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Post by keiramoo on Jan 12, 2011 19:35:56 GMT 10
Hi All,
I've been reading your forum for a few weeks to get some background info on classic vans. The info I've gleaned on inspecting vans and the different stories has been invaluable for picking a van. Well tonight I put a deposit down for a 1972 Franklin Regent 12ft 6 x 7ft.
The van is in overall great condition for age and we are looking forward to chatting/meeting some fellow enthusiasts. Will post after I pick it up on Saturday!
Cheers
Chris
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Post by millard1399 on Jan 12, 2011 19:47:43 GMT 10
G'day Chris, and welcome to the forum. ;D
We'll be keen to hear more about your Franklin van when you pick it up on Saturday. Don't forget to learn all about Photobucket so you can post some pictures as well. See the POSTING PHOTOS thread just above this thread in the General Board section.
cheers,
Al.
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 15, 2011 6:26:13 GMT 10
Well today is pick up day..... all things going well. To remove it from its current residence I've got to remove part of the owners fence, wheel it across their back yard dodging the shed, remove a tree and take through an adjacent vacant block that is waterlogged from all the rain we've had. fingers crossed it makes it through all that!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 7:24:51 GMT 10
Hi Chris Have fun,lets know how you go  |
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Post by atouchofglass on Jan 15, 2011 7:51:37 GMT 10
Hey Chris Welcome and we are sure you will enjoy your van as well as the forum. Take plenty of photos or give the camera to a bystander. Paints a picture for us. The recovery of a van in that sort of situation is always.... fun  ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog |
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 15, 2011 11:33:24 GMT 10
Hi all
Well the van haveth arrived!
No pics of the recovery unfortunately as the camera was flat. However I can paint a picture.
Imagine squeezing a 7ft wide van through a 7ft 5in hole in a fence. Now imagine that on the far side of the fence is a stinking mud hole caused by 100mm rain, while on the near side is a landscaped garden, complete with mounds, shrubs and bricks.
After working the van around to point in the general direction of the hole in the fence, we pushed it and adjusted it all the way to the fence, using 4 inch timber slats to prevent the jockey wheel from sinking (it took us a good 10 minutes to travel the 15m across the yard). Although we had the van pretty well lined up, when we hooked up the van to the ball and tried to pull it through the car slid sideways. Now we had 1inch on the right, and 4 on the left. Making matters worse, the right side had a mound to overcome, meaning the bottom was near touching one fence post, while the opposite side roof was nearly touching the other!
We attempted to 'hop' the van an inch or so to give us some more room and immediately shattered the outside door light on the left fence post. That idea was quickly put aside for another theory. If we delandscaped part of the garden, we could straighten the van (vertically) as we pushed it through the hole and then adjust the direction as we went.
Of course every little adjustment meant either climbing over the 7ft high colourbond fence, or a walk around the block. Needless to say we had trodden a very muddy path both over and around.
After getting the little regent seemingly poking forward in the right direction we gave it one last push and she rolled down the remaining landscaped garden, straight out the hole and into the back of the car! As we stood there and admired our tremendous feat, I imagined that this was the caravan version of being born: mum and dad a bit sweaty and teary, lovingly looking upon the newborn and the newborn itself beautiful but a little worse for the procedure.
The trip home was brilliant. She towed true and straight with no wobbles. The trip planning begins now!
Photos to come
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Post by tassietiger on Jan 16, 2011 7:45:38 GMT 10
Hello and welcome to the forum Chris.
I like your painted word picture. Very descriptive. The analogy re child birth and your Regent birthing moment was very apt.
I have a Franklin Hunter 1974 vintage. I will be interested to hear of your trips and experiences.
Cheers
TT
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 16, 2011 8:25:01 GMT 10
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Post by millard1399 on Jan 16, 2011 8:54:43 GMT 10
G'day Chris, Wow!! That was certainly worth the effort to end up with a van as good-looking as this one! It'll be well worth the time to tidy it up, and should give you some really happy times out on the road. Can you tell me what the chassis number is please? I can't quite make out the first four numbers in the photo. cheers, Al. ps. As you can see, I've shifted all the posts from your other thread over to this one. Keeps your whole story together in the one thread. |
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 16, 2011 9:25:17 GMT 10
Hi Al
The chassis number is 8606-2.
cheers
Chris
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Post by kiwijim on Jan 16, 2011 12:20:35 GMT 10
Howdy Chris, Welcome aboard, That Franklin is a real Pearler, what a great find,   It's great to see a Classic in such an original condition as yours, Can you tell us, has the van been done up at all or is it as it was when new ?  I am always interested in how people find these "Prised Possessions", was it advertised ? or did you hear about it on the grape vine ? I'm sure you will have many happy holidays in the Franklin, just be prepared for the people who no doubt will want to talk about it where-ever you go. ;D ;D Happy travels and have fun. kiwijim |
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 16, 2011 12:37:39 GMT 10
Gday Kiwijim
Thanks for the compliment on the van. It was advertised on an auction website you probably know but didn't sell. I had looked at it a few days before the auction ended and afterwards rang up the owner with an alternative offer. I guess condition is something you can only truly believe when you see something in person and the perhaps the price was a bit high for those not willing to have a look.
Anyway, the van is mostly original. The non standards are the cushion covers (were probably the standard burnt orange originally), 1 section of the interior panelling has been changed due to water damage, the curtains have been changed and the exterior stripes have been repainted from that dull olive colour to a green similar to the cushions. Other than that from what I can tell she is basically as she was when rolled out the Franklin factory.
cheers
Chris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 21:16:25 GMT 10
Very nice Chriss I have heard these been called franklin eggs . its the kind of van I should have cause it looks like no work needed so nothing for passion fingers to wreck
Cheers gary
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 17, 2011 16:04:23 GMT 10
Hi All
Today I replaced the manual water pump. I know many would probably use that sort of opportunity to replace with electric, but I like the simplicity (and the price) of the old mechanical type!
I had the mildly challenging task of picking short or long piston and between Trojan and Breha. The van had a Breha already but it needed a new top seal to pump and prime properly. However when I looked closer the pump was fairly deteriorated and needed replacement. At the shop I couldn't work out how to pull apart the Trojan to replace the seals, whereas the Breha was easy to unscrew and slip on new seals. I'd much prefer to have something that can be maintained so Breha it is.
Cheers
Chris
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Post by kiwijim on Jan 17, 2011 20:11:54 GMT 10
Howdy Chris, If you require any parts for the Brema pumps, I have box fulls of them, motors, plungers, bases, and other bits and pieces. No new seals, but plenty of other parts ( used ) just give a shout if there is anything you want. ;D kiwijim |
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 17, 2011 20:57:53 GMT 10
Thanks very much for the offer Jim. Very generous of you. Hopefully the pump lasts a few years before it needs maintenance!
Cheers
Chris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2011 11:45:30 GMT 10
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 27, 2011 16:02:16 GMT 10
Hi All
Well the brakes have been checked, the fridge is chilled, the gas bottle has been replaced (it was the original 1972 bottle - still full), the van has had a 1/2 hour test run and now we are packing for our maiden voyage in the Regent. Unfortunately the replacement exterior oyster light which is on back order from Camec hasn't come through yet, so I'll just have to hope that it doesn't rain this weekend (none forecast). Heading to Bright in north east Victoria for a bit of fishing and maybe sample the odd brew from the local brewery. mmmmmm
All aboard!
Chris
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Post by kiwijim on Jan 27, 2011 18:23:06 GMT 10
Howdy Solly, It's great to hear another Classic Van hitting the road, Have a happy and safe holiday, and don't forget to take plenty of Pic's. Nothing like pictures of someone enjoying their Classic, it helps to get others motivated and finish theirs. cheers kiwijim |
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 30, 2011 20:56:35 GMT 10
Hi All We have made our maiden voyage to Bright Victoria and had a ball. I thought I would share a few of my classic caravanning lessons from our first trip. To have a holiday you have to leave home  You also have to arrive  It is important to have good help  You should always keep the fluids up  Make sure you have a good view  There will always be the odd sticky beak  Things never go entirely to plan  Tyres are never as good or as new as the seller says they are  Steel belt radials just don’t hold their shape when the belts let go, especially when you are going 110km/h  But no matter the lessons, we had a ball and will be back after a new set of tyres. Chris |
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Post by ronaldjohn on Jan 31, 2011 8:41:46 GMT 10
Hi Solly, It is recommended that Caravan tyres should be changed every five years. The rubber in the tyres goes hard after a while and they can cause a lot of damage if and when the blow. The best tyre for stability and weigh bearing, are light truck tyres. You can even get them with white walls ;D  These ones on the Arrow, are Ford XY/XW 14" wheels, fitted with Federal 8 ply Lt Truck Radials. They are around 100 bucks each.  Cheers, Ron |
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Post by keiramoo on Jan 31, 2011 14:57:21 GMT 10
Yes thankyou Ron I've already looked into light truck tyres. Not sure about the white walls though. I think they're a bit old fashioned for something as new as the regent!  |
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Post by ronaldjohn on Jan 31, 2011 15:59:16 GMT 10
Yes thankyou Ron I've already looked into light truck tyres. Not sure about the white walls though. I think they're a bit old fashioned for something as new as the regent! Hi Chris, Yes white walls would look a bit odd when you have a modern vehicle as a tow car They don't look so bad if the caravan is matched to the tow car ;D  This one would look good with white walls on both car and van.  Cheers mate, Ron |
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Post by keiramoo on Feb 17, 2011 19:28:56 GMT 10
Well I've finally got around to replacing the tyres. New light truck tyres (no old fuddy duddy white walls!). Even put a new external light on which look a fair bit better than the lenseless remnants of the old one. The water tank has also been cleansed and sanitised in anticipation of actually drinking the water.
Off to Majors Creek Reserve this weekend for a bit of a fish and a dip. The dog also gets her first van trip.
Chris
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2011 21:15:33 GMT 10
@garyr "passion fingers"- nice one! ;D ;D
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