Carapark Coupling Dilema

[destrier]

Hi Guys,

Firstly let me apologise for the long pause between hello's. Work, Life and resourcing parts has had me snowed under. I started work on my gorgeous old girl a few weeks back. But I am having difficulties finding the missing parts to the coupling..

I am now searching for a D-handle and tongue that will match my carapark coupling, as I would PREFER to keep the original coupling as it has the words CARAPARK on it.

I know that it will fit a standard ball, I just need to find the handle (D) and the tongue and also a hand brake.. as mine seems to be missing.

Any suggestions would be EXTREMELY helpful.. Thanks again everyone and hope you are all well.


i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q530/Destrier70/IMG_1720.jpg

[cobber]

G'day destrier,

Have you had any offers from the forum members yet to your request ?

It shouldn't be a mission impossible to get something along the lines of what you are after, the problem will be getting one that fits.
I assume there is a notch on the side we can't see to lock the safety catch into ?

Something like either of these will work.....aye?
Not sure what you're going to do about a hand brake though.... maybe a couple of house bricks





Best of luck, I hope you can find something to do the job because I can't remember seeing a “Carapark” coupling before.

Cobber.

[griffin]

Here's a pic of a complete Carapark coupling, the only one I've seen, which is on a little rebuilt Viscount caravan just around the corner. No sign of a handbrake on it, bricks sound good.

George

[brock]

Hi destrier,
My hunter junior does not have a handbrake system.
I am using bricks and wheel chocks.
How about some photos of the new skin?? I'm keen to see it to see if I should go the whole hog too!

[destrier]

Hi Cobber, George and Brock.
Thanks for the photos and info. I just about cried when I saw your photos. I wish I could find something to keep the carapark section. I was wondering, and excuse the newbie comment but how hard is it to buy just the coupling bit, the bit with the handle and ball.. Or do I have to go the whole hog so to speak and replace the whole coupling.. I wish I could find just the missing bits. House bricks sound good. I wonder how the RTA will feel. I was told by a caravan yard yesterday that I will have to have a handbrake etc, need all new styled coupling etc and wont be allowed to keep the old style. It has to be brought up to date more or less. Then another yard said Rubbish.. you can keep that coupling just find the missing parts.. and that as long as I replace what was originally there, with RTA approved bits, I wont have a problem. Brock, the new skin is all ordered just haven't had time to get it on. The new stands are now on.. it was missing a stand, so we went and welded on some new legs, making it more secure and easier than using the wind up pyramid jacks. The hub caps have been re chromed, the tyres all new, the rims were sandblasted and resprayed. This weekend we were going to do the coupling and rewiring.. will see how we go. But I have been photographing all the process.. Just need to find five minutes to get it all up and ready for you guys to see. Between work, traveling for work and family.. well I have been lucky to be able to send out this post. Thanks again everyone.. I wish everyone a fantastic week ahead..
Destrier.

[humpyboy]

destrier, here's what I would do, look for a coupling that has the same sized shaft that is in your carapark coupling then change it over, you should now have a coupling that works, now for a hand brake you need to make up a lever that you can fit to the rear of the coupling that would be operated by the shaft pushing back through the main piece of the coupling ie the big nut on the back and this in turn would put tension on the cable you have attatched to your brakes, then you can use this as a hand brake as in the second picture posted by cobber, hope this rabble makes some sense.

[griffin]

Hi Destrier
I've had a look through some other photos and found a couple of 'toasters' with the same coupling and none of them appear to have any handbrake mechanism, but surely they must have had something. Carapark adverts for the parts they supplied to home builders show the coupling, but no mechanism on them. A Carapark owner out there must be able to solve this one for you.
If you are in a hurry to get it registered I'd look at another coupling for the moment, they aren't that expensive last time I bought one (a few years back I will admit) and that would give you time to source what you need and change it over later.
Good luck, I look forward to finding out what 'toasters' use to make them stay put - other than bricks
George

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Griffin and Destrier,

I wouldn't think that Destrier's van would necessarily have had a handbrake, given that it is just a small van. Some small vans - even in the mid-50's - didn't even have a jockey wheel, just a static jack on the A-frame. They were light enough to just pick them up by the coupling and move them around. I'm guessing that handbrakes may have been seen as expensive overkill on a small van. Our van was a large one in its day, but didn't come with a handbrake.

I guess that raises an interesting question: When did handbrakes come into vogue? Did some vans have them even in the 30's and 40's, or were they a later mod con?

Don Ricardo

[destrier]

Hi Humpyboy, George and Don Ricardo.
Thank you so much guys, you have put the biggest smile on my face with all of your advice, suggestions and query.

I will relay your message Humpyboy to my dad and older brothers ( ie: the mechanical side of the family who are helping me do the work) and will let you know how I get along. I am in no rush to register just would prefer to have it all done right now, than have to redo it later.

Thank you George.. I appreciate your search and will let you know how the good old house brick gets on.

Don Ricardo thank you for your knowledge.. You Sir are amazing.

Did I mention I recently purchased a copy of a Carapark Advertising Brochure.. I scanned it all and it's listed here..

www.hubpages.com/hub/carapark

Thank you again Men.. Most appreciated.

Destrier

[cobber]

G'day destrier,

The caravan bloke who told you your van must have a modern tow coupling is WRONG !

If you wish to keep the caravan basically original... you are allowed to keep all the original fittings as long as they are working as they were originally intended, it's classed as an “Historic Vehicle” .

Have a look at this thread and see pages 4-5 & 6 in respect of breaking requirements on caravans first registered before 1990, and there are exemptions on some requirements for vans built before 1981.............. for instance page 6 explains that parking brakes were only compulsory on vans first registered after 1 January 1981.

It doesn't mean they weren't in vogue on some systems prior to that, and it doesn't mean you can't put a hand break on it now if you want to.... they are a handy thing to have .

By the way..... I like the Carapark brochure you bought and scanned onto The Hub..would you mind if it was added to our DHL Carapark thread as well... even though some of the photos are there already your scan is more complete

Cobber.

[destrier]

Hi Cobber..
Thank you so very, very much!!! Yeah I kept thinking SHE was wrong but I'm just a newbie when it comes to all things Carapark.. Even though I know the history well and know my van like the back of my hand, when someone tells you that they deal with the RTA and that THEY know the law etc etc, well you think 'okay, they must know what they are talking about'..

But then another place told me 'Imagine if it was a classic car, you don't need to add all new stuff, just replace what would of originally been there and in good working order'.. So that's kind of the way I was thinking. But it's great to hear also from yourself and other members.

Feel free to add the brochure scan to the Carapark Hub. I was so excited when I found it and then no one made a bid, so I was even more surprised. It's a gorgeous old thing with the original prices written over the pages in pencil. I think my old girl would of set me back around 635 pounds..

Thanks again Cobber.. You just made my day!!!

Destrier.

[barnacle]

HI Destrier,

new member here, just found myself an old toaster 12'9. It has the carapark coupling but the D handle is seized and the shaft for the override is bent.
Hoping to find a new handle and shaft that can fit into the ol coupling, have u had any luck with that??
no handbrake on this one too, dont like hills i guess....

[destrier]

Hi Barnacle,

I ended up sadly having to replace the old coupling. We couldn't get anything to fit.
I purchased a new brake plate, coupling and had it all put in to place and checked over with the mechanic whose doing the blue slip for me.
He was happy with the new fit. We had to 'fill' the old holes with weld and re-drill but its all safe and sound. Just a shame that I couldn't use my original coupling.
Congrats on finding a toaster. They are such amazing little vans.

Cheers,
Destrier