Franklin caravans - Ballarat, VIC.

[tim]

Aug 18, 2011 22:58:09 GMT 10 shaneandsimoen said:

... Couple of years latter someone got the mould off Franklin and asked his father to make a couple of fibreglass vans; they were then taken to the Antarctica. Best way to describe them was they were like an esky, bright orange, and 2 inch thick walls for insulation and on skids.

Shane

Hi I'm new here but have been picking my way through, reading up on Franklin's as I go. I work for the Australian Antarctic Division, so I had a quick look through our image archive to see what I could find. There are a few photos, but none of them are much good.

This is a van being unloaded at Mawson Station in January 1976



This one is captioned "Franklin caravan being prepared for Autum traverse to Moore Pyrimid" Mawson 1977


And this is the latest picture from the vicinity of Davis station in 1985. The tracked vehicle towing it is a "Hagglunds BV206" 


I can't say how many vans there were, they were probably modified and shifted around at various times as needed. I have no idea where they went, probably disposed after they wore out. We have some very old plywood vans in storage (part of our extensive 'heritage' collection), but I don't know if we have any of these still.

Tim

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FRANKLIN FAMILY 5X BUNK 9 BERTH CARAVAN, TRI AXLE, A⁄C, ISLAND BED, 27FT, SHOWER AND TOILET.

FRANKLIN PRINCETON 1900 SERIES WITH UNHEARD 0F FIVE BUNKS. THIS CARAVAN IS BIG AND CAN SLEEP UP TO 9 PEOPLE. IT HAS 7 FULL TIME BEDS PLUS COUCH AREA. IT IS NOT CRAMPY AT ALL AND HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR A LARGE FAMILY.


IT IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE ROOMS. IN THE FRONT ROOM IS THREE ADULT SIZED SOLID BUNK BEDS. ONE CAN MAKE A COUCH. THERE'S CUPBOARDS AND UNDER BUNK STORAGE.THE FLOOR SPACE CAN EVEN FIT ANOTHER SINGLE MATTRESS IF REQUIRED MAKING 10 BERTH. THERE IS A REVERSE CYCLE AIR⁄CON ⁄HEATER.


IN THE CENTRE OF THE VAN IS A LARGE LIVING AND KITCHEN AREA WITH LOTS OF CUPBOARD AND STORAGE SPACE. STORAGE IS NOT AN ISSUE IN THIS VAN. THERE IS AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A FAMILY VAN A FULL CHEF GAS OVEN⁄4 BURNER COOKTOP⁄GRILL, AN ELEC WESTINGHOUSE FRIDGE.

THERE IS A SINK WITH A PUMP TAP, 2 TANKS AND ALSO MAINS WATER. UNDER THE SINK IS A 12V PUMP AND WIRE FITTINGS FOR 12V (BATTERY NOT INC). THERE ARE 12V AND 240V SWITCHES. THE SITTING AREA IS QUITE LARGE.


ALL THE APHOLSTERY, BEDDING, SEATING, CURTAINS, LACE AND VINYL ETC ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I HAVE DRESSED THE VAN IN A LOVELY SEA BLUE⁄GREEN COLOR AND I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT.


THE THIRD ROOM HAS TWO ADULT SIZED BUNKS. THEY CAN FOLD DOWN TO A COUCH.THESE BUNKS IF NOT NEEDED MAKE GREAT STORAGE TOO.THERE IS A WARDROBE AND DRAWERS.THIS ROOM CAN BE CLOSED OFF WITH PRIVACY CURTAINS.


OPPOSITE IS THE FORTH ROOM WHICH CONSISTS OF A CLEAN LARGE FACTORY FITTED SHOWER. THERE IS ALSO A NEW 20L CASSETTE TOILET.


AT THE BACK OF THE VAN IS A HUGE PARENTS ROOM WITH A DOUBLE HARD TO FIND AND SORT AFTER ISLAND BED WITH A CLEAN INNERSPRING MATTRESS. THERE IS A LOT OF STORAGE ROOM IN THIS PARENTS ROOM TOO. INC 3 WARDROBES. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS VAN IS YOU HAVE THE 5 BUNKS AND THE PARENTS BED FULLTIME WITHOUT HAVING TO PACK UP BEDDING EACH DAY TO USE YOUR SITTING AREAS AS YOU DO IN A LOT OF OTHER CARAVANS.THE ROOM CAN BE CLOSED OFF WITH PRIVACY CURTAINS.


THE INSIDE PANELLING AND ROOF ARE IN GREAT COND FOR AGE. THERE IS ALSO NO INTERIOR PAINT OR WALLPAPER HIDING FLAWS. THERE ARE TWO EXTERNAL DOORS TO THIS VAN WHICH MEANS PARENTS CAN ENTER OR LEAVE THE VAN THROUGH THEIR OWN DOOR WITHOUT DISTURBING OTHERS SLEEPING AT THE FRONT OF THE VAN.


OUTSIDE: TRI AXLE WHICH MAKES IT EASY TO TOW AND SIT ON THE ROAD COMFORTABLY. 3 OUTSIDE LIGHTS, JOCKEY WHEEL, NO CRACKED WINDOWS. ALL 14 WORK BUT ONE IS A LITTLE LAZY, CHASSIS AND A FRAME GOOD, TYRES ARE RWC , ALL LIGHTS WORK INSIDE AND OUT ,NEW 7 PIN PLUG, NEW REGULATOR, A NEWLY FILLED GAS BOTTLE, TWO WATER TANKS. IT HAS DINGS AND SCRATCHES APPLICABLE FOR AGE. THE PAINT WORK IS IN EXCELLENT ORIGINAL CONDITION NO FADING, THE STRIPES ARE NICE AND BRIGHT.

APPROX MEASUREMENTS. L 27FT PLUS DRAW BAR. W 7FT11 . H 8FT5 PLUS 100MM FOR HATCH. TARE NOT SURE APPROX 1800 TO 2000.

seeya,
Shane L.

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some photos for originality freaks.... How is this franklin

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1480453318647075&set=pcb.674777782679603&type=3&theater


















cheap tacky hubcaps aside .... it's brilliant!