 'all comers' be they pre or post 1970 - 1979.
How about those post 1979 (1980 - 1989) being known as the 'Post Classic Era'?? And then after that you could have the 'Semi Modern Era', then the 'Modern Era' etc; etc and so on.
Just my thoughts.
Cheers, Des
P. S. I to registered with the VV'ers forum first not knowing the full story. I was told the same - go to the CC'ers forum due to the build date of my CC. However, there is a spin off MOB from the VV'ers forum called 'The SEQ VV'ers MOB' (I think). They are a much nicer group of VV'ers and welcome all comers as well. I am a member of that forum as well as this one.
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Post by atefooterz on Apr 13, 2015 12:39:42 GMT 10
An amusing aside is at the upmarket caravan park, i am staying at the last few weeks, anythng older than 2000 gets labelled as old and pre 1990 as vintage! Long term it will be the public that decides. It is up to us to educate them first. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 14:06:28 GMT 10
I believe what is made as stock from 1912 onwards when it come sub floors I wouldn't go with traditional floors I would be inclined to install a metal floor..
Then a wood floor over the top...
The way the safety laws are today I think it would be hard to keep things as stock as you will need to comply with safety as well as fit the caravans to your size of frame..
Trust me I stand 6'1" and I would require in certain areas not to be stock standard from factory.
With all the comms requirement of the day it would be a guarantee that you will need to add studs to the existing chassis or better still replace the existing chassis to suit the external layout to your needs, this would also include external storage needs aswell as internal options.
While it is a grand idea to keep things stock standard sometimes modification may be better..
Looking at som of the external additions that can be made today I say why not modify if the mods improve the function of the caravan I say add away, looking at what is available today for use on or in a caravan oppose to what was available when the caravan was originally made may benefit you more...
Keep it stock if you want to though do not discount the benefits of modification of modern convinience items that wasn't available at the time of purchase when the caravan was made...
the he way it is looking I see most opting for a camper style configuration to save cost, most are likely rentals or converted econovans type chassis.....
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Post by atefooterz on Apr 14, 2015 15:08:32 GMT 10
Heya CVliving, there are huge differences between a mobile home and a caravan, equally the 4wd/ off road caravan/camper scene has evolved. Many prefer the pop top for both, advances in simulator engineering specs mean that before anything is built all loads and to destruction forces can prove a concept/design! Is what you are saying is that my 1974 HQ Kingswood can have an HZ Premier grille as it looks better plus the suspension from a WRX with brakes from a V8 super car, powered by a compact Volvo turbo diesel, as these are desireable?
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Post by bobt on Apr 14, 2015 21:43:42 GMT 10
Hey cvliving
I don't know where your getting your information from, but if you restore to the period of manufacture you have no trouble with the authorities. As for a wooden floor the vast majority of modern white boxes built today have wooden floors and for that matter wooden frames. The timber used is all engineered to meet the manufactures standards. Monash University have a unit that spends significant time and effort testing the strenght of timber for the constuction industry.
If you follow atefooterz 1974 HQ path you would need engineers reports and regular inspections during the build process to satisfy the authouries before you could get it legally on the road.
We are going way off topic here. I see we have an owner of a "Collectible" trying to post a picture.
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Post by atefooterz on Apr 14, 2015 22:33:55 GMT 10
Hey cvliving I don't know where your getting your information from, but if you restore to the period of manufacture you have no trouble with the authorities. As for a wooden floor the vast majority of modern white boxes built today have wooden floors and for that matter wooden frames. The timber used is all engineered to meet the manufactures standards. Monash University have a unit that spends significant time and effort testing the strenght of timber for the constuction industry. If you follow atefooterz 1974 HQ path you would need engineers reports and regular inspections during the build process to satisfy the authouries before you could get it legally on the road. We are going way off topic here. I see we have an owner of a "Collectible" trying to post a picture. One last bit of threasd drift is that as cv has posted elsewhere many classic big vans are comming on the market after being rejected from being permanent site vans. Chatting witha few owners & managers of parks so far it appears that as many of these vans are 50% or more annex, draw bars removed etc then there are more advantages and tax benifits by the park owning what is on the site and having control of how long an occupant lives there, it can also get around the maximum number of nights someone stays in a "cabin" on site in some council areas. Anyone choosing to get a big camper home back in rego just has to follow the regulations in their State, for blue slip it is exactly what Bob has stated about original specs, the gas issue is different as it is independant to the blue slip inspection process , proven by certificate from a licensed plumber. Up Mullumbimby way (for example) it is interesting as my ex wife has had amazing costly issues getting even pink slips up there for vehicles, that would get a slip no issue in Sydney, well worth the petrol to the big smoke plus if repairs are required a lot cheaper plus a bigger parts replacement pool plus repairs in a faster time frame. |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2015 15:40:19 GMT 10
I stated this as it may be caravan park requirement as most tourist parks are owned by a corp entity, and this policy is more than likely set by corp..
I find myself living in a caravan full time not a holiday camper this is why I issued a warning for people with older caravans, they may have an age restriction where you berth your caravan..
And sadly when it comes to compliance codes on gas water and power you may have to exceed curent regulations.
When I look at caravan parks in WA I see very few private operators and council restriction to 30-90 day camping then move on sad to whilst I may own this unregistered heap nuts the cost to get it to a point where it would legal tow without special tags is out of the question given my $20k or less income. Owning a caravan requires a lot of money investment to get it to a point to where it it road legal and that money I don't have..
Not to mention a $1,000-2,500 bond you must have... Upon entry.. DSP pensions can't cover that..
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Post by atefooterz on May 5, 2015 17:30:05 GMT 10
After my stroke i was damaged enough not to get work,not damaged enough to get a pension, i have been struggling the last decade or so for work anyway, with old age & spotty teens not wanting to employ over 30yr olds i had no choice but to live in a caravan. I investigated buying a fixed park van but the $10K+ sale price plus ongoing site fees looked way expensive. So cashed in my super to buy and live until i run out of dosh and have to either do newstart or fruit picking lolz. Mixing up free no power camping and some caravan park stays stops the troppo cabin fever,living in familiar surrounds but looking out the window to see different sights is a blast. Next mission is to chase the sun over winter then back Sydney way for Xmas then whatever happens. At least being a registered caravan ( it was almost $1000 all up) as i used auto electrition & mechanic to do all the work as i can not do stuff with my condition & lack of mechanical life skills. when i roll in a park there is no issue with the condition/ statutory regs etc of fittings inside my van. |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2015 18:53:21 GMT 10
Mine is a tow job viscount 23-28 footer just to meet my weight constraints I have to add substructure and new floor, which what limits. What I can do without the cash to do it not to mention creation of transportable annex I can stck me gopher and full sized fridge washer and dryer in.
Cost of upgrade of hot water system and widening the shower area to suit my frame and gut all the internal walls to add stud work run electrics a give a bit of structural support to the caravan might even consider extend the front and rear to allow for storage on the gopher and other thing and give myself a decking option.
Adding lan and radio comms into the mix also..
Q
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). Chesney shut down in 1978. Glendale gave up in the late '70s. Millard/York bit the dust in 1979. Franklin managed to survive a bit longer until March 1981.
