Atlantic 1963 new door needed

[The Green's]

Hi all,
just wondering if anyone can recommend somewhere in SE Qld that may build a new door. We have an aluminium Atlanic caravan that has had the door cut done in a previous life (many many years ago) and we are thinking of restoring to original size. Not sure where to head to source this work.
Muchly appreciated
Michelle & Tony

[Franklin1]

G'day The Green's and welcome to the forum.

I reckon you've got quite a challenge to get a door made to match your van. I presume a 1963 Atlantic has the diamond pattern aluminium cladding, and therefore the chances of sourcing some for a door would be "none and Buckley's". It would be the case of having to find a donor van to give you sufficient material for what you want to do.
I'm inclined to think that you might have to explore options that are "outside the box" a bit. Maybe look at the door you have, and think about how you could modify your door to suit your requirement. Perhaps adding plywood/timber, and some creative silver paintwork, could end up looking decent?

Let's see if others can add to the conversation.

cheers,
Al.

[The Green's]

Thanks Al,
Yes happy not to have original. The aluminium is the diamond pattern. Just trying to get a better seal and thinking it may have been worth fixing up a full sized door. Appreciate your suggestion, maybe have to go this way
Cheers M & T

Nov 17, 2024 8:32:54 GMT 10 Franklin1 said:

G'day The Green's and welcome to the forum.

I reckon you've got quite a challenge to get a door made to match your van. I presume a 1963 Atlantic has the diamond pattern aluminium cladding, and therefore the chances of sourcing some for a door would be "none and Buckley's". It would be the case of having to find a donor van to give you sufficient material for what you want to do.
I'm inclined to think that you might have to explore options that are "outside the box" a bit. Maybe look at the door you have, and think about how you could modify your door to suit your requirement. Perhaps adding plywood/timber, and some creative silver paintwork, could end up looking decent?

Let's see if others can add to the conversation.

cheers,
Al.

[cobber]

G’day Michelle & Tony good to see you and the Atlantic are still on the scene.
Is the door we are talking about the one we can see on your avatar? Your wanting to extend its hight because that window or whatever it is above the door is leaking ?
As Al said you have to hope somebody will pop up out of the woodwork with an aluminium door, fat chance.

I would just concentrate on fixing the leak and put up with the door as it is, as you have done for many years, or adopt one of Al’s suggestions.

Does your Atlantic still have its you beaut ice box in it 😉

Cobber.

[The Green's]

Hi Cobber,
Yes we are still about, busy living life. I did lose my login details and just managed to come across and update to new email so back in he land of VV. Great seeing a lot of the same names about on site.
Yes we still have our little van and still has the original ice chest. We do take a 12v fridge for luxury but refuse to pull the ice box out. The van is still living its best life and doing a lot of travelling about.
We are in Qld now so lots of Qld outback has been travelled.
It is not leaking water but a lot of dust when travelling dirt roads, we have tried some different door rubbers but still get in, the door just doesn't seem to square as well as it should (we have reverted to having to tape the door as needed.
Its just something we have always thought about - if we are to try modifying to stop the dust then maybe we should look at taking the added little window out and replacing with a full door (our door is also more narrow than many vans so difficult to modify. Just didn't know what type of trade would be able to do this (not sure if Aluminium fab or a caravan repair joint). We did meet someone years ago (from Coffs) through VV that suggested he could build a new timber door but at the time were didn't get around to it - just thinking again about it.
Taking all info on board and appreciate.
Cheers M & T

Nov 17, 2024 11:45:08 GMT 10 cobber said:

G’day Michelle & Tony good to see you and the Atlantic are still on the scene.
Is the door we are talking about the one we can see on your avatar? Your wanting to extend its hight because that window or whatever it is above the door is leaking ?
As Al said you have to hope somebody will pop up out of the woodwork with an aluminium door, fat chance.

I would just concentrate on fixing the leak and put up with the door as it is, as you have done for many years, or adopt one of Al’s suggestions.

Does your Atlantic still have its you beaut ice box in it 😉

Cobber.

[Franklin1]

G'day again, The Green's...

I pinched the photo of your van from your avatar. Are you saying the "window" above the door is fixed?

With regard to the dust getting into the van - I've had success fitting the following weather seal on the opening side of my door, mainly to take up the slack that's developed between the door and the door jamb when it's closed (ie. to stop the door 'rattling'):

If I owned your van and wanted to fit a full-size door onto it, I would look at what's possible in doing the following:

1. take out the window above the door,

2. move the existing door up to the top of the door opening

3. add new length to the bottom of the door, in the form of stucco aluminium, or painted plywood/timber, or an aluminium vent.

I would think that moving the door up would be visually preferred, and anything added at the bottom would be less likely to draw the eye to it. I guess I'd be looking for someone who was familiar with these old vans and was prepared to explore various options and possibilities to achieve the end-point. Forum member shesgotthelook had a lot of success employing a retired builder for a couple of her restorations, and I'd be asking around if anybody knew somebody, along those lines, who might be interested/suitable.

It's a nice little van you've got there. Great to hear you enjoy travelling around the countryside with it.

cheers,

Al.

[The Green's]

Nov 18, 2024 20:17:34 GMT 10 Franklin1 said:

G'day again, The Green's...

I pinched the photo of your van from your avatar. Are you saying the "window" above the door is fixed?

With regard to the dust getting into the van - I've had success fitting the following weather seal on the opening side of my door, mainly to take up the slack that's developed between the door and the door jamb when it's closed (ie. to stop the door 'rattling'):

If I owned your van and wanted to fit a full-size door onto it, I would look at what's possible in doing the following:

1. take out the window above the door,

2. move the existing door up to the top of the door opening

3. add new length to the bottom of the door, in the form of stucco aluminium, or painted plywood/timber, or an aluminium vent.

I would think that moving the door up would be visually preferred, and anything added at the bottom would be less likely to draw the eye to it. I guess I'd be looking for someone who was familiar with these old vans and was prepared to explore various options and possibilities to achieve the end-point. Forum member shesgotthelook had a lot of success employing a retired builder for a couple of her restorations, and I'd be asking around if anybody knew somebody, along those lines, who might be interested/suitable.

It's a nice little van you've got there. Great to hear you enjoy travelling around the countryside with it.

cheers,

Al.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and advise. Will look into the rubber straight away and keep your ideas close to mind, definitely makes great sense (we hadn't even thought of moving up) - its a great idea.
Muchly appreciated
M & T