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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2015 21:16:41 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2015 23:28:20 GMT 10
Hi newbie,
Nice little van you have there,I was watching it on eBay.
Did you realise the front and back windows have been changed?
You will see what it should look like when you see other ones on here.
Why do you think the hatches are not standard,the rear one I can see in the photos look original to me.Plastic hatches came after this model.
Are the hatches wind up at each end?that was standard.
I look forward to seeing your resto,
Cheers
hughdeani
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 11:38:15 GMT 10
Thanks hughdeani! I found this on gumtree and bought it on a sentimental whim. No, I didn't know the windows had been changed but figured something wasn't quite right as there were phillips head screws instead of rivets holding the front metal skins together. The rear windows look as though there should have been some kind of shade to protect the glass in transit/storage but are missing. To be honest, I'm not too sure what is original and what has been changed. The hatches for example are made from thin steel? (definitely not plastic) with a ply insert as per pic. The hatched themselves are made well and in good condition but the ply is badly deteriorated and needs replacement. The hatch may be original but the ply insert?  The floor tiles, while laid well, are all over the shop. they seemed to have followed the contours of the entry side and not paid attention to how the tiles match up. Because of this, there are 5 steps in the floor pattern.  I first thought there have been some exterior cladding changes due to the different gloss levels in some overlapping panels but am a little confused, as from all the posts I've read, the walls are bonded together then installed. The blue stripe is also fading consistently which would suggest the panels are original. Everything else seems the norm for a van of this age and neglect by the sea side. Making it water tight and rot free is my first priority followed by long range tow-ability. We're off to Sydney with her in December so I have a lot to do in relativity little time but am not about to let quality suffer to time constrains. Is there such as thing as a 'rat caravan'? haha. Cheers Aaron |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 14:18:23 GMT 10
Hi Aaron,
The hatch looks original,they had a piece of vinyl coated ply fitted underneath that matched the ceiling.
The front would have had 2 opening windows side by side,while the rear had 2side by side fixed windows(opening ones were optional)and back then most vans had fixed rear windows.
The floor covering looks original to me,just be careful as some were asbestos,easier to lay new flooring over than remove!
Hope this helps
hughdeani
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 17:49:24 GMT 10
Thanks hughdeani. Great info. Original hatches they are! Thanks for the heads up re; floor tiles. I was looking at removing them to replace with a more contemporary industrial lino to suit the interior look we are going for. The windows are a bit of a bummer but the additional air flow will be appreciated on the long summer nights. Tomorrow will see us making a thorough assessment of work needed to get us back on the road. I'm sure its going to be a looong list  |
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Post by Mustang on May 24, 2015 18:47:14 GMT 10
Hi Aaron
Dead lines are tough! so set yourself small achievable goals. Its very satisfying bringing an old van back to life but the work is very very slow.
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Post by tedalley on May 24, 2015 21:04:49 GMT 10
Aaron Hi.
Great looking van.
I've answered your message - sorry but I don't log-on every day - I've still got 3 days of entries to read.
If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask
Ted
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Post by atefooterz on May 25, 2015 1:33:56 GMT 10
Opening rear windows are well worth it, unless you plan on doing bush dirt road adventures, if so then delay replacement plans. |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2015 21:50:10 GMT 10
Thanks Ted for the message and info. I will be peeling off the aluminium edging along the roof this weekend to see how bad the roof and walls actually are. Here's hoping I don't have too pull entire walls out Thanks for the heads up mustang. Luckily the deadlines I have are to only keep the van on the road and habitable for a weekend in December. The front and rear rot I should be able to sort within a few months and everything else can happen in due course. Mind you, if work stays at the pace it currently is, I may finish the van in 2050 thanks to work commitments - and yes Ted, you warned me. I just hope the weather remains in my favour for the next few month. No plans to replace the windows atefooterz. I like the fact we can open them and have no plans to have the van down long dusty roads (just yet). On the subject of towing, what's everyone's opinion on tyres? Light truck or conventionals? I seem to have an argument for both. Cheers Aaron |
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Post by tedalley on May 26, 2015 23:05:11 GMT 10
Tyres I think depends on the gross weight of your van.
When I was up north my Jayco had new steel belt radials (clean skins) and due to the heat of the roads the treads came off on two wheels (I had duel axle) within 100ks of each other.
What size wheels are on your van?
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 15:40:39 GMT 10
How unlucky can you be Ted? Ahh, the joys of it all! It looks like I'll have to bring the spare tyre bracket up the priority order.
At the moment, my Regent still runs 13in wheels with the original Dunlop Firestone tyres! I will be changing the diameter to 15in which still gives my plenty of clearance between axles with the added bonus of a bigger tyre selection. I'm also toying around the idea of fitting disc brakes for ease and simplicity of maintenance so the extra diameter will be needed.
I am yet to run the van over the weigh bridge - which I intend to do before I start, and at different intervals during the rebuild as I'm conscience of both axle and ball weights. The rego papers guestimate the caravan to be 1100kg but I would like to put more of an accurate figure to this.
Anyway, back to the list of things to do while I still have good light.........
Cheers
Aaron
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Post by Mustang on May 27, 2015 17:44:35 GMT 10
Certainly would be a guesstimate at 1100kg
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Post by tedalley on May 27, 2015 22:58:58 GMT 10
Oh I recon 1100kg is close.
My van (which only has 1 axle) originally had a Tare wt of 900kg with a Gross wt of 1150kg.
They built them light in the 70's
DnT Bear has a duel axle 19ft EGG & his Tare wt is 950kg
Anyway --- Have fun
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Post by bobt on May 27, 2015 23:09:16 GMT 10
Gidday livingthedream
Welcome aboard. I love the egg shape Franklin. Light Radial Truck tyres for the van, 13" are not expensive, I have them on my car trailer.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 8:01:19 GMT 10
I am yet to run the van over the weigh bridge - which I intend to do before I start, and at different intervals during the rebuild as I'm conscience of both axle and ball weights. The rego papers guestimate the caravan to be 1100kg but I would like to put more of an accurate figure to this. Hi Aaron
This is a brilliant idea, there is a few of us here that wish we had done the same before we started our restore/recycle on our vans. When you say the rego papers guestimate - what do they say "approximately" or something in those terms ??
Please let us know what the weight (tare) comes too. 
Cheers
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 10:17:15 GMT 10
Gidday livingthedream Welcome aboard. I love the egg shape Franklin. Light Radial Truck tyres for the van, 13" are not expensive, I have them on my car trailer. I think I've worked out attaching quotes Thanks Bobt. I'm on the fence regarding tyre at the moment and could go either way but must admit to leaning towards conventionals for the softer ride as LT's have a more rigid side wall. The vans end gross weight will be the final determining factor. On that note...... I say guestimate as from research and other posts, it was/is common to weigh a few vans in the production line and take the 'close enough is good enough' approach irrespective of van specification. This was ok in the 70's, but as we all embark on restore/improve/recycle a classic with modern materials and technology, I am of the opinion every kilo counts. I will certainly keep you all posted on the original weights.
Cheers
Aaron |
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Post by awbeattie381 on May 28, 2015 13:39:28 GMT 10
great looking van! I have to say these dual axle franklin egg shaped things are growing on me. and they are growing on this forum!
As for tyres, I always thought it was better to have the LT tyres than conventional ones due to the weight and heat build up. Maybe given you have a dual axle van it doesnt matter as much?
Good luck with the reno. Fingers crossed you make your deadline! Better to have one than not, but dont bash yourself over the head if its not finished!
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Post by atefooterz on May 28, 2015 14:27:34 GMT 10
Hiya Andrew something to remember is softer sidewalls also make for sway, when towing in crosswinds/copping a truck wake, not to mention being easier to puncture on the many potholes. I love my opening rear windows and would never have closed ones, i would hire a van to trash, if i ever wanted to go outback haha! Something with weight i do not see enough around the posts is the importance of low down weight, in boats the guide is 1kg at waterline is 3kg at 20feet/7m approx, so in a 2-3m tall caravan consider it at least 50% heavier around the cupboardline and above. Any heavy roof mods like solar etc should be balanced with similar weight under the floor, water in the water tank etc. 1litre is 1KG so easy to work out. I think many go wrong with packing 50KG of food cans in overhead lockers to suddenly find their normally well behaved cara starts dancing.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 14:42:14 GMT 10
Hi Aaron,
Car tyres were outlawed years ago on caravans,now the only ones to use are 8ply (or better) light truck tyres.
The last tandem Regents were fitted with 14inch Holden wheels.
Cheers
hughdeani
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Post by tedalley on May 29, 2015 17:10:19 GMT 10
Yesterday I just bought 3 x 14" 8ply radials which are approx. 2" less in diameter then the LT 8ply.
This gives me more clearance in the wheel arches as I don't want to ware out the plastic arches.
And they look better.
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Post by atefooterz on May 29, 2015 17:24:13 GMT 10
Having lower aspect ratio tyres also helps a bit with the soft sidewall issue and tyre flex.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 13:10:13 GMT 10
Yesterday I just bought 3 x 14" 8ply radials which are approx. 2" less in diameter then the LT 8ply. This gives me more clearance in the wheel arches as I don't want to ware out the plastic arches. And they look better. I am on the same page as you Ted regarding tyre selection. How does the van ride with the new tyres? I did forget about sway and the vacuum created from trucks atefooterz. I'll also be trying to keep the heavier loads down low too - but we'll see if practicality gets in the way if this Cheers Aaron |
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Post by tedalley on May 31, 2015 19:59:45 GMT 10
I havn't tried them out yet s I still have to adjust the brakes and change the tow hitch to take the new handbrake & cable.
I was hoping to use the original Franklin tow hitch with the jock wheel at the back.
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