1973ish Campavan - The Orange Palace

[Seth]

Yes! We finally dragged it home from my brother in laws. I present to you the state-of-the-art trailer tent circa early/mid seventies ;D

Made in this country we believe but quite unusual now. It opens up in a really funky way (the box slides off the chassis/floor) to result in an internal area of around 18' x 6 1/2' , two thirds of which is off the ground. Then there's an awning too which is probably another 18' x 6' but we haven't put that up yet so don't know for sure.





The kitchen unit is seperate but can swing round and be supported on its one leg and the trailer.





The outer corrrugated plastic covering is craked in places (hence the gaffer tape) but other than that it is in really good condition. We even got the original owners instruction sheet with it. I'll have to come up with a good looking solutuion to the cracked plastic (possibly aluminium sheet over the top) and would like to swap some mini wheels of some sort on.



The problem is that there isn't much clearance above the exisiting 8" wheels and I can't put a wheel arch up into the box becase of the way it opens. I shall have to have a measure and see what can be done. There was a nice pair of Gemini wheels on ebay last week.

I suppose we really ought to try staying in it for a weekend to make sure all is ship shape before I start playing ;D

[trg1984]

cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-Dunlop-D1-classic-mini-wheels-10-inch-refurbished_W0QQitemZ330142442001QQihZ014QQcategoryZ9888QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

these would be ideal, theres only 2 for sale aswell

[wagoneer]

That seems to have an Indespension set up, so does that mean you could put a thick spacer in there to give yourself a little more wheel clearance?

[Davenger]

Those dunlops would look sweet.
Strange how trailer tents look pretty much the same as they did then.
My mum and her fella are thinking about buying one, and apart from the colour it looks pretty much identical.

[Seth]

wagoneer said:

That seems to have an Indespension set up, so does that mean you could put a thick spacer in there to give yourself a little more wheel clearance?

Yes, I've considered that though its a bit scary how the suspension is mounted now and moving them further from the chassis will definitly call for some triangulation. Also the trailer already sits quite high over the road so even taller wheels/tyres might make it a bit unstable. It's probably going to be winter/next year by the time I mess about with it as we'll see how it goes as is for the remainder of the year.

[sparko]

band the origional wheels on some stretched rubber

[Seth]

Well, we've had it all out propely this weekend. I think I might not bother with the whole changing wheels thing as it may mess up the way it assembles into a tent - height to the ground is reasonably critical.

So until I make my mind up I've painted the wheels shiny black and added narrow band whitewalls. Just need to go and get some chrome wheel nuts now

[popuptoaster]

I have a fold up caravan, french though and rare over here, has hard sides rather than fabric ones.



here it is at Classic ford show


not massive inside, but it has everrything you need, and it goes up in about 4 mins and tows more like a trailer than a caravan so you don't ened up holding everytone up (well not when you pulling it with the V8 jeep anyway)

[grizz]

Popup, the big thing with these caravans is how much is enough ?

I suspect that you and Seth have "enough" one needs a place to cook, and sleep, not much more when camping.

I would love a retro caravan, or a campervan, but space is also at a premium at Cassa Kemp, so my bike and its modifications will have to do for now.
Home made stainless carrier, and thick gauge aluminium tray to take my 3man tent, and then topbox fits over it to create a high backrest for the pillion, and still some space behind the tent to tie on the blowup matress. Over the years I have streamlined my process that everything I need for up to a week will fit in the spaces I have.

BUT I WOULD STILL LOVE A SMALL CARAVAN ;D

[popuptoaster]

The pop up caravan does take up space in the garden, but because it foldsdown its parked in front of the front room window where I wouldnt get away with a proper van. lol

I'm thinking about some wood effect sticky back plastic for it to improve its looks and a wheel change.

Main adavantage for me is the speed you can get the thing up, at classic ford show for instance, the van was up, I had a cuppa in my hand and iccle lisa was sunbathing on her towel while most of the rest of our crew were still getting tent parts out of the car boots.

don't mind tenting it, but the van is soooo much nicer in the mornings if the weather isnt great. I always hated the idea of towing a 'van and getting in everyones way, but the jeep will easily tow this at 100mph (round a track officer) without any stability issues.

[Seth]

Hmm, I had vague memories that I'd started a thread on this but was obviously some time ago and the photos have gone walkies. Just had another good weekend away in it though so here's an update.

Now looks like this behind the Hillman with colour matched wheels and painted narrow-band whitewalls on the new 8" rollers.



Once up it looks like this:



and a couple of tidy inside shots before we unpacked/filled it with carp.



The kitchen unit swings out. New addition for this year was a tap for the sink powered by a foot pump



I could pretty much park a car in the awning - a handy space for playing in in inclement weather.



Doubt this organisation still exists as we can find almost nothing on the internet about these trailers



Probably out of action for this year now and over the winter I'll try and repair the cracked outer skin with fibreglass and perhaps give it a coat of paint in the original un-faded beige

[grizz]

Still love these Seth.

Hope all was good.

[bazzateer]

Seth,
I'm picking up a trailer tent this weekend. Not sure of the wheels as yet but I'll be loking for a set of alley cat style wheels to match those on LNK. If I ever get a tow bar on Madge I'll have to get another set of wheels to match hers. Looking good mate.

[dubscum]

seth

car and caravan are amazing mate

[mickeytaker]

My uncle used to have an identical campavan trailer tent , the way the floor pulls out and doubles the length has never been duplicated as far as |I know ,
he was an officer in the St Johns ambulance in Oxford and they used it as a mobile hospital for fetes and other events,
I borrowed it once for a holiday on Canvey Island towing it behind my skoda estelle 130lse ,
at times it felt as though the trailer was steering the car.

I have had two hard top folding campers a coleman missouri and a starcraft , (wind up roofs for the win

[Seth]

Aug 25, 2008 23:26:07 GMT mickeytaker said:

My uncle used to have an identical campavan trailer tent , the way the floor pulls out and doubles the length has never been duplicated as far as I know ,
he was an officer in the St Johns ambulance in Oxford and they used it as a mobile hospital for fetes and other events,
I borrowed it once for a holiday on Canvey Island towing it behind my skoda estelle 130lse ,
at times it felt as though the trailer was steering the car.

I have had two hard top folding campers a coleman missouri and a starcraft , (wind up roofs for the win

HA! Cool stuff. Would be ideal as a hospital!

I know what you mean about steering the car. It was never very stable behind the Saab and would start to weave at the slightest bump above about 53mph. 'Tis rock steady behind the Hillman though and happy at 60.

[penski]

Needs lace

*n