1967 Franklin ??? caravan

[stevefranklin]

Hi All,
I'm a new member here, so please forgive me if I seem ignorant.
i am trying to find out the model of a caravan i just purchased, i did see photos on this forum from around 2008 which shows the exact van i have purchased, it has the same dent on the left hand front. I have seen similar shaped vans, however the door is in front of the wheel, mine is behind the wheel
VIN on drawbar is 229-7 so I'm figuring 1967


I will probably be asking a lot of questions here, but just to get us started;
would it be worth trying to restore this to original, i know you never get back what you put into a resto, but,
i am thinking of new running gear and coupler ect. hydro brakes, 
upgrading all electrics, I'm thinking 12v lighting plus ability to connect to mains when possible, i don't know if fridge is working
the interior is pretty good for its age, need to replace some timber framing (I don't think this is a sandwich panel construction) around bottoms of front and back windows due to seals shrinking- know any good window/window seal guys in melb area?
I am hoping the stove is still working too
i cannot test gas  as the regulator is gone and i don't trust power due to the previous owners "work"
if anyone has drawings of this van or circuit diagram would also be very handy
i don't know what the pop-up part of the roof is called, but it is missing, again know of someone who could help with this?
i will attach photo of current "paint job" which i am trying to rectify in following posts
cheers,
steve

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Stevefranklin,

Welcome to the forum. Great to hear that this caravan is still alive and kicking, or will be once you've done your refurbishment of it.

Yes, you are quite correct the '-7' in the serial number indicates that your van was built in 1967, and '229' tells us it was the 229th van built by Franklin in that year.

You may not have found Hughdeany's reply to your earlier post, but your van is a Franklin Safari. (He estimated that the van was a late 1966 model, which is pretty close, but the serial number confirms that it is 1967.)

I'll leave others to comment on your questions about what needs to be done to the van, but the 'pop up part' in the roof is usually referred to as a hatch or roof hatch.

Hope that helps a bit. We'll look forward to hearing more about your work on the van as you proceed.

Don Ricardo

[stevefranklin]

Hi Don,
thanks for that, that is great that it's a safari, i will be towing it with a Patrol, which in Japan is also a safari!!
i could not find Hughdaeny's reply, will try looking for it again
cheers
steve

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Stevefranklin,

Hughdeany replied to your original post on the Franklin History thread in the Down History Lane section. You'll find it if you click on this link.

Nice to know your Safari is going to be towed by a Safari! Very fitting.

Don Ricardo

[stevefranklin]

Hi everyone,
I have found some time to add some photos


this is how i got her

Attachments:

[stevefranklin]

some work so far




front and rear window framing 


rear window install

[stevefranklin]

does anyone know the original colour name or number

i take it that the original colour is the lighter green, don't know if the olive was added or if original has changed over the last 50 years

[hughdeany]

Hi Steve,
Those colours were both in use by Franklin,but from memory your van has olive green upholstery so that would be the exterior colours.
They also weren’t Holden colours,contrary to popular belief.
Cheers
hughdeany

[stevefranklin]

hi Hugh/Don,
i am starting to turn the corner on the resto of my van and was thinking of putting a vapour barrier (left over from a job) on the outside of the frame under the aluminium cladding, have you done this before and is there any drawbacks from doing this?

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Stevefranklin,

Sorry, I'm not the one to ask about a vapour barrier. I haven't had to restore or renovate a caravan, so don't really know how well what you are suggesting would work.

Hughdeany may have some ideas, or perhaps someone else on the Forum with some experience of relining a van will be able to provide you with some wisdom.

Good to hear that your project is progressing though.

Don Ricardo

[stevefranklin]

hi everyone,
i am currently looking into making moulds for wheel spats for the 67 Franklin, i was wondering if anyone would be interested or wants these for their van, if a few people are interested to purchase some it may make the whole process viable

[stevefranklin]

Hi All,
i have replaced my old axle with a new one and was wondering if anyone would be interested in the original one, i read somewhere on this forum that a member regretted getting rid of their original axle, i simply do not have room for it.
also comes with original brakes and wheels, please note it will need new u-bolts if you wish to use it

[stevefranklin]

Hi All,
i have just recieved back my reproduction wheel spats for my 67 Franklin Safari and am very pleased with the quality. the glass workers are world class and have made a near exact copy of the original (i only had the passenger side spat) and have also made them more durable.
i will probably be able to get a few more sets from the mould which i had produced, so if anyone is interested please direct message me