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Post by The Green's on Feb 14, 2008 21:46:35 GMT 10
Our van is aluminium (not sure of it is original or has been relined at some stage). Can anyone advise if they know where you would be able to get the older patterned aluminium. We would like to find same as front of van which is small diamond shaped pattern (not lined as on sides). I have attempted to attach photo below, hopes it works. We are new at this v.vaning stuff and would appreciate any assistance. Thanks The Greens (Tony & Michelle)  |
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 14, 2008 22:56:29 GMT 10
Hi Tony & Michelle, I would be very suspicious of that aluminium on the side being original. That profile looks to be from a period that is much later than the period your van appears to belong to (...hope that sentence makes sense). In very general terms, the caravan manufacturing process started with full plywood all round; then came the transition period where aluminium was used for the front over the roof to the rear, with ply sides; and then to full aluminium all round. I would be looking at every edge around the side aluminium to see if there was ply underneath (ie. the original ply sides). [refer this thread on Quest caravans in the History section to see how another member discovered the original ply... vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=1196246359 ] I doubt whether you'll readily find old aluminium sheeting that you could use for the sides, other than by finding an old aluminium van and stripping the stuff off it to put on your van. Other members may have some ideas. Hope this helps, cheers, Al. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 6:33:34 GMT 10
Hi Tony and Michelle. Thats a cute little van.  I will beg to differ from Al's reply and put forward the thoughts that your van is from a later transition stage . I.E: From diamond pattern to lined /ribbed pattern aluminium sheeting. Not from Ply sided to diamond aluminium siding. The longer draw bar, later style jockey wheel and mounting bracket and the front window protector suggests to me that your van was "born " around 1965 to '68. This is always open to challenge until the van is seen "in the flesh" and a good look around it both inside and outside could date it as being earlier than the dates i have suggested. It is my theory that lot of van companys where slow to accept change and i reckon thats why we see so many variations in shape/cladding/internal layouts in what appears to be the same companys vans. We could have 4 similar looking vans and argue that they are from 4 different manufacturers when in reality we could be looking at 4 vans made by the same company over a periord of 4 or 5 years.  I have one complete diamond pattern side sheet left from an old van i demolished a few years ago to build my TD. Unfortunately it has rivet holes in it as well as a window opening. Just how much are you chasing?? I cant help you if you need enough for both sides. Its wanted adverts like yours that makes me feel justified in demolishing old vans that i consider beyond repair and salvaging as many odds and sods as i can . Its a slow task removing external cladding but in the future i will do what i can to salvage this sort of material. Reddo |
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 15, 2008 8:15:23 GMT 10
Yes, I can see your points of view, reddo. Your thinking is that the van was fully clad originally in diamond pattern aluminium, and the sides have been updated. I hadn't considered that possibility (I'm genetically modified to only think "wood" ). Will be interesting to get further information as time goes on so we (or at least I) can increase our knowledge. The other interesting feature on this van is the height of the door. Looks like some "modifications" have been made and the door has been shortened, and something (air conditioner??) put above it. The door looks like it's from a pop-top type van. ...I'm very curious to see/hear more of this van... cheers, Al. |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Feb 15, 2008 12:27:56 GMT 10
Hi guys Cute little van you have there. I agree with Al - the only place you will find the diamond pattern Aluminium is on another caravan!!  I am looking for some myself - so far no luck. Been told there wouldn't be any (new stuff) anywhere in Oz. That fanlight window looks like an insert (clever idea though). Be careful about that external powerpoint beside the door - suggest you replace it with a weatherproof one for your own safety. Re the cladding, it has been suggested to me that perhaps the only way around it is to replace it with flat aluminium (no patterns, no ripples) Another suggestion was to get that stippled finish aly, which is often used as a stoneguard around the front of horse floats. The purists will rant and scream, but what is the alternative? A matter of having a tidy van vs an original dinted one!!  Even car restorers use alternative materials Ray |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 13:55:18 GMT 10
Ok guys Here i go again. memory loss and all that. Someone will find the old thread. A good while back Belinda bought a new sheet of that dimpled aluminium and her and her husband Rob fitted it to the front of thier little Atlantic van... its looks great. If someone can take the time to dig up the old post i am sure there will be info on where she purchased it from . Failing that just send her a PM. I dont think she/they visit the forum all that often, so unless someone "unearths" the info i am talking about you may have to wait a while for a reply. Have a nice weekend. reddo |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Feb 15, 2008 14:36:16 GMT 10
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Post by The Green's on Feb 15, 2008 20:14:07 GMT 10
Thanks for all the help and thoughts so far. I wasn't all that clear in my original thread. We are actually looking for the diamond patterned aluminium to hopefully build us a new door. Yes, the door has been chopped down (not sure why - it's how we got it), maybe little people owned it.
AL - Thanks for your thoughts.
Reddo - the middle section of the a-frame has been extended at some stage and the jockey wheel is not the original. The van has a front and rear window protector which have both been added as well (someone has used old aluminium screen doors to build these, they serve the purpose - judt don't look the part).
Ray - We don't look at the marks on the side and say dents, we say beauty spots! Thanks for your tip with the power point, will look into this.
Tony & Michelle (and little Ali G)
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Post by humpty2 on Feb 16, 2008 18:57:21 GMT 10
Tony & Michelle,
I have a door in the pattern you require that has come off a caravan I recently wrecked.
Get the measurements of your door opening and send them to me and I will see if they fit. I am only at Thornton, Newcastle.
The door is yours if it fits.
There is also a fair bit of the aluminium around too from the van.
Regards Humpty.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2008 18:11:32 GMT 10
Humps wrote... "I have a door in the pattern you require that has come off a caravan I recently wrecked"" YOU WHAT??? OOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Shame , shame, shame.. Mr Humpty.. everyone knows that every van is restorable. Watchya doin' wrecking vintage caravans  Say again ... shame shame shame. You sir .........are a godamn disgrace.......why i ortta come round there and give ya a good old fashion woopin'. How does the monty Python song go.. "Every Van is sacred Every van is great' If a van gets wasted God gets quite irrate" Oooooooo well alright i suppose tearing one door off and giving it to a friend is OK. ;D   Reddo |
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Post by humpty2 on Feb 17, 2008 18:23:25 GMT 10
Hey it was only TIN not fibreglass ;D ;D and all the WOOD had ROTTED on the inside, so down she went and that was ages ago! Next trip to the scrap man. |
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Post by The Green's on Feb 17, 2008 20:02:47 GMT 10
Hey Humpty , Thanks for your generous offer, it would be a fantastic help if the door does fit. Our caravan door frame size is 1.72m x .440 mm (the original door size, as you can see by the photo has been cut down - if we could find an original caravan door we will change back to the original). If your door fits the above measurement please PM as Tony drives to Newcastle regularly for work and would be glad to work something out with you. Tony, Michelle (and Ali G - the van) |
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Post by minicamper on Feb 18, 2008 12:56:34 GMT 10
Hey Reddo,
Aren't you the man that posted pictures of a certain van on a forklift being offloaded at the tip?
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Post by minicamper on Feb 18, 2008 12:56:54 GMT 10
Hey Reddo, Aren't you the man that posted pictures of a certain van on a forklift being offloaded at the tip? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 18:41:48 GMT 10
Nasty stutter you got there Chris... Me Demolish a van.... ... NEVER  ;D ;D ;D  ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 18:54:03 GMT 10
Nasty stutter you got there Chris... Me Demolish a van.... ... NEVER ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D  ;D ;D ;D  ;D ;D ;D  Nup... sorry.. ya must 'ave the wrong bloke... Reddoxynhammer |
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I am looking for some myself - so far no luck. Been told there wouldn't be any (new stuff) anywhere in Oz. 
