Cabana, Topagee, Sunwagon campers - Mentone, Vic.

[atouchofglass]

Cabana pop-up caravans:

Added this thread cause they were a very good van
Very popular and still many examples available

Fibreglass ends and roof
Aluminium clad sides

came in several sizes

Manufactured in ......?

photos to follow


Some threads that are relevant

ditzygypsy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=79

ditzygypsy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=136

This final one is in very good condition - very original

ditzygypsy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=201

Cheers
Atog

[grumpyronf]

Hi guys,
I have acquired a 1975 (?) Sunwagon by Foldvans p/l Melb. It has a 7-612 Chassiss no. and is a front windup type. It has suffered a lot at other hands. eg, some loonie thought it would make a great OFF-ROADIE and underslung the axle, fitted a massive 6 x 5 roofrack to it, loaded it , no doubt, with spare wheels and fuel, and WOUND UP THE TOP! The resultant nsf chassis twist is a problem, as the left side is 12mm longer than the right! makes the top tricky to close. the water tank, front panel and drawbar (crack repaired) show the results. I've replaced the (chipboard!) floor with decent 12mm ply, with a bitumen painted underside, and doing a reno on the inside, but as my tow vehicle is small, and I'm a loner (unless I get lucky) I've done away with the pull-out ends and replaced them with a cut-down version, a hinged 300mm shelf at front to give it a bit of "rake" , and a 750mm hinged single bed out the back. Any ideas on how to straighten the nsf corner? Nothing seems seriously bent, but the sum of the warping makes the door 12mm wider at the top. Should make a great home-away-from when I get it finished.
By the way, I did some work at the Viscount Orange Grove Rd. factory in the early 80's, on the Apple IIe-based router used to accurately finish the timber framed sandwich sides. Quite a neat setup.
Cheers, Grumpy (Grandpa) RonF

[Stephen&Julie]

Hi all, talking with the father in law today he owns an early 12' Cabana, he knows a chap who worked making Cabana's and they were made in Bendigo Vic. The chap said they were made and owned by Sydchrome.
Cheers Stephen&Julie

[boblor]

Hi All
My two bobs worth. - Cabana
Aust.Caravan World Oct. 1973 and May 1974 show Country Campers Lot 8 Fowlers Road, Dandenong Vic. 3175 as Manaufacturers.
May 1976 CW Country Campers A Division of Siddons Industries Limited Group.
Sept.1976 CW Country Campers 51 Breen Street, Bendigo Vic.3550 as manufacturers (Siddons)
Ditto Jan. 1978.
Aust.Caravan World December1979- Siddons Leisure Products now producing Cabana , Top-a-gee,Sunwagon and Silvan at Bendigo. This same edition page 9 Newsfront "Siddons goes to Franklin".
June 1978 C W has the Siddons story on page 71.
There you are a little history.
Cheers boblor

[mrsb]

Hi folks, I absolutely love the Cabana Caravan! I'm putting together some research on it so we can have a complete picture of its history so it is not lost as time goes on. If anyone can contribute any information they possess I would be so appreciative. Names and dates and personal stories are also in need. I've dropped a couple of regulars a private message but if anyone else knows anything please email me on me (at) qodo (dot) org
Cheers! Rose

[jeff]

Hi,
Have replied to you by email,
cheers,
jeff

[Henry]

HI Guys does anyone have any info on the Topagee. I have acquired one it has fold out sides and pops up. Do you know if it is possible to get parts and has anyone got any info on it.

[Deleted]

Hi Henry
I have a Topagee camper. What info are you looking for and what parts?

Bob

[Garry J re Cabana Camper]

Oct 15, 2012 16:21:12 GMT 10 jeff said:

Hi,
Have replied to you by email,
cheers,
jeff

Hi Jeff............have just purchased a 1976 Cabana. Is there any documentation on this van?
Need details on roof, (materials etc.) any lock mechanisms for the Cabana ends so they don't fall open.
Would like to restore if I could. The canvas top/sides looks as though they have just been replaced. Why they didn't replace the roof beats me.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Garry J

[Deleted]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum, so please be gentle. I joined because I've just purchased a 1977 10'6" Country Campers CABANA. from a mate.
It appears to be in pretty good shape, its still registered and has been used regularly but sparingly. There are a few areas that will need attention but nothing I cant sort out in a weekend or two.
I'm so pleased that this link is here, as I'm sure I'll be visiting often.
From searching the interweb, I've found a bit of info on them, most coming from here.......... www.cabanacaravan.com/
Once I have some pics of the thing, I'll post them.
Cheers,
Rob

[atouchofglass]

Hey Rob
Mate back in the late 70's early 80's I had a 14' Cabana... top little caravan.
The ends of mine were a bit thin... so we glassed them up with a thin skin over the original.
That fixed all it's issues.... was a little heavier though.

Cheers
Atog

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2014 8:45:59 GMT 10 @sundiesel said:

Once I have some pics of the thing, I'll post them.
Cheers,
Rob

Hello again,
Although I've posted them elsewhere on this forum, here's some pics of our new Palace'd'wheels.

ATOG,
If you click on the images of the front of the van you'll see that three of the four corners of the front pod have been damaged and repaired. The bottom two, pretty roughly. I can lift the repair with my fingernail, but so far, have been very gentle with it. Basically its just two big blobs of glass matting stuck over whatever the damage was. Rough as.
Also, the last guy to replace the timbers inside the pod, screwed the end timbers through the side parts of the pod and I'm concerned about water ingress through there.
At this stage, I'm unsure about the strength of the fibreglass repairs but the biggest negative for me is that its pretty unsightly presently. I know the van is just a box, but I want it to present well. It'd help I expect, if I knew a bit about fibreglass and its capabilities, but I don't......are you holidaying down this way anytime soon? LOL.
So, ultimately, I'd be happy to have  it repaired or replaced. Its just that at the moment I feel happier with the latter because I know nothing about the former.

Another thing that's been done, that I'd like to reverse, is that the axle has been taken out and placed underneath the springs, in an effort to gain ground clearance I expect....but that's a pretty straight forward fix. 
The fridge works great, all the lights work, the windows and door do what they're supposed to.....OH.... and it's got an annex, which I haven't looked at yet....maybe tomorrow.
Cheers, 
Rob

[atouchofglass]

Hey Rob
You did post that somewhere else..... here
ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/2906/wanted-fibreglass-pod-1977-cabana

Those repairs on the outside, while rough aren't really a big problem for someone that can fibreglass.
But if you have no previous experience it can be a bit daunting.

You can always give it a go... lay a complete layer over the end not just the little patches like has been done.
But only if it is too thin. That would thicken it and seal it at the same time... probably best to leave it to someone that has done it before. Or do some reading on how to fibreglass.
Here's a thread that might be of use over at VV.
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/4145/all-fibreglass-fanatics?page=1

Sorry but I won't be holidaying anywhere in the foreseeable future.

As for the axle being under the springs, it was likely to gain clearance as you mentioned.
The Cabanas have a bad habit of draggin' their ar#es when towed by something with a tow ball a bit higher.
It was a problem with my old HZ panel van and towing the cabana back in 1980.

If you have a lower vehicle it won't be a problem... might be worth checking out just how height your tow ball is or you may find the same problems I did.
Getting in and out of petrol stations was a nightmare before lifting the springs over the axle.

Just a thought.

Atog

[Deleted]