Karakampa

[Vern]

Well finally its done (well almost), its ready to go to the caravan and camping show in Caulfield this week. My stepdad (and a bit of help from myself and others) has built a caravan(protoype of what it will look like).

Its fully fibreglass (except the floor and chassis), including all cabinetry.
Its been designed for the retiree in mind or those who have had little towing experience, as it only weighs around 1150kg, cabin measures in at 14'6", and full width, and myself being 6'4" can stand in it without my head hitting the roof.
It features shower/toilet, queensize bed, stainless appliances, split system a/c, gas hotwater, 12v lighting, lcd tv with dvd, alko offroad suspension, electric brakes, etc...
It was built from scratch, a chassis was built then a mock up of the shape was built from mdf including all cabinets, then the shell was built to exact scale by the pattern makers so a mold can be taken off it to construct the fibreglass shell.
Molds for the cabinets were also taken aswell as a mold for the shower unit. The walls are constructed off fibreglass outer, foam middle and ply veneer inner wall, measuring 35mm thick in total.

I've attached some pics of it prior to all the decals and trims going on and when i have finished photo's i'll post up a folder of them all.

[Vern]

a couple more

[Vern]

Forgot to mention that he sacrificed one of my front LRA rangie flares to make a mold for the flares on the van:mad:, anyone got a spare?:(

[McBrain]

Nice job!

[dullbird]

looks good vern :)

[4wd4fun]

That looks great, very clean and tidy, nice work.

[rovercare]

Fantastic job on it, very well built and suprisingly light, has a specific target and hopefully does well:p

[Vern]

**** a compliment from you, must be good:D

well after day 1 at the caravan show, it was a big success, basically it was entered just to get some feedback, and from the phone call i got from mum at 12.30 saying she only managed to get into the van twice to straighten up because of the cue and how much interest there was (was) pretty good i think.
Just got off the phone to the olds and they told me that they lost count of how many people came up and shook there hands saying 'best van at the show', 'when are you going into prodution'. Had caravan magazines wanting photo's etc..to do an article on it and them, the 2 retiree's who built a caravan.:)
lets see how day 2 goes:(

[rovercare]

**** a compliment from you, must be good:D



Atleast you know its genuine when I make a compliment;):p

[Vern]

well day 2 was bigger again, had Sydneys biggest caravan retailer wanting them to sell, half a dozen people would have bought one then and there if they were in production, Caravan world are interestd in photo's and an article, Coxy may be doing a thing about it aswell on tv.
Also interest in parties willing to help take it to china for production (by companies that already do this). Big support from Dometic.
we'll see how day 3 goes now:)

[Vern]

will be featured on Coxy's big break this sunday for those who view it:)