One tiny plywood van and two good legs

[adelou]

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Hi, I have only been a member for a month or so but I have been looking at this site for over a year while looking for a little caravan of my own to restore. I finally found one in my home town of Adelaide in October. Whilst my friends looked on in horror at its dilapidated state, I was delighted with my accidental find. This van has appeared on this site before when the previous owner’s friend was trying to identify it. I am still unsure of its age but the gal behind the ice box has 1957 printed on it. I have made a very brave start on removing and replacing the rotten timbers being guided mainly by this forum. Being a complete novice I never intended exposing my efforts to any scrutiny by the many fine experts whose advice and commentary I have relied upon after viewing their excellent restorations. Unfortunately my state of bliss in the back shed came to an abrupt end 4 weeks ago. The small old wooden step ladder I was standing on to reach the top of my van collapsed under me, no I am not huge, only 58 Kilo’s the rope was rotten. My tibia was telescoped into my knee crushing all in its wake. 3 operations, extensive metal work and 3 weeks in hospital have left me in a wheelchair unable to put weight on it for another month and then I will start rehab. The point of this sorry saga is to admit I need help with research to find the correct sink pump. Suggestions where I can locate suitable water tank (several holes in the original). Advice on whether the bed would have originally been a couch that folded back into a bed and how. I am also puzzled by the large fixed windows front and rear. Should I replace the thin glass with safety glass? Any suggestions would be most welcome as I need to fill my time while waiting for my bones to heal.
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[Deleted]

Hi Adelou

By the powers vested upon me by myself.... i award you the ...
"Most Determined Van Restorer or 2012"...

May i suggest you put the hunt for the correct water pump on hold and start your search in earnest for a stable stepladder.

That leg looks terrible .. as i imagine the pain would have been too.
Take it easy and dont rush into doing anything on the van until you are sure you are steady on your legs..

I am sure i speak on behalf of anyone else that has read your post.....
"Wishing you gods speed with your recovery... "

Reddo.... No stranger to pain and suffering in .. "The Shed of Invention"

[cobber]

G'day Adelou,

I endorse Reddo's comments entirely (which is something I don't do lightly )

Looking at your van and taking into account the date on the ice box I would Hazard a guess
that the date of 1957 is close to the mark, well worthy of a good restoration.

Don't feel shy about posting photos of your restoration and any questions you have on the forum..... That's what it is here for.

Take your water tank to any sheet metal worker and they will knock up a replica no trouble.
The front and rear windows could be replaced with new Perspex ones or polycarbonate ones if you can stand the extra expense.


But first....Good luck for a quick restoration of your legs to their former glory

Cobber

[kaybee]

Hi , sorry to hear about your misfortune ......hope you come out of it OK ....to answer your query about water pumps,I have one of these that I'd like to sell....



...it works well and the chrome is good,just needs a clean. When you get around to your resto again, you could try a sheetmetal shop for fabrication of a new tank , if you think you'll keep the van forever then ask them to quote you for a stainless tank. If you're not especially fussed about originality , have a look at the range of modern van tanks available from caravan parts suppliers and also on Ebay.

The window glass ,you'll be surprised how cheap glass is....get new toughened safety glass or laminated glass, either will work and are safer to work with than household glass.....don't need anymore accidents..... ;D , cheers , Colin.

[seeshell]

Hi There

Sorry to hear about your misfortune on the ladder!

I have an old stainless tank off an Olympic that you are more than welcome to have. Send me a private message if you are interested.

Cheers
Seeshell

[JBJ]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your fall.

I guess you will mend eventually, but take it easy & dont push it too hard.

The vans great, & quite rebuildable from your pix.

They are great fun to travel in when you get them useable. One that size will be good to tow, & with a little luck it shouldnt be too long before you start using it.

All the best

JBJ

[DC3Td]

Hi Adelou. Great character `van you have. Seems you had everything under control except for the ladder. Pity,undamaged they`re worth a bob or two these days.That`s a serious bit of steelwork pinning your leg together.Perhaps ask the doc if he`s got time to knock up a tank for you too! Speedy recovery. gordon

[Roehm3108]

Hi Adelou
So the rumour is true! It DOES take longer to fix human frames than caravan frames Not a nice way to find out!! Do hope the recovery is going well for you and that you will be somewhat mobile for Christmas. As Reddo said, put a good ladder on your Santa WANT list rather than WISH list.

Others have already answered some of your questions. But regarding the bed, I would imagine (a bit hard to tell from the pics) that with a van that size, you would certainly have a "goucho" style bed/lounge. I have the same in my Rowvan and will take the time to photograph it for you tomorrow and put up some pics of the framing etc.

If you didn't want to have fixed windows on both front and rear, it would be a great opportunity to also make ate least one of them a hinged window by building a window frame, before replacing the glass. Probably the front would be better - good ventillation for the kitchen and less likely to suck in dust.

I DO hope you are following doctor's orders to the letter, cos remember, you only have one set of them thar bones to walk on and are not replaced as easily as caravan frames.

All the best

[hilldweller]

You poor thing! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Lovely van though and it looks as if you've done heaps already Don't be shy about posting pics of your handiwork - the people on here are very supportive.

[Roehm3108]

Info on bed sent via personal message system
cheers

[adelou]

Thank you for your warm response to my annoying situation. I love the humor on this forum.I am trying to not get frustrated with the healing process but I would rather be out in the shed...no room for my chair and yes the pain is bad at times. I have already been helped by members comments and suggestions so I have lots to think about. Would anyone know what type of stove this van might have had? I found the remains of blue lino under the bed so I am on the hunt for that on the web also.

[griffin]

CRIKEY

Maybe this site should carry a health warning for intended members

Hope you make a full recovery soon, what a shocker, and all for the love of a vintage van

George

[Roehm3108]

If there is no sign of any gas connections, you could have had one of these spirit stoves:

[humpyboy]

I also had a step ladder collapse under me, but I'm twice your size fortunatly for me it was only a two foot drop to the floor but still enough to give even me a fright, hope your leg mends well and allows you to continue with your van resto in the not to distant future.

[humpyboy]

Hows the leg coming along adelou? should be mending better than mine,see here so you see there are more ladder challanged people than just yourself ;D

[urkel1965]

Hi Adelou
My galv water tank rusted out, so I had Larry Weepers (Roadmaster Caravans at Lonsdale) make me a new one out of stainless steel. Mine is not much bigger than a laying down jerry can that fits in its brackets under the bed. Can't remember the cost.....but am sure it will see me out..
Steve

[adelou]

Jan 8, 2013 19:54:20 GMT 10 humpyboy said:

Hows the leg coming along adelou? should be mending better than mine,see here so you see there are more ladder challanged people than just yourself ;D

Oh dear we are quite a pair.Sorry to have pain in common.I feel hard done by with 3weeks in hospital and only just starting to put weight on my leg after 10 weeks.The whole episode has shaken my confidence re ladders I was hoping to convince my husband he needs to build me a loading bay.All in all this little van +surgery has cost a small fortune. good
Luck.

[adelou]

Jan 9, 2013 17:23:02 GMT 10 urkel1965 said:

Hi Adelou
My galv water tank rusted out, so I had Larry Weepers (Roadmaster Caravans at Lonsdale) make me a new one out of stainless steel. Mine is not much bigger than a laying down jerry can that fits in its brackets under the bed. Can't remember the cost.....but am sure it will see me out..
Steve

Thank you for that contact.i have just started my rehab so it won't be long now before I can spend time with my tiny van.I think I may need to find a local to remake my side windows as I think they are beyond my woodworking skill, do you know anyone?

[Roehm3108]

Good to hear you're on the mend. And whilst you were laid up you didn't work out how to rebuild your own windows Hilldweller from over the crik managed to make all her own door frames (BY HERSELF- I THINK). Now don't let a kiwi beat you ;D ;D Just cos they can play footy!!

Seriously, they're simply bits of timber butted against each other at right angles and then glued/screwed tight. Maybe a bit of chamfering along the bottom, but it's not rocket science. Maybe even hubby can help!!!!!

Otherwise, look up Men's Sheds and see if there is one local to you. You might find an old guy there who would only be too willing to knock them up for you for a carton of ale.

Ray

[humpyboy]

Jan 16, 2013 14:17:22 GMT 10 adelou said:

Jan 8, 2013 19:54:20 GMT 10 humpyboy said:

Hows the leg coming along adelou? should be mending better than mine,see here so you see there are more ladder challanged people than just yourself ;D

Oh dear we are quite a pair.Sorry to have pain in common.I feel hard done by with 3weeks in hospital and only just starting to put weight on my leg after 10 weeks.The whole episode has shaken my confidence re ladders I was hoping to convince my husband he needs to build me a loading bay.All in all this little van +surgery has cost a small fortune. good
Luck.

I do hope that I am not off my feet for 10 weeks, so far it's only been about 3 weeks and I've had enough of sitting around, 3 more weeks to go before I see the Surgeon, should know more then.

[raym]

Hi adelou
Try Frank Delaney for your water tank he is an exlant tradsman and his prices are very reasonable his contacy detail are as follows

7 Old Coach Road
Aldinga SA
PH 85577655
raym

[adelou]

Hi you probably don't remember me, I am the one whose vintage ladder collapsed under her breaking my tibia at the knee joint on day 4 of my renovations on my tiny van. TEN months later and I have still not finished the van or my recovery. But I am determined to restore both. I manage a day or two a week pottering with the van. Honestly, it has kept me sane having to problem solve its reconstruction. I was so pleased to be offered a water tank by a lovely person from the forum and I now have a bought sink pump and a gas stove. I am still searching for suitable lino.Because of my complete lack of skill I tend to do most things twice, ok thrice, I am amazed how the old screws (slotted) are so forgiving compared to the new rubbish. Even though I have used the remains of the original ply walls as templates I have somehow managed to make a tiny van even smaller...very strange, when I put the old mattress in it stuck out the rear of the van, my friends are still laughing. Apart from the new ply I have been using recycled timber. I just hope the van won’t be too heavy. I am organising an electrician to come in soon but I was a little disappointed to hear I had to use modern fittings. I hope I can hide them somehow.
I hope the photo works.

[Roehm3108]

How can we forget you adelou Good to hear you're still persevering with recovery and the rebuild. LOVE the pic ;D ;D ;D If you've used the old cladding as your templates, then perhaps the problem is in the internal fitout OR perhaps you've left a chunk of 4 by 2 lying there and didn't notice it If it come to the worst, you can always take the mattress down to Clark Rubber and have it cut to size, or get the old electric kitchen knife and do it yourself

I'm sure that you'll work it out somehow! Just keep on keeping on and you WILL succeed

[adelou]

Thank you for your advice I may never know what happened I actually thought I had made the bed space larger. I may chop the foam or I may look for a comfy spring mattress my only fear is increasing the weight. Next task is finding out how to secure the new windows ...the rotten old ones had been nailed shut.