Post by Administrator on May 6, 2007 22:31:00 GMT 10
From Peter in Holland ...........................
Hello Mark,
Only recently I stumbled over your internet-site about vintage caravans!
I just wanted to congratulate you on this beautiful site!
There is so much information there and so many pictures of old caravans.
I live in Holland and we have a Citroen Traction (1954), for the hobby.
It is in a bit of a sorry state, but it is a good runner.
And, as you allready wrote in your site, I wanted a vintage caravan
to compliment the car.
So I bought an old caravan.
But gradually, I am becoming more interested in these old caravans than in the car.
Maybe it's because there are several thousand of these cars around, and probably
only about four of these caravans.
With our climat here, masonite caravans don't live very long......
Here in Holland there are very few old caravans left. The ones that have survived are mostly
aluminium plated or polyester.
The caravan was probably built in 1967, but it can also be 1963.
Built in Holland, at a company called KEMA that only existed from 1963 to 1972.
This company did not survive what we call the "oil-crisis".
Is has spring leaves and drum-brakes.
A very simple steel undercarriage.
The complete body is a beech-wood frame, covered with masonite.
The entire inside is from birch-ply.
It still has the original cooker and water tank.
Real glass windows, except the left front window, that's plastic.
It weighs 445 kilo's and it's body is 3,65 meter long, and 1,85 meter wide.
So actually I'm too tall to sleep in it......
The roof can be raised (we call it "the pop-top")
This poptop has a un-painted polyester top-side. This lets in a lot of light!
Because of this the caravan seems very spacious!
No fridge, no heating-system, no insulation, no double glazing........
Because of the fact that I am too tall and the fact that it is very difficult to keep the caravan in a good condition, in our climat,
I am making plans to build a second one. I have allready started to make a drawing of it, in a CAD-program.
I will probably just copy the caravan, but make the sides bending outwards. Thus creating more width.
I particually like these models with bent-out-sides. E.G. the SMV's model 8 and 10 (from Sweden)
My plan is to use square steel pipes (20 x 20 x 2mm) for the body-frame and to cover it with aliminium plate (0,75mm).
It may actually become lighter.
I haven't found a DIY-corner on your site yet. Are there any members of your site who are doing things like that?
I enclosed two pictures. Feel free to put them on your site.
On one of them you also se my two boys (10 and 14).
Ofcourse I have some more, incase someone is interested.
Well, that's all for now.
I hope you liked my story.
Lots of success with your site.
I have put it with my favourites.
Greetings
Peter.
Dinxperlo
Holland
Hello Mark,
Only recently I stumbled over your internet-site about vintage caravans!
I just wanted to congratulate you on this beautiful site!
There is so much information there and so many pictures of old caravans.
I live in Holland and we have a Citroen Traction (1954), for the hobby.
It is in a bit of a sorry state, but it is a good runner.
And, as you allready wrote in your site, I wanted a vintage caravan
to compliment the car.
So I bought an old caravan.
But gradually, I am becoming more interested in these old caravans than in the car.
Maybe it's because there are several thousand of these cars around, and probably
only about four of these caravans.
With our climat here, masonite caravans don't live very long......
Here in Holland there are very few old caravans left. The ones that have survived are mostly
aluminium plated or polyester.
The caravan was probably built in 1967, but it can also be 1963.
Built in Holland, at a company called KEMA that only existed from 1963 to 1972.
This company did not survive what we call the "oil-crisis".
Is has spring leaves and drum-brakes.
A very simple steel undercarriage.
The complete body is a beech-wood frame, covered with masonite.
The entire inside is from birch-ply.
It still has the original cooker and water tank.
Real glass windows, except the left front window, that's plastic.
It weighs 445 kilo's and it's body is 3,65 meter long, and 1,85 meter wide.
So actually I'm too tall to sleep in it......
The roof can be raised (we call it "the pop-top")
This poptop has a un-painted polyester top-side. This lets in a lot of light!
Because of this the caravan seems very spacious!
No fridge, no heating-system, no insulation, no double glazing........
Because of the fact that I am too tall and the fact that it is very difficult to keep the caravan in a good condition, in our climat,
I am making plans to build a second one. I have allready started to make a drawing of it, in a CAD-program.
I will probably just copy the caravan, but make the sides bending outwards. Thus creating more width.
I particually like these models with bent-out-sides. E.G. the SMV's model 8 and 10 (from Sweden)
My plan is to use square steel pipes (20 x 20 x 2mm) for the body-frame and to cover it with aliminium plate (0,75mm).
It may actually become lighter.
I haven't found a DIY-corner on your site yet. Are there any members of your site who are doing things like that?
I enclosed two pictures. Feel free to put them on your site.
On one of them you also se my two boys (10 and 14).
Ofcourse I have some more, incase someone is interested.
Well, that's all for now.
I hope you liked my story.
Lots of success with your site.
I have put it with my favourites.
Greetings
Peter.
Dinxperlo
Holland
