Early Xmas Present

[trodler]

Hi V V
Well it has been about 3 months since I picked up the Propert ,I have been busy replacing a sheet of ply on the rear and basically sanding and Painting.

As you can see from the photos the 2 shells were taken off and every thing has been cleaned and painted.

I still have a lot of little jobs to do on it like ,painting the rims, fitting the glass in the windows and the J mould around the main shell.













I must admitt that I hated opening the propert up after it was first put together as the shells tend to rub against each other and scratch the paint, Oh Well.

Cheers
Trodler

[lisian]

Hi Trodler,
Looks very neat now it's all together . Great job ;D ;D
It really is a credit to you. Hopefully our new van will turn out as good with it's repairs and new paint.
Thanks
Ian

[Jim]

trodler said:

Hi V V
...........
I must admit that I hated opening the propert up after it was first put together as the shells tend to rub against each other and scratch the paint, Oh Well.
Cheers
Trodler

Talk to Ray about the shells rubbing..
His did the same thing, but it was wrong fitting of the spacers on the side bars that caused it.

Great job, by the way Trodler.. It looks terrific.

Did you consider lengthening the drawbar so you don't have to unhook it to put it up?

[trodler]

Hi Ian.
Dont for get to show some progress shots of your van.

Jim.
Its notso much as miss alignment but there is a bit of movement between the 3 sections and they touch here and there, it also doesnt help that the paint is fresh.
I had a look at extending the drawbar but it would just look wrong.
Cheers.
Trodler.

[bigdidda]

Trodler,
That Propert is certainly looking real fine mate.
I will have to admit i am envious even though you and i apparently have the oldest ones.
That colour looks so good i may have to consider a new
coat of paint ( on the van that is not me-though it might be an improvement) ;D
Just a question where is your icebox or was yours built without one?
regards

don

[trodler]

Hi Don
My propert doesnt have an ice box.
I was talking to a bloke on the weekend whos father worked for propert for about 20 years. Apparantly his father worked on building the first properts and was a supervisor once the were up and running.
He also mentioned that propert also made teardrop caravans but only a few.

He is going to go through some old photos to see if there any of his father at work with the caravans.
Ill visit him again in a couple of weeks to find out more info and take notes this time.

Cheers
Trodler.

[trodler]

Hi V V

Well the Propert is just about ready to hit the road.

I havnt had much time to work on it over the past 6 months, but I have been flat out working on it over the last couple of weeks to get it ready for the maiden voyage on the 4th August. Its all up to Linda now to make the curtains and we are just about ready to roll.

Speaking of curtains, all you Propert owners out there. How have you fixed your curtains on the 4 side windows,as there is only 1/2" gap Between the 2 shells when its folded up.










Cheers.
Trodler.

[Deleted]

Hi Trodler
4th August
I am guessing another VV at All Holden day. Me, You and no doubt MrFJ55 Maurie.

Cheers mate
reddo

[Deleted]

very nice Trodler ......luv the colour ....and the wheels

Mark

[will and Lyn]

Gidday Trodler


SWEEEEEETTT!! as mate
what a top job youve done on that Lil propert
All credit to you man

Will

[MRFJ55]

BEAUT BIT OF GEAR Too good to be true ! Well done trodler , congratulations on a top class restoration job ! If you are going to A.H.D with the Propert , which car are you taking and where are you parking ? I'll be there in the FX with DORIS in tow parked with the FX/FJ club Sydney chapter . We will also have Jason Vella's stock FJ ute and 12' V. V on display . If we get Panda , Caraparker , Reddo and Bob Butlers imaculate F.E sedan with matching green V. V , you and me we will total a possible 7 old Caravans ! Might even get another one or two turn up . Mate it will be more like A.C.D ! REGARDS , MAURIE . "KEEPHOLDENON"

[humpty2]

Was gunna come.................but the Grandsons soccer semi-finals are on too....must get the priorities right you know

[Roehm3108]

Hi Trodler
You have done an excellent job on that Propert, congratulations and good luck.
Re the rubbing: I see you have a rubbing strip near the folding arms. Is that where they were originally? Perhaps they could be located a bit better. I also added some rubbing felt on the inside of the outer shell frame, and added another metal strip to take up the rubbing caused by the arms coming down.
Are there any opening windows in that van? Very surprised there is no window over the bed (which would end up on the roof when folded) Don, is your like that too? Have heard that some of these vans had night condensation problems, perhaps caused by the lack of windows.
I think you will find most Properts did not have an ice chest. Many were bought as a shell and fitted out by the purchasers. Did see one in Queenbeyan which had an original fridge with remote compressor would you believe, on the drawbar. The fridge, although quite small, did take up a fair amount of space in the van. I have a 39l 3 way fridge which I carry in the car, and find that OK.
I still intend to extend my drawbar (just haven't had time to get it done) as it really is a hassle that you cannot open the van when attached to the car, when you are making a short lunch stop. Don't be surprised if you reconsider that aspect.
Re curtains I used that stretchy wire and placed strategic eyelets to the framing, where they wouldn't catch when folded. Take to curtains off when travelling and hang them on a couple of separate eyelets in the inner shell frame. My friend Werner Ebert went one better. He managed to find extra strong magnets which he glued to a dowel and the wall - very clever and so simple. Took them down when travelling too.
Have fun!
Ray

[bigdidda]

Ray,
Mine has the large opening window over the bed end which does end up on the roof when its all closed up.

Trodler,
Ray is correct with the stretchy wire.You wont usually have trouble with the inner windows but definitely remove the outer ones as they will grab and get dirty if you do not have a strip along sides where outer sits on inner when folded.
The Propert looks A1 mate and is a real credit to you.
Hope to see it at Coledale.
regards
don

[trodler]

Hi Guys.

Thanks for the kind words.It has taken me a while to finish this one but its all worth it.

Ray and Don.

My propert doesnt have a front window and it doesnt look as though it ever has.
When I was sanding the inside of the outer shell i came across a ply manufactures stamp and it was dated 1950. So I assume that the this sheet (where your front window is ) is original.

The rubbing of the shells isnt as much of a problem now that the enamel paint has had time to harden. I think Ill have to get out in the back yard with the Propert and have a good look on the best way to hang curtains.

Thanks for the Help
Trodler.

[trodler]

Hi V V ers.
I had been thinking about getting a small annex made for the Propert , but the cheapest price I had been Quoted was about $1500.00 ( you can buy a whole caravan for that )

BUT. I was cruiseing around from one job to the next the other
day checking out the junk left out for the council clean up, and low and behold I came across some old green canvas.
As it looked as though it was a fairly Big piece I was hoping that I would be able to use it for the roof of an annex.

When I got it home and unfolded it ,I found that it was a 12' x 7'
lean too tent. ;D ;D ;D



As you can see the front section has two flaps and is divided by a centre pole.The Propert fits snugly into one section and I can use the other section as the entry or close it off as well.





It just goes to show that you can be lucky some times.
The only thing is when I showed Linda she asked didnt you get the ropes and pegs with it.

Cheers.
Trodler.

[Deleted]

Hi Trodler.

I have been scanning the local papers, ebay , swapmeets, garage sales , kerbside junk piles looking for exactly what you have found there.
Need something like that or similar to the lean to that the kaybees have to use behind thier TD.

If i cant find something period i am going to have to use a 12 X12 tarp and set it up over the top of the TD and let it stick out over the kitchen area by about 5 or 6 ft to give me some shelter while cooking /eating etc.

Dont want to use blue or silver brattice but i might have to untill something comes along at "The right price".
As you say canvas can be expensive and it is also heavy. lightweight canvas doesnt offer very good waterproofing.
Oz tents are great but as i stated i am hoping to end up with something that gives good protection both at the rear of the van and enough coverage so that i can get out of the TD either side while it is raining without getting wet.
hence the 12' x 12'. will have to come up with some way of having a high point in the middle. hopefully the TD tailgate supports will be strong enough to take the weight in a downpour without collapsing inthe middle and forming a bloody great duck pond


Good score there mate.
Reddo