Thread: My 1969 Millard caravan

Most will have seen the other thread I have running here about the drop axle on mine. It is a '75 franklin. Here's a link to the thread running on the classic caravan forum - My 75 new (old) Franklin.

For you guys that like tinkering with caravans .... this is one of the best threads I've ever read!

Caravaners Forum • View topic - ROGUES GALLERY or HORROR STORY ???

seeya,
shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

For you guys that like tinkering with caravans .... this is one of the best threads I've ever read!

Caravaners Forum • View topic - ROGUES GALLERY or HORROR STORY ???

seeya,
shane L.

Less rot in my 40 year old van. They don't make 'em like they used to...

Interesting also is the amount of draw bar failures. Sounds like 100 x 50 x 2mm is pretty standard on most road going vans. That seems way too light to me. I was thinking of something twice as thick. I might call them when I get a chance to see if they can make a recommendation on an idea draw bar material, and dimensions.

As a kid travelling with the family just out of Ballarat on the Melbourne side we witnessed a bondwood van come unhitched from one of those 1970's square shaped two door Valiant sedan. The safety chain remained attached but the driver totally lost control and ended up in the spoon drain. The valiant stayed on it's wheels but the van flipped onto it's side and when everything stopped moving there was just an "A" frame and some angle iron hanging off the rear of the car. The van was trashed and there were splinters, pots, pans and personal belongings scattered for a couple of hundred yards.
They don't stand up to much.


Cheers, Mick.

Originally Posted by Cap

I suppose its where you feel comfortable with your skills... pulling external cladding from the frame is a huge job, and chances are, if they are battered on the outside then the inside isnt much better. Like you I looked at loads of caravans and they were all in various states of neglect (not disrepair, neglect).

So yes, sometimes spending a bit more upfront means less headaches in the future, and you can use straight away.

It really is amazing the damage a leak or two will do .... I went down and looked at this monster ...

1985 Roma 25ft Caravan in Hoppers Crossing, VIC | eBay

looks like it's sold... I wonder what poor bastard didn't push on the walls. It looks quite tidy with water staining inside you could probably hide with a coat of paint. All the walls moved in and out if you pushed on them down the side of it .... ie: there was no frame left behind the moderately water stained ply inside. No doubt it'll be tidied up and sold on with a completely rotten frame.

I'm starting to think you simply wouldn't buy an old caravan with a wooden frame. You can't see what hidden behind the (usually painted to hide the water stained) ply.

seeya,
Shane L.

Seen those threads about water leaks and damage. Its not surprising in an old van, but something relatively new would **** someone off.

When I searched for mine, I had a few conditions... 1) alloy frame, 2) straight external panels, 3) surface rust as a max for the chassis. I knew the draw bar was rusted through, but thats a relatively easy fix and something I would of changed anyway given the age of the van.

From what I experienced so far, if you can see water stain on the inside panels, then lots of water has gone through. No biggie for alloy frames, but you still have timber floor. Some of the flooring on mine was paper thing with rot, so I had to cut and replace that.

I see old vans having so much character and a project to be proud of once complete, wo well worth the effort.

So I took the opportunity today with the old man to remove the last of the rotted floor area so its done and dusted. Used Marine grade 12mm plywood, deck paint and it turned out a treat.

The only think, which isnt covered in the vid, is that we had to grind off about 1.5mm off the edge that wedges into the outside frame (under the wall). Nice and tight fit, not going anywhere!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OX1xC9g4Uo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OX1xC9g4Uo[/ame]

Cap, I've read this & seen the pics. Good work by you.
You'll now have a van with real character.
Well done, Pickles.