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Post by jamieson64 on Jul 16, 2021 15:10:11 GMT 10
Hello. We have recovered my uncles old van and would appreciate any suggestions as to what should be done to make it safe to use. We would also be keen to know the manufacturer if anyone knows. She appears sound but has no lights and the drawbar looks light and short my todays standards. Many thanks Jeff
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jul 16, 2021 19:11:52 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jul 16, 2021 19:13:16 GMT 10
A bit difficult to judge what needs to be done from only one pic
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 16, 2021 22:56:22 GMT 10
Hi Jamieson64,
What an interesting caravan. Well worth recovering!
One of the interesting features of the van is the full width front window with the three window panes. I think that’s maybe what made Roehm3108 think of Supalite. However, it’s actually a different shape to a Supalite, so I don’t think it’s that.
Can you show us some photos of the van side on, and also some photos of the inside showing the layout and furniture? That may help us identify it.
In addition, can you tell us what state your uncle had the van in. That may also provide a clue.
Regarding your comment about the drawbar being short and light, that was not unusual for the period (1950’s or very early 60’s). Many vans were built with a short, relatively lightweight drawbar.
As Roehm said, it’s a bit hard to tell you what might need to be done to make it safe to use from one photo. Additional photos will enable us to make some suggestions. However, I will make one comment, and that is that you are not required to bring the van up to modern standards or specifications to register it. If the van was built before 1 July 1990 it only needs to meet the regulations applying when it was built, providing that it has been kept in (close to) original condition without significant modifacations. So for example, that technically means that your van probably only needs one tail/stop light on the right hand side of the rear, because that’s all that was required under the regulations applying when it was built. That possibly explains why the vans has no lights (if you are meaning tail lights, turn lights, etc). Now although that may be the case, you may not feel safe towing a van without two tail/stop lights and turn lights and you may want to fit them, but that is your choice. Similarly it may be quite legal for you to use the existing coupling on the van, even though it might not be legal on a modern van. That’s just a bit of an intro for you.
It will be great to hear more about your van and see a few more photos. Do you know when your uncle got the van and how he used it?
Don Ricardo
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jul 17, 2021 8:19:51 GMT 10
DonR you could be right that it's not a Superlite. Was using my phone at the time, but it looks different on a bigger screen!!!
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