Vintage Caravans - Roadhaven caravans

« Roadhaven caravans »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
May 26, 2013, 6:30am

Vintage Caravans :: Down History Lane :: Down History Lane :: Roadhaven caravans

Page 1 of 2 » Jump to page Go

Author

Topic: Roadhaven caravans (Read 3,122 times)

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Roadhaven caravans
« Thread Started on Nov 27, 2007, 10:53pm »

HISTORY OF ROADHAVEN CARAVANS

Roadhaven Caravans were built by HERBERT(Herbie) PRUSER
at 110 Mitchell Street Northcote Melbourne Vic between 1952 and 1970
Herbert died in 1970 aged 60

110 Mitchell Northcote was a private house and the shed in the back yard where the vans were built was approx 40 ft X 20 ft

Herbert had about 5/6 men working for him full time and they
had 2 vans on the go at once in the shed
when Herbert died the workers finished up.... that left 2 vans not
finished.....Herberts son Ray finished the 2 vans off part time over the next 2 years for the customers that had ordered them

Herbert built approx 10 to 12 vans a year plus repairs

He also built a super duluxe van for some friends 20 ft long with
a shower and a toilet in it

Mrs Pruser made the curtins at home for the vans
Chassis and coupling were made by S J Brown of North Coburg
Upholster was supplied by a local upholster firm

He also made a few caravans for Eastmans hire
Herbie also hired vans out from home
He also made caravans to order for customers

From 1952 to late 1960s roadhaven vans only had gas fridges fitted in them ........late 1960s to1972 gas/electric fridges
were fitted, all vans were fitted with 240 volt & 6 or 12 volt lights

If you ordered a van with aluminium sides ......the aluminiun was glued on to the bondwood..... and no screws were used at all to hold the alumimium on

All roadhavan vans were fitted with a badge on the rear of the van and stamped with a number, last van made was no 202

Roadhavens were fitted with a clock ....or a barometer or you could have both fitted or you could have a thermometer and clock in a map of Australia matching the grained laminex cupboard doors

Price list for 1st June 1960
12ft 6in 850 pound
13ft 6in 895 pound
14ft 6in 980 pound
15ft 6in 1080 pound

Herbert also owned the vacant block of land next door to where he lived and fitted out a 30ft cabin cruiser.....the hull was delivered to him and put on this vacant block of land

In the mid 50s Herbert made a caravan for the Home Beautiful Magazine " hand book for Amateurs on Boats and Caravans "

Herbert had a 1959 Chevrolet sedan to tow the vans around Melbourne with.....then in 1965 he bought a Ford Galaxe sedan

" WHAT MADE HERBERT PRUSER MAKE CARAVANS "

Herbert worked in the shoe trade in Fitzroy/Clifton Hill area .
He went fishing with a few mates and camped in a tent, he got sick of being wet ....then he built for himself a canopy on his ute
to be out of the rain ...then his friends starting wanting canopys
so then he built a caravan for himself .....and then his friends wanted Herbert to build caravans for them, and it went on from there

I interviewed Herberts son" Ray "some months ago,and this is were I got this information about Roadhaven Caravans from

cheers
Geoff

« Last Edit: Apr 2, 2013, 8:46pm by firefighter »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #1 on Nov 28, 2007, 6:22am »

Hi

Ad for 1960 Roadhaven caravan

[image]

cheers
Geoff

« Last Edit: Apr 2, 2013, 8:29pm by firefighter »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #2 on Nov 28, 2007, 6:49am »

Hi

Ad for 1953 roadhaven van

[image]

Geoff

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #3 on Nov 28, 2007, 7:08am »

Hi All

Photos of our 1967 Roadhaven caravan

[image]

cheers
Geoff

« Last Edit: Apr 2, 2013, 8:31pm by firefighter »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

earlee
God Almighty

member is offline

Joined: Nov 2004
Gender: Male

Posts: 600

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #4 on Nov 28, 2007, 8:59am »

Geoff - what a great original looking van!

The built in cupboards immediately above the sink and stove are very practical. I also like all the "extra" bits of metal trim everywhere.

Where is the removable base section for the double bed kept?

earlee.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #5 on Nov 28, 2007, 10:45am »

Hi earlee

All the metal trim pieces are ...... stainless steel

" Where is the removable base section for the double bed kept? "

It slides out from under the mattress and above the cupboard
door near the floor.......and the 2 small cushions that sit in the corners during the day sit on the slide out tray to make the double bed

cheers
Geoff

« Last Edit: Apr 2, 2013, 8:30pm by firefighter »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

Don Ricardo
Global Moderator

member is offline

[avatar]

Joined: Jan 2007
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,808
Location: Doreen, Vic

1959 Roadhaven - serial no 110
« Reply #6 on Dec 13, 2007, 7:10pm »

Roadhaven caravan advertised on Ebay December 2007.

Stated by seller to be serial number 110; built approximately 1959.

This may assist in dating other Roadhaven caravans.

[image]

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Follow the sun with a Don caravan

Don Ricardo
Global Moderator

member is offline

[avatar]

Joined: Jan 2007
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,808
Location: Doreen, Vic

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #7 on Oct 30, 2008, 9:21pm »

1956 Roadhaven advert and publicity:

[image]

(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, pp 125, 123 & 83)

« Last Edit: Nov 10, 2008, 10:39pm by Don Ricardo »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Follow the sun with a Don caravan

Franklin1
True Blue

member is offline

Joined: Feb 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 2,572
Location: Bellambi NSW

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #8 on Jan 1, 2009, 8:47pm »

1950s Roadhaven caravan: (read the description below!)

[image]

(source: listed on ebay Jan 2009. Description: Up for auction is this very rare 15 foot ROADHAVEN caravan. This van is one of only 200 hand built and made only to order in Northcote Victoria. It is a bondwood van that was ordered with an aluminium shell and is number 54 as noted on an aluminium plate on the outside.

The exact date of manufacture is not known but would not be hard to find out as the builder, H. Pruser, died in 1970 but his son took over and finished any orders in progress.

These vans were made from the best quality materials with stainless steel fittings throughout.)

[comment by Franklin1: I'm not sure this van "was ordered with an aluminium shell". The outside looks like it could be a similar shape to the 1953 van advertisement above, although the wheel arch shape is slightly different, as are the windows.
Note also the comparatively narrow A-frame for a van of this width/size.]

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

1960 Newcastle 10ft 8ins project

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #9 on Sept 1, 2009, 8:26pm »

Hi All

Gordon lives at Marong near Bendigo and turned up at the federation ( old vehicles) picnic at Marong with his roadhaven van this is the one that was in "On the road " Magazine for August

Gordon ordered his roadhaven from Herbert Pruser at the 1967 caravan show in Melbourne, and visted the work shop at Northcote a few times watching his van being built...... the van was finished and picked up 1st May 1968

Gordon still has his deposit receipt and the full payment account
along with 2 sales brochures after i took a photo of the brochure Gordon handed me the spare brochure and said its yours (Thank you Gordon )

With Gordon ordering with Herbert in 1967 and picking the van up 1st May 1968 and with the built No 173...this info is good for dating Roadhavens

Gordon standing in the door way of his Roadhaven no 173

[image]

SJ brown coupling Brochure that also came with the van
[image]

cheers
F/F

« Last Edit: Apr 2, 2013, 8:03pm by firefighter »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

hughdeani
Senior Member

member is offline

Joined: Aug 2004
Gender: Male

Posts: 291
Location: mornington peninsula victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #10 on Sept 4, 2009, 10:07pm »

Hi Firefighter,
Great photos and brochure,do you know why this van didnt have front wrap around windows?Was it ordered like that or has it been altered later in its life?
Cheers
Hughdeani

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

hughdeani

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #11 on Sept 4, 2009, 11:17pm »

Hi Hughdeani

Gordon had the van built like that .......he though the corner windows might leek as they are only plastic
the other thing Gordon has done to the van is fit electric brakes

When Gordon asked for red cushions Herbert did not want to make them ........Herbert did not like red in his vans ......but after he made Gordons red he changed his mined and made a few in the red
It was good to talk to Gordon who had contact with Herbert and ordered his van direct from Herbert and visted him a few times when the van was being built
f/f

« Last Edit: Apr 2, 2013, 7:53pm by firefighter »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

dragonfly
New Member

member is offline

[avatar]

1958 Oh what a year!

Joined: Dec 2009
Gender: Male

Posts: 36

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #12 on Jun 23, 2010, 5:00pm »

Hi All,

I came across a ROADHAVEN data plate S/n 75 in a opp shop. Do you think I should save it?
Dragonfly Dave

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #13 on Jun 23, 2010, 5:48pm »

Hi Dave

Yep.... I will Buy it from you ...send us a PM
cheers
Geoff

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

dragonfly
New Member

member is offline

[avatar]

1958 Oh what a year!

Joined: Dec 2009
Gender: Male

Posts: 36

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #14 on Jun 28, 2010, 5:25pm »

Data Plate
[image]

Dragonfly Dave

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

dave01
Full Member

MR ROADHAVEN
member is offline

Joined: Mar 2008
Gender: Male

Posts: 182

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #15 on Jun 29, 2010, 10:42pm »

Thats off a 1958 van, worth saving for sure.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #16 on Apr 20, 2011, 5:19pm »

Hi

1950s Roadhaven van and tow vehicle ( falcon ute) ....... belongs to skyhooks from Welshpool in South Gippsland Victoria
Joe and his wife are heading off this weekend to Bruthen Vic on the vans maiden run.......since its restoration
When Joe bought this van was it clad in a modern aluminium
all roadhavens were fitted with a plate on the rear stamped with a number when it was striped to be rebuilt no plate was found so we don't know the built no of this van .......forum member Emma has van no 54 built in 1956 and has wooden windows ...Joe's van has aluminium windows ....the aluminium is quite wide.......wider than the alfab windows that came out in the late 1950's.....maybe Joe's van was built about 1957

A proud Joe relaxes in his beautifully restored van
[image]

f/f

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

hughdeani
Senior Member

member is offline

Joined: Aug 2004
Gender: Male

Posts: 291
Location: mornington peninsula victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #17 on Apr 20, 2011, 9:15pm »

WOW! What a fantastic restoration!
Magnificent!
Cheers
Hughdeani

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

hughdeani

Mark T
True Blue

member is offline

[avatar]

vintagecaravans.com ....commenced August 2002

Joined: Jul 2004
Gender: Male

Posts: 2,465
Location: Perth Western Australia

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #18 on Apr 20, 2011, 9:17pm »

wow

......thats an awesome resto ......bloody bewdiful

we don't see many of the 1950's Roadhavens ....

Congrats Joe .....

Mark

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Surf Tragic
Senior Member

member is offline

Joined: May 2008
Gender: Male

Posts: 449
Location: North East Victoria.

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #19 on Apr 20, 2011, 9:30pm »

What a classy van

I'd be very happy with that !

ST

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

firefighter
Administrator

chevy nutter

member is offline

[avatar]

Chev & Roadhaven vans are best bugger the rest

Joined: Aug 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,295
Location: Big Smoke Victoria

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #20 on Apr 20, 2011, 9:51pm »

Hi

The photos don't do Joes work justice......to see it in the flesh
and the work that been put in the van is unreal

I was down Welshpool area yesterday .......and when I rang Joe from Port Albert he said you cannot go home with calling in to see the van (he is a very proud man ) and loves his roadhaven
he also told me he is bring it up to Cora Lynn car show this year

If any members are visting down Welshpool way Joe would be more than happy to show you the van
f/f

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Roadhaven/Chev in Members Profile

http://www.vintagecaravans.com/members-firefighter-1961.htm
1928 Camper Van

If you don't know where you're going, any road you take will get you there!

Enjoy life now - it has an expiry date

Jennison
True Blue

member is offline

[avatar]

1935 Jennison Caravan Cruiser "pop top"

Joined: Jan 2008
Gender: Male

Posts: 1,521
Location: NSW..near the Clown Casino ACT

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #21 on Apr 20, 2011, 9:56pm »

Sensational looking Van. Roadhavens are my next favourite after my obvious bias.
Great resto indeed Joe. Hope we'll see it at Cowra
jennison

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Don Ricardo
Global Moderator

member is offline

[avatar]

Joined: Jan 2007
Gender: Male

Posts: 3,808
Location: Doreen, Vic

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #22 on Apr 20, 2011, 10:09pm »

Hi Skyhooks,

What a magnificent restoration on your Roadhaven! Just fantastic! And Firefighter tells us that the photos don't do it justice! 8-)

You have every right to be very proud of your work. Most of us would be pleased as punch if we could achieve half the quality that you have.

Enjoy your weekend at Bruthen. My wife and I have stayed there a couple of times, and it is pretty little camping ground. It's next to the footy ground, so you might even get some free entertainment if there's a game on when you are there.

Thanks for posting the pics Firefighter.

Don Ricardo

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Follow the sun with a Don caravan

cobber
True Blue

member is offline

[avatar]

Driftwood and my Windmill

Joined: Aug 2004
Gender: Male

Posts: 4,047
Location: Camden nsw

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #23 on Apr 21, 2011, 6:05am »

And it WAS clad in aluminium ?....you have done a lot of work on it aye Joe?
Photos look terrific and if firefighter says they don't do it justice it must look excellent in the flesh.

I wish I could get a shine like that on swamp vans sink :-/

Cobber.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

1936-"Ol' 36"
1950's-"Driftwood"
1960-Newcastle van
Tow car FJ Holden.

Two sheds are better than one.

frankw
Guest

Re: Roadhaven caravans
« Reply #24 on Apr 25, 2011, 3:06pm »

Hey Guys this looks a great van he has done a great job hope to see it at Cowra, next year in Roadhaven paddock. Frankw.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Page 1 of 2 » Jump to page Go

Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free