deeva
New Member
Posts: 8 
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Post by deeva on Sept 6, 2014 23:51:01 GMT 10
hi all. i really love the bondwood and i am looking to buy. I have questions about how to look after one. Is it all right to leave the van out doors? or will the van definately need to be undercover? can you apply a sealer to the wood that will help keep the van looking good? do you just replace the ply/bondwood every few years. i dont know as i have never be exposed to this before. And i really would like a bondwood and dont have a spare shed... but i could clean out my craft/tool shed for the van to fit as long as it is high enough.  while am at it. what about the cost of rewiring a van? (im not sure what exactly it needs yet- im talking about the 58 globetrotter-whippys van) Would it be astronomical? Im not an auto lec but i have a sparky mate who might be able to help. any help or advice is greatly appreciated thanks to all |
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deeva
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by deeva on Sept 6, 2014 23:52:11 GMT 10
oh and is there anything i need to know about changing a caravan tyre or two?  |
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 7, 2014 7:35:51 GMT 10
Gday Deeva & welcome.Any vin van should be under cover & moreso a bondwood to keep it out of the elements irrespective of how good its sealer/paint is.So a garage is ideal.A carport with side curtains to shield it from the sun/rain etc would do too.You wouldn`t want to replace the ply every few years - costly & time consuming & only done innitially to restore/repair & last.You`d need to know the max height of your shed opening to work out if any van will fit through.There have been times when owners have had to resort to even removing a roller shutter to allow the van to roll in/out.And to lesser degrees of deflating tyres.Rewiring isnt really all that hard per se.It gets maybe a bit awkward tracing the wires from one end to the other but is mostly doable.12 Volt you could do yourself.Even 240V but need a sparky to do final check & hook up.Changing a van tyre is no different to a car tyre.Just make sure you chock the opposite wheel so van doesnt roll - check your head room in your shed. Dont want to be jacking the shed roof off! So the thing to do is ask any seller the condition of van in the first place - dry rot/wiring/light/tyres/ etc.And ideally go & see the van first.It pays also to give us a general area you live in as sometimes a member might just be a few ks away & might check a van out with/for you although in this case you`re getting the sale info directly from a forum member.Don`t think you`d go wrong with Whippys van.Its a smart looker/easy tow & has the timber repairs done that just need sealing? repainting.
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Post by shesgotthelook on Sept 7, 2014 11:46:28 GMT 10
No ifs, buts or maybe's. Wooden caravans must be under cover. They will deteriorate rapidly if left outside. That is why you don't see too many of them around! Even if under a synthetic cover, they can develop sweats & start to rot inside & out. Replacing the timber is a massive, specialized task & is restoration, not maintenance. Whippy's GlobeTrotter is a lovely example & I'm sure you would have lots of fun with her. SGTL from the RSPCC  |
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deeva
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by deeva on Sept 7, 2014 18:52:25 GMT 10
thank you. would it be possible to travel around oz for a couple of months? how to i keep her protected?
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Post by penny61 on Sept 9, 2014 0:29:09 GMT 10
Vintage vans are meant to be used... and at some point you are going to get caught in the rain. They certainly need to be kept under cover and dry when you are not using them... and allowed to dry out properly if they get soaked... but if you are using it and loving it, it's a little different. If you use it a lot you do need to be prepared to do a bot more work to it than if it lives in a shed all the time... but there's not a lot of point in having one if you can't enjoy it. Paint will crack and need patching... and eventually redoing... among other things but staying on top of the little stuff before they become big ones is key. Penny sprang a leak last time I took her out... so I have just had some rotten wood professionally removed. If I had left it I would have been replacing a lot more than I did...
People have used their wooden vans to go around the block as it were before... albeit mainly back in the day. I remember reading about a man who did it in his not yet vintage Propert.... apparently it was a little worse for wear when he returned home but it survived and from memory is one of the one's that still exists....
If you want lower maintenance than go for an aluminium or fiberglass van... if you don't mind the extra work and you want a bondwood then go for it. Restorations are big jobs and replacing lots of ply often is unrealistic and expensive. I don't think I would take mine to the tropics for the wet or to Tassie for the winter but if my Kombi was finished and I had the time and the money than a trip away for a couple of months would definitely be on the cards...
If you are using it there isn't really a lot you can do to keep it protected. .. its really a bit of a Catch22.
Vanessa and Penny.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 9, 2014 8:21:44 GMT 10
People have used their wooden vans to go around the block as it were before... albeit mainly back in the day. I remember reading about a man who did it in his not yet vintage Propert.... apparently it was a little worse for wear when he returned home but it survived and from memory is one of the one's that still exists.... Vanessa and Penny. That van was faithfully restored and is regularly used by smiles. Wooden vans are always high maintenance and in many respects, not for novices, unless they themselves are handy types with tools. Too often does one hear of someone buying that cute timber vintage caravan, leaving it on the footpath or in the yard to fall into disrepair, because the novelty has worn off. Member kingy took his van around the block and was forever making sure it was well maintained. But then, he had the tools and expertise to do that. Check it out here: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/12545/kings-tour |
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whippy
Full Member
"Twiggy" the Globetrotter
Posts: 462
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Post by whippy on Sept 9, 2014 9:50:51 GMT 10
Hi Julia,
Twiggy will be arriving at his new home Friday arvo, unfortunately I cannot make it before then.
Regards,
Glynn
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deeva
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by deeva on Sept 10, 2014 9:59:59 GMT 10
Thanks everyone! I really value this information. luckily i am handy with tools Thanks Glynn, i am so happy and excited to welcome twiggy into our family xx cheers, julia |
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 10, 2014 17:05:31 GMT 10
Congrats Julia.Now don`t forget we LOVE pics. gordon
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while am at it. what about the cost of rewiring a van? (im not sure what exactly it needs yet- im talking about the 58 globetrotter-whippys van) Would it be astronomical? Im not an auto lec but i have a sparky mate who might be able to help.
