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Post by Barry Lord on Nov 12, 2006 5:41:11 GMT 10
I discovered this website a few months ago, and since then have enjoyed keeping up with classic caravanning in Australia. I live in England, and our climate being what it is, many caravans have met a sorry end, rotting away in the corners of fields. There are still a fair number of caravans around waiting to be rescued though - I have five from the thirties, forties and fifties.
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Post by cobber on Nov 12, 2006 6:37:53 GMT 10
Welcome to the forum Barry & thanks for introducing yourself. You may have noticed that we have a couple of other Poms who post occasionally, UK Brian and Cornish lass. I would be interested to see photos of your collection of "Classic Caravans" as I think many of our early vans were modeled on English vans of that period. I have almost finished restoring one such van , you can see it at:- vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1149659216 And there are other examples in the "Memorabilia" section under the thread "photos from the forties". Any comment you would like to make about those caravans would be welcome. Are you a member of any of the Classic/Historic caravan clubs in the UK...things get pretty quite this time of the year eh? Keep in touch. Cobber |
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Post by ukbrian on Nov 12, 2006 19:05:33 GMT 10
Welcome Barry from one of the other Poms who also finds the Old Caravans scene in Oz very interesting. I have a 1978 Safari and run an owners' group for all Safaris at groups.msn.com/ClassicSafariCaravanEnthusiastsI find it a pity that the two UK historic/classic caravan clubs don't seem to talk to each other and really get the old caravan movement a force to be taken seriously. I would like to make contact, please email me at motordata@aol.com. As Cobber says things are now a bit quiet, just put mine away for its winter hibernation so I can get the roof painted. Brian |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 15, 2006 17:05:14 GMT 10
Haven't you guys on that little isle worked out a way to put ski's on your vans yet?  ? ;D ;D If your vans hibernate for winter, what's the point of the German Geist van (not a VV) that has central heating as standard equipment? You guys do strange things - must be caused from living upside down  Ray |
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Post by ukbrian on Nov 16, 2006 19:58:05 GMT 10
Ray It's not skis we need - in the South of England we haven't seen any snow for the last five years - ever since I bought a 4x4! I was going to say that my caravan goes indoors for the winter to avoid the worst of the rain, but checked on your rainfall figures to see how much drier things were in Australia but found that London is drier than a lot of your country! Average rainfall - London 611mm, Sydney 1222mm, Perth 703mm, Melbourne 606mm. Made me wonder how so many of your vv's survived without the damp problems that seem to destroy most UK older vans. Is it that your warmer climate dries them out more quickly? Or is it that more of you have covered storage for caravans? It is very rare for UK owners to have the space at home for a large garage/barn capable of taking a caravan. From photos on the site it seems many of you have decent sized storage at home. Mine can go into a friend's warehouse for a couple of months at this time of the year during which time I can get some work done on the outside of the van, like painting the roof. Even my 1970's caravan has a powerful gas heater that can chuck out enough heat to make it unbearably warm even in cold weather. As you say the modern vans can have full central heating or underfloor warm air blowers so thay can be used all year round. With regard to being upside down, we all wonder why you don't fall off the earth, after all we are on top!  Anyway enjoy your summer - and think of us looking out on a grey, wet, miserable day. Brian |
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Post by cobber on Nov 17, 2006 7:24:52 GMT 10
G’day Brian, Your conclusions are right and what Col says is true.... but to re-enforce the point...I live about 35 km west of Sydney (as the crow flies)our rainfall last year was 725mm...2004 it was 692.65mm....2003 it was 671.95...2002 it was 578.85 and so it goes. 2005’s rainfall was acquired over 81 days, which is pretty average, so that leaves plenty of days for things, including caravans, to dry out. But to put the whole thing into perspective when comparing with the UK have a gander at :- www.giftlog.com/images/cards/Australia_Europe.jpgAs for whose “on top” Ozone depleting gases are lighter than air, right?  Most of these gases are produced in the Northern hemisphere, right?  The hole in the ozone layer is above Antarctica...the south pole, right?  So the gases have migrated from the northern hemisphere... upwards..to the southern hemisphere. ;D This proves beyond all doubt...WE ARE ON TOP. ;D ;D ;D ;D Cobber. |
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Post by ukbrian on Nov 17, 2006 9:05:33 GMT 10
Cobber
Most of these gases are produced in the Northern hemisphere, right?
I thought the hole was caused by the sheep emitting methane!
The map is interesting, I would have to go through at least ten countries to get from one side to the other!
Brian
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 22, 2006 18:01:32 GMT 10
That's a great link Cobber!! Never seen that comparison before! While you're listening Cobber - have chucked the pipe away completely now!
I can understand the northern vans having/needing central heating, but why in OZ, especially when they also have reverse cycle air-con in them. Think of how much cheaper they could sell them for if they built them for our conditions without that un-necessary stuff. But then, I guess they are not like us practical VV thinkers!!
Brian, the sheep problem is peculiar to New Zealand (aka as the defacto 8th state of OZ)
Ray
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Post by cobber on Nov 22, 2006 19:41:54 GMT 10
Ray!!! It grieves me greatly to hear that you have capitulated to the tobacco Nazis of this world...why don't you just limit yourself to one or two pipes a day...moderation in all things is good... for-instance I can't understand why anybody would want six vintage caravans, two is plenty...... for me... for now  . Cobber. |
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? ;D ;D
