1986 Viscount Aerolite

[Deleted]

Hi everyone,

We have bought a 1986 viscount aerolite which we love and is our second viscount first was a 1970's ambassador.  Does anyone else have this model and any issues? We have noticed a crack above the door frane near the pop top should it be ok to fix it with a piece of metal to strengthen and stop further cracking?  Also where can we purchase a skirt for the pop top sth east melb area? 

Any info on viscount aerolites would be fantastic, we have to repair or get a new fridge too but thats ok and rip up the carpet but hoping all will be good once done and ready for next holiday.

George and Tammy

[pisces51]

G'day George and Tammy, and welcome to the forum!

This forum primarily covers Australian caravans built from Jan 1970 to Dec 1979, but from time to time we've had people come on the forum and talk about a van they've bought that was built in the 1980s (or even more recent). We don't have a great deal of info about the Aerolites, but they seem to have had some problems associated with the chassis and subframe not being strong enough.

If you click on this search link , you'll see all the previous threads on the forum where the word "Aerolite" appears in one or more of the posts in that thread. Have a read through those threads and see if they provide any of the info you might be looking for.

These days, the internet seems to provide an opportunity for anybody with an interest in a particular subject, to set up a Proboards forum or Facebook page or suchlike. There may well be a group dedicated to talking about all things related to the Aerolites. If not, you could make a name for yourself and start one up!

cheers,
Al.

[doublechevron]

Is it a 16' version ? or the smaller one ?

We used to have my father inlaws 16' Ultralight here ( aka: The SWAYING BASTARD ) as I used to scream at it while it hopped along behind (you could actually feel it kinda "hop" along behind you).

There a brilliant design, and how European caravans are still made today. The problem is Viscount made the caravan longer than they spec'd when they bought in the frail little stamped 'C' section ALKO chassis. So if they were used on rough roads, they rapidly fatique cracked the little chassis just behind the axle mount. This would allow the body of the caravan to slightly bow .. which caused them to leak. If they leaked the floor would get soft (the floor being a structural member) ... if the floor got soft .. they'd bend more ... so leak more etc....

My uncle had the same model caravan as my father inlaws... but his leaked all the time, I sited it down the annex rail and said "the whole thing is banana shaped" ... he said "no it's not" .... Then looked down the side of it like I was and said "damn your right".

His had extra framing hanging off the factory ALKO chassis to try and brace it. It made absolutely no difference to the strength of it though. Once the floor is soft, your fighting a losing battle.

There used to be a company down in Melbourne that would fabricate up a small lightweight chassis and put under them (the best fix, as this would carry the floor if it's gone soft).

I was always incredibly careful never to take my father inlaws 'van anywhere that would be hard on it. Only ever smooth sealed roads. It was a brilliant caravan!

seeya,
Shane L.