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Post by organichead on Sept 25, 2007 23:57:08 GMT 10
::)Well, as some of you may or may not know I've given myself a baptism of fire to the world of vintage vanning, but I must say that I'm still excited......or mad!. This is the first of many irratic, irritating, ironic and idiotic questions I'll be posting on this thread. I thought I may keep them all in one place so i can refer to them easily as I have a tendancy to mislay things and it will give all you vvers out there a chance to completly ingnore me if you so wish. On your marks, get ready, GO!. No 1: I intend bringing the bondy back on a dual axle car trailer. I have measured the axle wheel to wheel, so no worries there. Is there enough clearance to load without bottoming out?. How have you folks done it. Low loader? Oh, and no, I'm not towing with the beetle!!!!!!. No 2: The van does not have a front stabilising wheel (jockey wheel I think). Is there a temporary clamp type I can buy to help movement and balance whilst I transport and store before restoration starts?. I'd obviously like to fix an original style to it when I know what it looks like. If they ever had one!!. Nice and simple to start I hope. Thanks in anticipation. .....................org the still not ready......................
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2007 7:18:25 GMT 10
Hi O/H I am with you on the tailgaters issue. for some reason people think they have an imaginery catapillar D9 blade on the front of thier car. The closer they get the more chance they have of shoving you off the highway. I do as you do . if i see traffic starting to build up behind me i will drop over to the shoulder and let em past providing it is safe to do so. If they get up my arse i just roll off the throttle and slow up. or maybe give the brakes a couple of taps. I have seen some suicide pilots overtake me on double lines around a bend....... temporary Australians , Down side of all this is if they do happen to meet something copming the other way its those poor bastards thatend up getting killed and the perpitrator walks away unscathed. Jockey wheels I persavered with the original long threaded jockey wheel on both my teardrop and the 1954 Fairway bondy. In the end i gave up on the 100% original capper and went and bought an el cheapo new style jockey wheel and clamp for less than $50. Makes life so much easier. You cant buy the old long threaded 1 1/2" bolt type j/wheels anymore so there is not too many alternatives to the modern clamp on type j/wheels. you could go one better and fit a swing up J/wheel that stays permanently attached to the draw bar and locks up along the side of the drawbar when not in use... I know they are modern and may not look just right on your van but they are definitley easier to use than the old "Thumb screw". Due to the condition of the tyres and the unknown condition of wheel bearings ( plus the fact that a lot of vans are unregistered when we dig them up) most of us choose to float the old darlings home on a car float. True some of the vans in better condition can be towed home behind a towcar but you generally need a permission to move/ roadworthy cert to do so. This involves and inspection at an authorised inspection station to ensure brakes , lights are working and general check over to ensure notyhing falls off heading down the road. There is an RTA fee for issue of perm to move and the permit will only be issued if the van has passed a roadworthy at the insp station. So... the trailer is generally the way to go. You mention the trailer you are using will be wide enough to fit the van on. make sure that the sides of the van wont hit the highest part on the sides of the trailer. its easy to get caught thinking the wheel track of the van is only 1800 wide and then find that the van gets tangled up on the sides of the trailer as you winch it on..... You are going to use a trailer with a winch arent you It can be a real gut busting job loading a van onto a trailer by pushing it especially with under inflated tyres and only 2 of you there to do the pushing If it hasnt got a winch take a chain block, block and tackle, turfor winch to help load the old lump of forest . Dont worry about turning up at one of the vint van get togethers without a van. we get millions of people checking out the vans whenever we are away ... so 1 kombi driver in amongst the crowd asking questions wont bother us in the least. just make sure you introduce yourself so we know who we are yarning with. Good luck mate .... Next question please ;D Reddo - Newcastle
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Post by chippydave01 on Sept 26, 2007 8:11:09 GMT 10
Hey org head did you speak to some vv ers at the all holden day nsw because I remember speaking to some dude who had a kombi and wanted a van.Cheers Dave
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Post by tinnie on Sept 27, 2007 0:06:56 GMT 10
Gidday OH, Reddo and JBJ have offered great advice. I know that supercrapauto and similar stores usually sell the swing up jockey wheels with a u-bolt system so you should be able to fit to van quickly and easily for transport/manouvering. A couple of other tips - check that the roof hatch is secured down well (they have been known to blow off) and get some duck-tape for the windows, apply in a X on each window to avoid busting/cracking one. Also check that windows are shut securely. Take lots of ropes, tie down straps and tape and she'll be apples! Cheers, Gristy
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Post by organichead on Sept 27, 2007 0:10:07 GMT 10
Goodness gracious you boys are pretty sharp, thanks. (appologies if your of the female variety but i think i'm safe, unless you have a habit of secret femininity. Ooh er missus)
Well I'm pleased to announce that you have confirmed my initial thoughts on towing. Definately using a winch, and going to load bum first. Thanks Reddo for the tip of van width as opposed to axle, that one I missed but am going to visit the van before D-day to remove broken glass, dodgy frames and to lock (tape) down everything that may fall off, so will check it then. I don't want to arrive home to find the axle is the only thing left and the local bill tracing a pathway to my gaff. Mind you if the the NZ police is anything to go by, they'll probably go to the wrong house. Sorry getting political. I'll check out the cheapest jockey for now and then consider saftey and ease when required.
Cheers Jailbarjuice good tip to check the straps often especially with the winds we get here and of course the hieght factor. Collect your case of beer for that one....well maybe a longey anyway. By the way, what does jailbarjuice taste like?. I get the impression that it's highly toxic!! if drunk in large quantity. Or am I 'barkin' up the wrong tree?.
Eh, no, it wasn't me Dave but it soon will be.
OK, No 3: Judging by the look of it, the braking system looks realitivly basic but I'm no mechanic so can details be obtained for complete overhaul as I think their pretty fundimental as we live approximately 3000 ft in the air and everywhere we go is down, very down. I guess the axle barings are self explanitary, just the reverse of removal. Do I assume your response to this will be 'we need a picture'. Well I aint got one but for memory,
Directly behind A frame is what looks like a handbrake drum which i assume is attached to the handle on the A frame. From there two cables are attached to springs and ...........oh dear I've gone boss eyed...they dissapear in my mind!!. Thinking about it does this brake work only when your camped or does it have a dual purpose and come on when weight is shifted to the front when going down hill ?. Oh, oh that was question four.
No 5: Where and when is the next closest meet to the Blue Mountains. Gotta get some faces to names and desparate to see your beauties. Ooooohh errrr missus again.
All the best ................................org the getting ready...........
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Post by organichead on Sept 27, 2007 0:18:33 GMT 10
Hi Gristy, we crossed over. I may well have forgotten that hatch, nice one. As for windows and bit, sure thing although I've got a feeling it's only got a couple of glass ones left. The others are either missing or perspex stuff.
No 6: I've had a look in restos and have seen plastic windows, is this original or just easier?.
No 7 soon.............................Laters.................
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Post by organichead on Sept 27, 2007 0:33:19 GMT 10
Oi, who put those rolly eyes up the top?. I wanted to do that.
No 7: Sooner than you thought. How do you get the faces on your post. I've bashed every soding button I've got!@$#!@.
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Post by 1954homemade on Sept 27, 2007 9:10:18 GMT 10
Hi Orginhead, Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are going to have alot of fun with your new project. I'm also a fairly new member of the forum (2 months), but from what i've read so far some of the guys have a fantastic amount of experience and know how when it comes to building and restoring. They also seem like a great bunch - personality wise, so you've come to the right place for guideance. As for how do you get the faces to appear like these. ;D When you hit the "Post Reply" button a screen appears where you type your reply message. Just above the "Message" section is a "Add Smilies" section that shows all the faces available. When you are typing you just click on the relevant face and it will insert it into your text. If you can't see the faces, I would guess that you would need to check your firewall access on your computer. Also at the bottom of your "Post Reply" message is a section that says "Disable Smilies", make sure that you have NOT ticked this box. Hope that helps Regards Diane
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Post by chippydave01 on Sept 27, 2007 11:12:52 GMT 10
Hey o/h the closest place to the lower mountains will be approx 90min drive from the lower mountains to coledale ,just north of wollongong on the weekend of 20th October.There should be about 48 vans to check out,Cheers Dave
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Post by organichead on Sept 28, 2007 23:39:10 GMT 10
Cheers Dave thats works perfic. Atleast I can enjoy a trip to Dapto to see the inlaws via a bit of a look see and chat with other members. Make it all so worthwhile. Gaud, mustn't let the trouble and strife read this!!!.
Thanks Diane that did help if only to create the problem of relaxing my fire wall a bit. I'll have to thump a few more buttons.
So regarding my questions, i've obviously drawn a blank or are you all trawling the grey matter for answers. Have I caught you on the hop. I think not....................org..........................
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Post by Franklin1 on Sept 30, 2007 22:48:22 GMT 10
Hi Organichead, If you go to this thread... vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1162467183 you will see a photo of the second van I bought being towed home on a trailer. One thing I didn't account for in the measuring and planning stages was the caravan step sticking out past the side of the van. Luckily I took some pine sleepers down with me and ended up using these to put under the van wheels in the trailer. This allowed the step to sit above the trailer sides as shown in the photo. This situation may not be relevant to you depending on the type of trailer you use versus the overall width of the van. Question 3 brakes... overhaul is possible and can be achieved by your local brakes expert. Question 4 brake handle and activator... pull handle up and engage brakes when van is to be parked for a period of time (could be camping, or when stored at home). Immediately behind the towball coupling there should be a half-sleeve which is lifted up ("unlocked") and away from the coupling shaft when towing. This allows the coupling to move backwards (when braking the tow-car) which pushes on the handle, which pulls on the cables to the wheels, which applies the caravan brakes. Remember to put the half-sleeve back in "locked" position when reversing the car/van otherwise you may be pushing the van backwards and activating the van brakes at the same time. Question 5. Next closest meet to the Blue Mountains will be the one you organise. Many will look forward to it. ;D Question 6. "Plastic" windows (also known as perspex windows) may be found on various vans. Curved ones are often found on either side of the front of Valiants, Viscounts. Other vans may have them as the rear window. Usually original. Hope this helps, cheers, Al.
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Post by chippydave01 on Oct 1, 2007 7:37:42 GMT 10
Good idea Al we might have to organise a run up the Blue Mountains for next year.I could think of a few starters already. I will through the idea around at Coledale.We would have to book it for the warmer months later next year because its no use going up there and freezing our n.... off. Richmond all Holden day can be cold enough.Cheers Dave
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Post by organichead on Oct 2, 2007 0:33:20 GMT 10
Nice one Al, thanks a bunch for the info on the brake. I gotta bit glazed on the brake system but don't have the van to compare so hopefully things will become a little more self explanitary.
A meet up here sounds fab. But only if there's more beer than vans...organic home grown veg....freedom chicken eggs and half a cow..Only summer months as I'm not coming out in the snow and it's very dangerous to eat kilos of sprouts, swedes and turnips (stuff that grows well in winter) and expect to drive long hours.....Bit of a behind wind, what, what, what... .....................................org.....parp....oops......pardon me............
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2007 9:47:21 GMT 10
Hi O/H and C/D The idea of a vint van meet up on the great divide sounds cool ( pardon the pun) to me. Katoomba, Medlow bath, Mt Victoria somewhere Next easter is Mt Gambier National Vint Van getogether and May is the traditional Lake Munmorah run. So that leaves spring/ summer . The east coast spring tour and Coledale is in October, so The Blue Mountains run would need to be mid November and no later than the second week in December to dodge the school hols. Why not bung it on in the middle of winter. Shop for a van park that allows campfires ;D A few shots of the old vans hub cap deep in snow would make for a great page in the 2009 vintage caravan calander Would certainly sort out the true vintage vanner pioneers I will take my van and park it in the van park ..... then go and book into a 5 star motel somewhere with a good central heating system. ;D ;D ;D ;D Reddo.......big girls blouse.and sook
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Post by organichead on Oct 3, 2007 1:17:12 GMT 10
A year from now sounds good to me, I should have Daphne sorted by then !!. There is a campsite here which is next to the duck pond park and huge Blackheath pool with stuff for the whipper snappers. Nice walk to Govetts Leap and obvious views. It's a bit close to us but ideal for a first run with van. (2.5 mins) Should make it. Better start the home brew now, I get the impression liquid makes the wheels go round.... ................................................org..long live real ale................
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Post by organichead on Oct 15, 2007 23:30:06 GMT 10
Rightoh, I pick the bondy up on Friday and move house on Saturday. Never rains when it pours, what ever that means. So Coledale is bollockst. I have to say I was really keen to meet some of you fair folk but will have to wait until, eh, some other time. Pop in if your passing just let me know here. Anyway you'al have a mighty fine time near the steel works and I shall do the opposite of a rain dance but only for Coledale 72hrs. Cheers .............org the nearly ready....................................
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