Weather skirt?

[happydays]

We are going on a family trip to the snow in the trusty van and will be using the annex to dry clothes etc. However, I do not have the weather skirt that clips on to the caravan to keep the wind out.

I have the canvas ready to go but was hoping someone might be able to show me a photo of one. Unfortunatley I don't have the original to copy and can't remember the shape of it.

I am particularily interested in the front end and under the door.


Would be most greatful for any help.

FYI - I have a 1966 Valiant.

Cheers
Janelle

[Roehm3108]

Skirts are all tailor-made to the van. Get a roll of brown paper, tape it to the van and draw your pattern. If you already have the press studs, mark them as well, or mark them when you have made the skirt. Easy Peasy, even a MM can make them. Just ask Franklin1

[Franklin1]

G'day Janelle,

These skirts don't seem to be all that common, if the photos from the Broken Hill Nats are anything to go by. However, if you click on this post and scroll down to the 13th photo in that post, you'll see a side-on view of one. Also click on this post and count down 30 pictures till you get to a silver Ambassador Alumvan with a green annexe, and you'll catch a glimpse of how the front of the skirt ties in with the front wall of the annexe.

cheers,
Al.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Happydays,

Going to the snow in the van? You are an intrepid adventurer! I know that UK vanners like to get out in their vans in the snow, but I don't think it happens too often in Australia. Apart from anything else, the windy roads we normally have to take to get to the snowline are not all that much fun in a van even without snow. However, I'm not trying to discourage you - we'd all love to see some pics when you get back!

Regarding skirts for your van, I can show you a photo of a skirt that my mother made for our van back in the 60's (maybe even late 50's?):



The skirt went right around the van (all four sides)and hooked on under floor level with cup hooks, and then was pinned down with tent pegs at ground level. The purpose was twofold - to keep the wind out, and also to store things under the van out of sight.

The skirt we use with our new (ie 1983!) annexe is a bit different to that, and is probably more like what you are thinking of. I don't have a photo readily to hand, but if you can wait until the weekend I should be able to get a photo of it for you if that would be helpful? In the meantime I've done a little drawing and will try and describe our current skirt:



As you can see the skirt is essentially a rectangle the length of the annexe on the van. At either end is a triangle sewn on to the top edge to cover the area which would be open to the air because of the curve of the front and back walls. A further rectangle is sewn on the top edge to cover the wheel arch (this could be made to be the shape of the wheel arch if circular, etc). There are also two slits cut into the skirt to accommodate the arms of the fold out step which you wouldn't need if you have a stand alone step. The skirt is attached to the caravan using press studs along the van at floor level and also placed up the curve of the walls and around the wheel arch.  The skirt is then pinned down using tent pegs through eyelets.

Hope that info may be of some help.

By the bye, the photo of our van above was taken at Echuca at Easter 1982, so the skirt my mother made was 20+ years old at that point and still quite serviceable.  The Holden station wagon belonged to a friend who was visiting us at the time.

Don Ricardo

[happydays]

Thank you for all your help. Feeling much better about cutting into my canvas. I think I will get some brown paper.

Don if it's not too much trouble an extra photo would be good.

We are going to stay at Adaminiby and go to mt Selwyn so shouldn't be too tricky with the van. Fingers crossed.

Cheers
Janelle

[happydays]

It's done. I decided not to put the cut out for the step in. I'll make a step that is at a better height than the one attached to the van.

Thanks again for the tips and sorry about the size of the photo. I've done this post from my phone.

Janelle

[Don Ricardo]

HI Happydays,

Apologies for not posting the photo of the skirt for our van. A few things got in the way of me doing it for you...

BUT looks like you didn't need it. You've done an excellent job. Well done. Looks the goods to me.

Don Ricardo