Caravanners - what tourer do you have?

[Snagglepuss 10]

Yes I've seen the pics of your mayfair Joanne - gorgeous, just wish I had the money.

[joanne5600 10]

starlet i have sent you a pm - my uncle has a van for sale

[beemerchez 10]

Very Nice little van there snugglepuss

 

looks like one we had

 

mines nearly 30yrs old.lol

A Fleetwood.Garland.

Bone dry though and we love it after all the changers we have done to it.

[mglrgn31 10]

we have a luna zenith 6. an ideal family caravan, with 2 fixed bunk beds.

we are thinking of selling it as the kids have stopped coming with us now and going to a large 4 berth with a fixed bed.

 

its perfect for a family. large enough with all mod cons plus with the awning on it has plenty of living space.

[beemerchez 10]

With us getting older and both with bad backs

We hated making the front seating up into bed.

then we had nowhere to sit.

then in the morning making back ito seating again.

So we bought The Fleetwood it was a 5 berth

2 front bench seating then a dining bit at the back

which made into a double bed

and a bunk to go over the top.

o/h scrapped the overhead bunk bed,and brought the seating forward

strengthened it as we are not the lightest of people ;o)

and made it into a fixed bed.Perfect...

 

We have had tents/folding caravans rapidos 5 of

2 berth no toilet,or shower,

 

so now getting older and thinking in advance.

 

Heres a pic of the bed

 

[Snagglepuss 10]

Oh that looks lovely Beemerchez. That's the one and only downside to ours - having to make up and pack away the bed every day!!!! Otherwise we are very very content with our little one. Oh yes there is another, a cassette toilet would be nice but I can live with the porta potti lol

[shazatko 10]

i have a abi ambasador xl 4/5 berth, shes getting on now had her just over a yr now wouldnt be without her she is the best thing i bought she has a little damp now and we had to remove the water heater as it bust and leaked. we always go on sites that have hot water so not any poblems she will do me at least another yr when we will be upgrading to a swift quattro 6 berth, fixed bed which iv been to see a good few times at yorkshire caravans, i love the freedom of beingable to just pack up and go and with the papers doing those vouchers is great with the kids.

[beemerchez 10]

Do you know guys,

whatever you have it doesan't matter if its new or old

how much it cost or a lttle cheapo (chicken shed)

you make it your own and comfy the best you can

it gets you away a bit of freedom

weekends away with the kids/dogs.just enjoy it.

and if you don't like the site your on not to worry theres plenty more ;o)

[Snagglepuss 10]

You're absolutely right Beemerchez

[Bonjon 10]

We decided to try caravaning this year for our holidays so I bought an old Abi Dawnstar (1986), I knew it had a few bits to be done to it but didn't fully realise the extent of the problem.

 

With 3 weeks before our holiday I started to fix the little jobs!! The little jobs being damp, which soon truned into a bigger job when I realised the entire front of the van and one side wall were rotten.

 

So I stripped it all out, bunks, sidewalls, other furnature, then removed the front window(absolute pain its on solid window that doesnt open), window frame, the front panels of the van(after removing one of the front alu panels, all the wooden structure that gave the caravan its strength on the front just fell out, it was totally rotten),removed side window resealed all the external rails, reconstructed the various bits of shaped timber that have turned to black dust, recreated the window frames, panels back in, rebuilt the side walls from the alu skin inwards, got the front window in(real pain in the as), replaced the side window seal, and rebuilt all the furnature.

 

Took me close to 80hrs of work but I finished in time for our hols and had a great time.

 

Here are some pics of my build at various stages(not in order):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/04082010048.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/d369010d.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/65e68687.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/91546d0b.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/9112d5e6.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/112ec3d3.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/c5606337.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/700ade58.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll89/jonohanson/Caravan/932b6bc9.jpg

 

I still haven't done the decorating yet though so its still wooden walls, but its dry now.

 

I also had to replace the rear legs, and part of the water system.

 

I still have to sort the other half of the water system out (cant have hot yet as a non-return valve is goosed), replace the micro switched taps for pressure taps and install a pressure switch.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Bonjon

[Snagglepuss 10]

OMG what a nightmare!!! bet you were glad you got it finished in time for your hols. We have been so lucky with both our vans and have had no damp issues whatsoever. Don't think I would have the patience to cope with fixing one if it was damp lol.

[Bonjon 10]

OMG what a nightmare!!! bet you were glad you got it finished in time for your hols. We have been so lucky with both our vans and have had no damp issues whatsoever. Don't think I would have the patience to cope with fixing one if it was damp lol.

 

It was a bit annoying when I was following the damp and it never seemed to end, but I like building/destroying things so I quite enjoyed the challange.

 

Would I do it again? Yes if it didnt have a fixed window.

 

So if anyone has any issues with damp, i'm quite experienced now