Help: Caravan ID

[chrisjashton]

Hi there, 

We have a Reno Rescue coming up in Time to Roam magazine in a couple of months, but we're a little unsure what the caravan is. The owner thinks it may be homemade, but not sure. Any ideas? 

Images: 
www.timetoroam.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/lannie.jpg 
www.timetoroam.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/lannie2.jpg

Thanks!

Chris 

[shesgotthelook]

Hi Chris & welcome. This van has been discussed on here before but I can't think where to look to find it. Hopefully someone who remembers will be along shortly!

[chrisjashton]

Thanks shesgotthelook

[shesgotthelook]

Found it, don't know if it will give you any more info than you already have from the member doing the resto but there's links to similar vans.

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/14355/lannies-new-life-bondwood-story

[cobber]

G'day Chris & sgtl,

I often see a similarity between this shape van and the one we eventually found to be Carefree Caravans
The interiors were often fitted out differently, but that could be explained by the fact that they apparently would supply the bare shell to be fitted out by the owner.

Cobber.

[chrisjashton]

Thanks Cobber. It does look very similar, thanks for sharing.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Chris and Cobber,

I can see where Cobber is heading, but I'm pretty sure that the origins of the 'reno van' Time to Roam is featuring aren't with Carefree, for a couple of reasons. First, all Carefree caravans had full-width front and rear windows - either in two panes or the Flynn bay window, whereas the reno van has single narrower windows front and rear. Second, all Carefree vans had fixed front and rear windows, whereas the reno van has opening windows front and rear. Thirdly, the alignment of the side and end windows differs between the Carefrees and the reno van. Fourthly, to my eye, the curve of the roof on the Carefrees looks greater than on the reno van.

I know i'm placing a lot of emphasis on the windows particularly, and if the van was built from a kit it would be possible to change the size and construction of the windows, but there's a considerable difference in what would be required to change the window profile in terms of modifying the frame, etc.

I think when we talked about the reno van on the forum, we - or was it just me? - came to the conclusion that the van was a home build. When you look at the quality of the carpentry when the van was taken back to bare wood, it makes you think there's a good chance it was a factory built job, but I still doubt the Carefree connection myself. Do we know where the van came from geographically? That might help us narrow it down. It's in Queensland now I think, so maybe that tells us something (if that's where it was found).

Don Ricardo

[cobber]

G'day Don R,

You would have noticed I said I only saw a similarity between Carefree and the Reno van aye ?

Sometimes, when we discuss and try to determine which manufacturer supplied the basis for a particular 'home made caravan', I have said "show me the chassis of both caravans, that will be a good indicator as to whether they came out of the same factory or not" ( nobody ever does show us both chassis )

Home builders,who started with a shell supplied by a manufacturer, were probably a bit like car hot rodders, individuals who just want something different, not necessarily better.
Put a jig saw in their hands and you would get a weird shaped wheel arch that made removal of the wheel difficult, or a single opening window that leaks where there were once two fixed windows that didn't leak
But then they would do wonderful things inside the van with no expenses spared to get the comfort they wanted, which is probably why they bought a shell to finish off themselves in the first place.

Point is, what they finish up with may bear little resemblance to what they started out with ....... except for the chassis design.
Come to think about it they've most likely fitted electric brakes, a cranked axle and anti-sway bars to it also.

Hot rodders...... take note of the smileys please

Cobber.

[ourgirllannie]

Just saw this thread about our Lannie. Hopefully someone will see her in the magazine and recognise the van and our mystery will be solved! I'm not sure if I ever said Don, but she is originally from Victoria. The VFL footy ladder stubs from 1956 are the earliest treasures we found inside the caravan. There were also receipts and tickets from camping and golfing grounds.And did I ever mention the frilly bloomers, tucked away in the mystery wall sconce?!!!