Sunliner: wheel base width?

[miaow]

I am a newbie vintage caravan person. I've been keen on getting a Sunliner for a while to tow behind my Supersnipe. I recently got the above caravan on Ebay and I'm going to pick it up at the end of the month. I was wondering if anyone could tell me the width between the wheels so I know what size car trailer to hire? I'm not even sure of the year or model at this point.
Thank you!


Beth

[dosse]

G'Day Beth
I cant help with your request on width of your van,but interested in your car as our tow car
as is a mark iv supersnipe.
Regards David
dosse

[humpty2]

I will get back to you tomorrow night with that measurement but..........friends who picked one up found the fit veeeeeeery tight!!'

Humpty

[humpty2]

Measured 2 of 'em............ 1 with radial ply tyres was 2050mm, 1 with cross ply tyres was 2000mm exact.
Hope this can be of some assistance to you.
To establish the year of it, just look on the chassis about 8 inches back from the coupling. There should be a number which will read YYMM then something to separate from the build number eg.
6206 X 125

[Jim]

I’d like to know what’s happening with the Sunliner move.

On Humpty’s measurements it’s not surprising his mate’s van was a tight fit and JB had to run one wheel up on the side.

Car carriers are generally (but not always) two widths between the sides..

Most later built car carriers are about 2.0 mt. maximum between the sides.
Earlier built carriers are less.. about 1.93 mt. maximum between the sides.

The less common 'Deck Over Wheels' type of carrier gives you a full 2.5 metres but are usually a lot heavier than a conventional trailer.

The difference came about when the maximum allowable width was changed from 8 feet (2.44 mt) to 2.5 metres.

Guards are usually 250mm (or 10 inches) hence the 1.93 mt. (6’4”) on older trailers.

It would be best to get the seller to check the width of the particular van you’ve bought.

What’s the stud pattern on these vans Humpty?

If it’s early Holden possibly a pair of 13 inch wheels with skinny cross plies might make the difference.

When it’s that tight you really need to check the trailer you intend to use or find a “deck over wheels” type of trailer.
Another alternative is a tilt tray truck but that could get really expensive.

[type82e]

if they are early holden wheels, fitting 13" torana wheels give you a bit more clearance as they sit about 2 cm's closer to the hub
marcel

[Jim]

Thanks for that Marcel
One learns something every day.. I always thought that apart from appearance, they were the same..
40mm is significant when it’s very tight.

JB
I’m not familiar with Sunliners apart from info on here and watching various ebay sales.

What is the independent suspension you mention? Do you have any pictures?
I’d be more than interested in seeing what it is, if it’s something other than a beam and leaves.

I gather you mean it’s an Alko type rubber suspension you wish to fit?
It’s a great suspension for the highway and virtually eliminates axle steer on good to medium roads, but two things to be mindful..

1..
Be sure the load rating on the assembly you buy is close to what the loaded travelling van weight really is.
No guesses mate, no cheating like you might with registration, otherwise you don’t get the best out of it.

Don’t just accept the ‘near enough will do’ that you might get from agents, you can tune them to a specific weight range if you give Alko the figures.
You might wait a bit longer but you get it right.

2..
Wheel travel is limited.
Indifferent roads and corrugations can have a long term effect on any suspension and the rubber thing is a little more susceptible to failure than others when things get rough and wheel travel extends to both ends at a rapid rate.

Consider having a controller in each vehicle.
Good controllers are cheap enough now to just have one in every vehicle and not have to swap them over.

And..
A double horse float behind a Telstar? Slightly illegal?? Good electric brakes or not, you should be locked up, you old fart!

[santa28a]

Jim,
here is a photo of the sunliner suspension and the spaceframe chassis. Very advanced for the late 50's

[Jim]

santa28a said:

Jim,
here is a photo of the sunliner suspension and the spaceframe chassis. Very advanced for the late 50's

Thanks mate
It sure is advanced for its age
More advanced than the current Windsor suspension, it seems.
From the picture it looks like it would to be better to restore it to a good working condition than use IS rubber.
Brakes would be easy to add.

[humpty2]

All Sunliners I have encountered have 13 inch Holden wheels.
Regarding the independent suspension....early Sunliners had these but moved to leaf springs for cost reasons..........and the habit of the wheel occasionally falling off when the spigot holding the axle inside the casing sheared due to an excessive travel "happening".
Spyder on this site has just rebuilt his suspension using Motor Cycle suspension parts. I am sure he could provide more details if required.

[mytriumphcar]

This Sunliner road test may be of interest to some
Cheers
Kathryn