Franklin History

[Don Ricardo]

Hi SGTL and Hughdeany,

Thanks for your input. I have changed the first line in the post accordingly.

I love the team approach we are able to take on questions such as these on the forum. By combining our knowledge we achieve a lot.

As you both know, my knowledge base runs out about 1960 - except when it doesn't - so I always appreciate hearing from you both, and others of course.

Don Ricardo

[madelinek]

Hi! Just brought home what I beleive is a Franklin Freeway. I was told she was a 1967 model but when I replaced he tyres I was told they are dated 1962 and from what I can understand reading the thread she and comparing it to her Chassis number (603E) is she is a 1963 Franklin Freeway, is this correct or did I miss something?

She has no badging and beautiful curved windows on each corner and I'm so in love 😍

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Madelinek,

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on becoming the owner of a vintage caravan. It’s a great experience.

I’d interpret the serial number 603E as being from 1964 (that’s the E) and the 603rd van built in that year.

If you can post some photos of your van we can confirm the model for you. There are instructions on how to post photos here. Let us know if you run into any difficulties on the way and we’ll help you through. If you want to post photos using the ‘Add Attachment’ button using your mobile, note that there’s an extra step which is explained in the instructions.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

1969 Franklin Regent, serial number 1254-9, owned by Leanne J



That's a looong van to be on a single axle!

Don Ricardo

[grandad]

Sept 4, 2020 22:35:55 GMT 10 Don Ricardo said:

That's a looong van to be on a single axle!

Well, the number of axles on any given caravan is determined by weight. With modern vans having a tare of 2.5 tonne and up twin axles are a common sight that we've all become used to.
The suspension on my Mini is one of the lightest on offer from Alko. With a 45mm axles and 6 or 7 leaf springs (I can't remember which) it has a maximum carrying capacity of 1300kg.

The original factory tare on the Mini was 600kg. I'm estimating I've increased my tare to maybe 800kg so I would theoretically have a 500kg load capacity, on the lightest spring set offered. (Appropriate tyre size notwithstanding)

I wonder what the tare would have been on this Regent. Would it have exceeded 1000kg?

To the best of my knowledge, double axles do not contribute anything over what a single axle would do in regards to stability.

Jim

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Grandad,

Interesting to read your comments about the Regent.

I think you're right that with caravans now being much heavier, we're used to seeing relatively small vans with double axles. The Regent may have been relatively light for its length, but it still looks somehow just a bit ungainly with only the single axle (in my eyes anyway).

Perhaps Hughdeany will be able to tell us a bit more about that van and weight?

Don Ricardo

[bathey]

Hi All,
Hope I have the correct thread here and that it's not too old for a reply. We have purchased an old Franklin caravan circa 1978. It has the chassis number welded Y470. I can't find a model on line at all but saw something in another post that suggests it could be a Franklin Truline. Is there a way to confirm? We are giving it a full refurb including windows, cladding, lining and interior. The chassis and drawbar is something to be admired! Huge metal sections. Dual axle and it seems to be much higher off the ground than most vans of that vintage. If someone has any information on this van I would love to hear the history. I'll post some photos soon and will give some more pics as the transformation takes place. Thanks, Chris

[hughdeany]

Hi and welcome Bathey,
Your van is a 1977 model with the prefix “Y”.
When you put up pics I will be able to give you some more info about your van,they were called “ the slippery Franklin”!
Cheers
hughdeany

[bathey]

I'll put more up later but as you can see there's a lot of work to do on it. Thanks for your reply, by the way, why called the "slippery Franklin"? I hope it's not to do with the way it travelled on the road!  

[bathey]

Thanks again hughdeany, A few more pics and a question if I may, Was the van originally so high off ground level?

[hughdeany]

Hi Bathey,
Wow,you sure have a project there,I see you’ve discovered Franklins don’t have a frame as such!.
Originally your van would have had drop axles,as all Franklins did that made them sit lower on the road,this one seems to have had a fair bit of work on it,including all the standard edge moulds replaced with aluminium angle by the look of it.It actually doesn’t look like a 77 model,I reckon it’s 79 as the plate says,because those bedroom windows didn’t come out in 1977,and the van wouldn’t have sat around for a couple of years in a sales yard,they sold like hot cakes!It was called the slippery Franklin because all other vans of the time had large top front bumps that caught the wind,and this one was a swept back shape.
Hope this helps
Cheers
hughdeany

[bathey]

Thanks so much for your insight, yes we have a bit of work ahead but as they say: "A house is only as good as its foundation" ... and this one looks mighty tough! Cheers!

[reedy1000]

Hi,
We took possession of a vintage van 18mths ago which needs a renovation to be completed as it was only just started. This type of work is definitely not my area of expertise, it is my wife's dream to bring this old girl back to life, I think I better get excited too. Firstly I am ken to know the year, I think it is 1965 (the drawbar has a weld on it (353-5). Also wondering how to bring back the shiny aluminum as it is now all faded and very dull and my wife does not want to paint it. it has the diamond pattern all over except the roof i think. A few bumps and dints to contend with also. I will put up a couple of photos if I can work out how. Great reading here. 

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Reedy1000,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for showing us some photos of your Franklin. I can hear you getting all excited about it as I write!

You are correct about the build year. '-5' tells us the van was built in 1965.

I'll leave others to provide info on how to make your cladding shine.

Don Ricardo

[reedy1000]

Thanks for the quick reply. Will let you know how we get on.

Chris

[shesgotthelook]

Hello & welcome. Good call on not wanting to paint the aluminium, once done it is near impossible to remove if you change your mind! I have good success with a product called autosol using elbow grease & a polishing mitt on a wheel.

[sjw]

May 15, 2007 8:01:07 GMT 10 earlee said:

hi there F/F.

you had better put my 1964 Franklin on the list as well ...

page numbers change so here is the link:

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=forsale2&action=display&thread=1156146236

regards earlee. ;D ;D

Hello! My husband and I recently acquired the 1968 Franklin pictured on the above thread but cannot find anything about it anywhere and we would love to know what model it is. The stripe on the side seems quite unique, part way up the windows and across the door. This forum is the only picture that looks exactly the same I have been able to find. Most have multiple stripes, are lower or have diamonds on the door however ours doesn't have any of those. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Sarah

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of a Franklin commercial ‘toaster’ listed on Gumtree in July 2019:







The sign ‘Forrest Commission’ looks to be original, but we don’t spell ‘forest’ that way in Australia now, and I can’t find any documentation relating to a ‘Forrest Commission’ apart from one WA reference which seems to be referring to Sir John Forrest, the first Premier of Western Australia. It is interesting to note the pattern pressed into the cladding visible in this photo:



The caravan has been modernised inside in a relatively tasteful way. Check out the ceiling lining visible in some of the photos particularly in the corners:









The caravan was advertised as being a 1959 model, but as far as we are aware Franklin didn’t start building ‘toasters’ until after Carapark closed in the mid 60’s.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Early 1960’s Franklin caravan listed for sale in May 2018:

This caravan has had a Viscount sticker applied above the front windows at some point, but is a Franklin.





















In the early 60’s, Franklin appears to have built quite a big range of different models. We have seen very few of this model on the forum with its fully inset front windows and the square bottom corners to the middle front window. However it seems to be very similar in design to the tandem ‘Model F Special’ shown in the 1962 Franklin advert below, although the buikhead above the front windows may be a little squarer:


(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravans and Touring Manual for 1962, 14th edition, 1962, page 140)

Don Ricardo

[shesgotthelook]

The above caravan is near identical to my 1962 tandem Franklin. Same upholstery, cabinetry & ceiling etc.

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/17288/1962-franklin-bondwood-tandem

[craig74]

Hi I’m chasing cladding for my Franklin trueline not sure of the yr as it has no plate it has Y 1196 welded on the tow arm and I’m also in WA hope someone can help

[Don Ricardo]

Nov 21, 2021 17:24:54 GMT 10 craig74 said:

Hi I’m chasing cladding for my Franklin trueline not sure of the yr as it has no plate it has Y 1196 welded on the tow arm and I’m also in WA hope someone can help

Hi Craig74,

I can't help you with cladding for your van, but the serial number 'Y1196' indicates that your van was built in 1977, and was the 1,196th caravan built by Franklin in that year.

Don Ricardo

[darrenblake72]

I just purchased this 10ft 1975 franklin van but not sure on model at this stage



















It was sold as an 80 model and rego papers were 76 but going by don's post it's a 75 model with a w prefix on chassis number



It needs a total re-seal which i'll do asap so it can be used
I may even replace both internal wall due to water stains and to see if there's any rot hiding behind

Im also looking to put an original single table (if i can find one) back in the front to get it as original as possible



also want an original stone gaurd for the front window

Thanks for looking
Darren

[hughdeany]

Hi Darren,
Your van is a Franklin Hunter,looks to be in good Nick and worth re sealing.
The front stoneguard can still be purchased new,and slides into the top track of the windout window,the Franklin ones were hinged above the window,as you can probably see by the holes there.
Phoenix was a Melbourne dealer that sold Franklins ( among others) so that’s where those stickers come from.
Hope this helps
Cheers
hughdeany

[darrenblake72]

Mar 6, 2022 15:12:09 GMT 10 hughdeany said:

Hi Darren,
Your van is a Franklin Hunter,looks to be in good Nick and worth re sealing.
The front stoneguard can still be purchased new,and slides into the top track of the windout window,the Franklin ones were hinged above the window,as you can probably see by the holes there.
Phoenix was a Melbourne dealer that sold Franklins ( among others) so that’s where those stickers come from.
Hope this helps
Cheers
hughdeany

Thanks Hughdeany

I appreciate the info

now to research where the new stone guards are sold

thanks

Darren