stac
In Training
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Post by stac on Jul 7, 2015 14:25:52 GMT 10
A question...what would you do when you see old vans in yards and paddocks just rotting away, not moved in years, covered in mould and overgrown grass, would you be bold enough to ask the owner if they would part with it and ask what they want for it or just say you will offer them a certain amount to take it off their hands. How would you approach the subject of money? I've seen quite a few around and really wanted to find out about them but always a bit reluctent to take that step. The thought i'm having is to try to restore them if it's still possible to be restored, given the price these oldies are selling for these days it It is just such a shame to see them so neglected when someone could be getting so much happiness owning and using one.
interesting in knowing what you think
Stac
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Post by Mustang on Jul 7, 2015 16:23:52 GMT 10
Front up to the door & tell them you are a dealer, that way there is no emotion or price jacking if they think you are interested in a reno. Give them a card ( you can make them on the computer) & tell them you can turn their old junk into CASH!!! Gee Stac I don't know, but you get no where by driving past???  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2015 17:11:53 GMT 10
Afternoons and after lunch seems to be the best time to approach people at home. Don't mention anything to do with repair/restore, just say your interested in a couple of the windows THAT might fit your brother or uncle or lovers caravan that is a spare room out the back. This will let you look inside the van (at the windows) and if they are happy for you to take it for next to nothing then you have a reason to check if it is towable. If while checking it over you think the chassis is too far gone then you have an escape ie the costs to tow it for a couple of windows is not worth it or something along those lines.
But you have to go speak with the owners first, never go onto some ones property and look first before asking.... |
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Post by Mustang on Jul 7, 2015 17:17:33 GMT 10
Afternoons and after lunch seems to be the best time to approach people at home. Don't mention anything to do with repair/restore, just say your interested in a couple of the windows THAT might fit your brother or uncle or lovers caravan that is a spare room out the back. This will let you look inside the van (at the windows) and if they are happy for you to take it for next to nothing then you have a reason to check if it is towable. If while checking it over you think the chassis is too far gone then you have an escape ie the costs to tow it for a couple of windows is not worth it or something along those lines.
But you have to go speak with the owners first, never go onto some ones property and look first before asking.... I'll bet you have made a lot of deals!!!!! Great approach   Better than my door ramming idea!!!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2015 17:29:14 GMT 10
Every Wednesday Dad would get the trading post and on some Saturday mornings we would go for a drive to look at something that caught his eye - for years he thought I never paid attention... |
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 7, 2015 20:31:05 GMT 10
Other tips are to not wear expesnive clothes watches jewelry etc and also borrow an old car, arriving in a gleaming Merc or BMW does not help getting a rock bottom price. One garage sale i had this guy parked his Jag E type in the next street, but visible to our place, then strolled in with daggy clothing waving $5 notes and jingling five and ten cent pieces.. too funny and no bargains gained.
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Post by codger30 on Jul 7, 2015 21:21:35 GMT 10
Just scored another van myself. Approached the elderly ladies son, he says that mum needed the van for storage. I offered a Hiace camper ven as a swap, he was interested but when I threw in a slab of beer for him, he said I could pick the van up this arvo. Win-win.
The camper cost me $150, sold the motor for a hundred & a luggage rack for 40 bucks. Camper owed me $10 & I got a lot of good spares off it as well. My other van cost me a pair of Commodore bucket seats, the whole interior cost me $20, so was happy with that deal as well. Both are old "diamond" pattern aluminium. Acctually, the new one has windows that "lean backwards" not straight up & down. Pretty cool.
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Post by awbeattie381 on Jul 8, 2015 13:29:35 GMT 10
Afternoons and after lunch seems to be the best time to approach people at home. Don't mention anything to do with repair/restore, just say your interested in a couple of the windows THAT might fit your brother or uncle or lovers caravan that is a spare room out the back. This will let you look inside the van (at the windows) and if they are happy for you to take it for next to nothing then you have a reason to check if it is towable. If while checking it over you think the chassis is too far gone then you have an escape ie the costs to tow it for a couple of windows is not worth it or something along those lines.
But you have to go speak with the owners first, never go onto some ones property and look first before asking.... Thats brilliant! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2015 18:15:36 GMT 10
Our latest Van was a word of mouth job,.we knew old Mate had been offered x amount of dollars,....he had paid 4 times that amount just to get it re-painted. we were warned what ever price he was offered he would haggle. We came in with an offer below his painting cost and he grabbed it,..no haggles ..(Probably should have offered less).But ended up with a very tidy little van ,so the (trouble and strife) is happy,...WIN,,,WIN...
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Post by atouchofglass on Jul 10, 2015 7:23:05 GMT 10
All you seasoned bargain hunters. . . . thanks for the advice.  As for vintage or classic vans rotting in yards etc. If you have the space and the wife/spouse is not going to rant and rave about all that crap out in the yard. I'd be storing them for the next person that wants a project. There will always be someone that wants a van to do up. Perhaps the hunt is part of the joy for some. . . but for me it's just a pain waiting to find a suitable van. Most of us live on small suburban blocks, not having the space to store such vans. IF you are on a larger block or a farm.. . . stack them side by side. Could attract caravanners thinking its a park. (make some spare cash) May as well be your yard as someone else's. Cheers Atog |
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Post by doublechevron on Jul 10, 2015 9:52:48 GMT 10
The thing is .... Are any of these old 'van you find worth tyring to drag home. I have NEVER looked at a tired old 'van that isn't so rotten it's even worth my effort dragging home (the only exception I'll add to that is that one Mick found .... that must 1 in a million). I've always liked the idea of an old franklin, but all the ones I've found to look at have been extensively rotten  What amazes me is people still buy them. As most people on here are aware, a rotten old 'van will cost you thousands of hours and many times it's final value to restore. The trick is to find one that isn't rotten in the first instance and just "tidy it up" You will spend a LOT of time looking at rubbish to find the rare one worth towing home .... seeya, Shane L. |
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Post by atouchofglass on Jul 10, 2015 13:31:13 GMT 10
Well I don't know Shane. I guess I was thinking about Olympics and other f/glass vans. They are always worth picking up as the shell is usually OK. That is unless it has been in an accident. Even then glass vans are still repairable. But I see your point regarding some of the vans with rot. There is an active fb page for Caraparks. They too are worth saving and restoring. www.facebook.com/groups/406306466137939/724210787680837/?notif_t=group_activityCheers Atog |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2015 13:46:15 GMT 10
It never ceases to amaze me what caravans people pick up that we think are beyond restoring!
We see it all the time on here,and I'm very glad they have the foresight to repair and restore a van to its former glory rather than giving it a coat of paint and selling it on as a "classic"
Cheers
hughdeani
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Post by doublechevron on Jul 10, 2015 13:50:50 GMT 10
I dont think I've even seen one of those caraparks in the flesh. I see you point about olympics though. I've never found one of them anywhere though . I've also been tempted by the Chesney  In theory like you olympics these shouldn't be rotten. Aluminium frame and "overlapping" roof and end caps should in theory mean water can't get inside anywhere other than the windows (which won't matter so much with an aluminium frame) or roof hatches. seeya, Shane L. |
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 10, 2015 13:58:49 GMT 10
Has anyone tried replacing rotted wood bottom corners with alloy? Sections bent to suit then bolted onto existing good timber area (hopefully) but definatly from most repair pics i have seen, looks a great way to fix the old Franklin issue for another few decades of use & abuse.
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Post by bobandjacqui on Jul 10, 2015 18:24:59 GMT 10
After doing our Quest " Miss Daisy " a few years ago and having replaced the wood around the windows I thought after the event wouldn't it have been better to use ali box section instead and sicaflex it in?
Ahh isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? The problem with fibreglass vans is that they sweat and the condensation leads to wood rot.
Cheers Bob.
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 10, 2015 19:30:05 GMT 10
The joy of fibreglass is that there should not be any wood, apart from maybe a decorative table surface etc.I am surprised as condensation is a known issue since way back when that the 70s onwards fibreglass vans do not have venting like any yacht of the era does. If anyone wonders about Bobs suggestion above i can testify that,in my early 1990s financial crisis, a Datsun 180B front fender was sikaflexed onto rust, dust and metal. It lasted 3 years without any issues. Held the panel lined up with gaffer tape then pumped in the sika, leave overnight then hoped for the best haha!
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Post by atouchofglass on Jul 10, 2015 19:42:28 GMT 10
After doing our Quest " Miss Daisy " a few years ago and having replaced the wood around the windows I thought after the event wouldn't it have been better to use ali box section instead and sicaflex it in? Ahh isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? The problem with fibreglass vans is that they sweat and the condensation leads to wood rot. Cheers Bob. You mean like this?  After seeing the issues my van had with wood. I decided to use metal and fibreglass where ever possible.  Atog |
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 10, 2015 20:32:58 GMT 10
Atog is that rot from mastic tape fail? Did you look at making a glass surround, common to the windows, or just settle for metal frames?
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Post by atouchofglass on Jul 10, 2015 21:34:50 GMT 10
8fters
It looks like it was mastic fail from original.
Don't think it ever had any maintenance from new.
The windows leaked into the interior rotted the wood and then any timber inside.
If it had gone on longer it would have gotten to the floor.
The idea of putting a fibreglass insert into it wouldn't have been much advantage as the aluminium frames would still need to be screwed to it.
It was faster, lighter and stronger to use 19x19mm aluminium box section and matrix (cheap sister to Sikaflex).
Never had an issue with the windows since.
There was a leak but it turned out to be poor sealing (my fault) of an awning strut.
Cheers
Atog
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 11, 2015 0:04:15 GMT 10
Thanks Atog, i was curious if any insert mold was around for these standard windows, as it would work on a timber frame beast as well, once the screwholes are set then no worries with fitting window, nowdays threads are "glassed into all zones" using fastener with release agent and hole is oversize then microfibre gusset is layed in, screw set almost in ( if blind) or all the way for through skin, then fastener removed carefully into the green period of resin set,that time depending on poly/ viynl ester or epoxy being used.The main reason to go that way is the formed lip and any future leaks would drain outside. The original double decker NSW train carriages a good example of how to do it. Later non opening windows used a new frame surround that hides function.
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Post by atouchofglass on Jul 11, 2015 10:37:46 GMT 10
Hey 8fters
Do you have any photos or diagrams for this type of window fitting?
I ask because it could possibly be adapted to retrofit an older van.
Cheers
Atog
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 11, 2015 14:26:32 GMT 10
Hey 8fters Do you have any photos or diagrams for this type of window fitting? I ask because it could possibly be adapted to retrofit an older van. Cheers Atog No Atog i was just visualising what i would have done and how useful, with so many vans using the same windows, plus repeats on most vans. A different surround mold would make it versatile between glass vans & alloy sandwich ones, either 2 surrond versions or a dedicated mold for each type. Where is a bored patternmaker when we need one! 8`tz |
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What amazes me is people still buy them. As most people on here are aware, a rotten old 'van will cost you thousands of hours and many times it's final value to restore. The trick is to find one that isn't rotten in the first instance and just "tidy it up" 
