Info wanted.. Roadhaven Caravans

[Jim]

Does anyone have any information about, or know the whereabouts of, vans for sale.. built by Roadhaven Caravans?

They were manufactured in Melbourne (I believe) in the 50's 60's and maybe into the 70's.

I remember seeing a couple of them on the road when I was bumming around the country with a swag and a VW Beetle about 35 years ago.

At the time I thought.. 'If I ever get flush with cash I'll buy one of them!'

I've now got some cash but I can't find a Roadhaven.

Help please.

[Deleted]

Hi Jim,
the 1960 edition of the "Australian Touring & Caravan Manual" has a picture of a Roadhaven van, but very little detail ....its looks about a 15 footer ......let me know if you want a copy.

Cheers

Mark

[Deleted]

Hi Jim,Roadhaven caravans wer made in Melbourne in the 50,s 60,s and 70,s.
They were advertised as the Rolls Royce of caravans and believe me they were!
Everything fitted and matched perfectly with not a screw out of alignment or cupboard and wall shapes meeting without any plastic mouldings or fillers. The only problem was they were so heavy! I have owned 2 over the years and the last one (a 20 footer) I towed with a 4.2 Patrol which struggled to sit on 80kmh!
Despite this I would have another one tomorrow, if I could find one.(at a realistic price) I met the owners son about 10 years ago and he had all the plans and names of the vans they had built over the years and was a mine of information.All the vans were custom built and had brass ,copper and stainless steel door handles,kick strips edge mouldings etc.
I have just seen a 12footer in Just Cars mag for $7000.00 but it is advertised as a 1958 crusader! Dont know how they stuffed that one up !Good luck in yourhunt for one,all I can suggest is if you see one ,go and ask the owner if they want to sell!
Cheers
Hughdeani

[Jim]

Thanks very much for the replies guys.

Mark.. I’d love a copy of whatever you info you have.. Maybe you could scan it and send it? I’ll email you, and I have some other info about the grey van that may interest you (See the thread about that van that was for sale)

Hugh.. Thanks for the background info. Odd how things stick in your mind for years.
I was very impressed with the Roadhavens I saw, and it was many years ago.
I seem to remember they were built in Northcote?

I’ll go get a copy of Just Cars as soon as possible.
By coincidence I have a little 10 footer Crusader van
Thanks again
Jim

[Jim]

Hi Hugh
I can only find cars in Just Cars (sorta makes sense I guess, considering the name)
Which issue and page did you see the Roadhaven on?
Jim

hughdeani said:

I have just seen a 12footer in Just Cars mag for $7000.00 but it is advertised as a 1958 crusader! Dont know how they stuffed that one up !Good luck in yourhunt for one,all I can suggest is if you see one ,go and ask the owner if they want to sell!
Cheers
Hughdeani

[Deleted]

Hi Jim,
Roadhaven is in January2005 issue of Just Cars
page 69 listed as 1958 Crusader.Its really a mid sixties
bondwood and aluminium model,hope this is of some help to you
Cheers
Hughdeani

[Jim]

Thanks Hugh..

I can't find or get a Jan copy.. the Feb one has been out too long now.
Could you or someone scan the item for me please?

Jim

[ditzygypsy]

Jim

I hope this may help. Mark found it in the 1960 Caravan and Touring Manual.

[Jim]

Thanks very much for the picture Ditzy

Joggs my memory about both the van and the address.. The build quality was exceptional.

And the phone number.. Good Heavens, how long is it since the letters were replaced with numbers? Was it sometime in the 60's?

I also remember Roadhaven vans having a different roof style.. possibly later models.

The roof was sort of saucer shaped, curving both across the van as well as along the length, and possibly a one piece fibreglass moulding.

Does that ring any bells with people?

[Roadhaven caravans]

Hi Jim,
I think you're getting mixed up with Adelma,Roadmaster,Classic or Greythorn caravans, they all had fibreglass roofs that curved front to back and side to side. Roadhaven had a roof where the top was curved over the side about an inch,which is why they didnt have any water leaks from the roof pity the more modern ones dont have the extra trouble taken with them!
Cheers
Hughdeani

[Jim]

I think you're right Hugh..
The names Greythorn and Classic certainly rings a bell and it's probably Greythorn that I'm thinking off regarding the two way curved roof.

And now you mention it, it was probably something to do with the rooflines on both Roadhaven and Greythorn that addressed the problem of water leaks that was one of the things that impressed me about those vans.

The Millard we lived in for about about 18 months, back in the 60's had a roof built along the lines of a shower head with depressions that pooled the water.
The joint sealing on the roof, as it came out of the factory, was as rough as rough, and looked even rougher after I'd been at it a few times with bitumen sealer.

Does anyone have any information about Greythorn vans?

Jim