Rydeasy Trailer caravans

[Franklin1]

On Jan 22, 2006, old374 wrote: Hi, I have recently purchased an old van from a country property and I am trying to find out some details about it . It is 9ft 6" long and 5ft 10" wide. It has a porthole window on each side as well as an opening window on each side. There was a tag on the drawbar which reads as follows:

RYDEASY Trailer
Built by : JC Rydstrom
700 Princes Hwy, Kogarah

Nothing stamped in the model or serial numbers boxes. It is a full plywood van with front galley, dry ice chest , sink and stove area, it has a large wardrobe and overhead cupboards on each side. There is a 'U' Shaped seating area which turns into a double bed.



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Reply by trodler: I have had a look through all of my Motor Manual Caravan Magazines from the 40s on and all I can come up with is the manufacture's Name and Address starting in the early 50s. Maybe RYDEASY was only a small caravan builder.

[rydeasy]

Hi
My name is Jeanette, the daughter of JC Rydstrom and I can identify the van but am new to this forum business and am having trouble posting reply. Hope it works this time.
Cheers,
rydeasy

[cobber]

G'day Jeanette,

Welcome to this forum and you're doing fine..... you've found the "Down History Lane" board where we like to gather as much information as possible on the history of the caravans we love.

Do you have any family photos of your Dad's involvement in the industry or memories of trips you did in Dad's wonderful creation.... we like to hear about all that type of stuff.

If you have photos and don't know how to post them on the forum (and it isn't easy ) you can email them to one of us and we can post them for you

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

On 19 April 2011, Rydeasy responded to a post by Old374 as follows:

Hi Shaun

My name is Jeanette Rydstrom and I believe your van was made by my father, JC Rydstrom. He carried on a one-man business in Kogarah in the late 1940s and 50s, making trailers and towbars and caravans. This van would be quite rare as he only made a small number of caravans. I can't tell you much more as I was a young child at the time, but I don't remember the porthole windows, nor the cut-in small door. Perhaps they were added later. I hope your renovation was successful and if you see this post would love to see an updated photo.
Best wishes,
rydeasy

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On 20 April 2011, Rydeasy posted again providing some additional information:

Hi Shaun

Jiust came across your posting the other day and I can tell you that the caravan was built by my father, JC Rydstrom, who ran a one-man business in Kogarah in the late 1940s and 50s. The caravan is quite rare because he only built a few vans to the best of my recollection. His main trade was in towbars and repairs but he also built trailers.
I hope that you see this response because I am interested to know whether you completed the renovation. The basic caravan looks as I remember it, but I am not sure about the porthole window. I think that may have been added later and ditto the inset door in the main door.

Best wishes
rydeasy