Can people here suggest what caravans made in the 60s and 70s would have aluminium frames. I am looking for a van under 16ft for a project. Thanks, Den
Greg 1 said
02:53 PM May 26, 2018
Most Viscounts of that era had aluminum frames and were very sturdy vans. You wouldn't believe where we took them back then.
Joda said
05:26 PM May 26, 2018
I had a York with alloy frame, sometimes its written on the van somewhere, mr google can help maybe?
madaboutled said
07:28 PM May 26, 2018
Millard used Aluminum frames in the 70's & 80's, I believe York caravans came out of the same factory also with an Aluminum frame. Windsor where mostly Timber Frames.
patrol03 said
12:27 PM May 27, 2018
Yes.my old 1974 16ft Millard had an aluminium frame but the biggest downside was that often you needed to replace rivets that held the sheets to the frame after a period of time as they did work loose.In modern times there are more sophisticated glues about that more than adequately replace pop rivets.The biggest downside of the old Millards was their Chassis construction..75mm X35mm with flat welded sporadically along the length to form the box section. Over time and usage stress fractures would begin to appear in the product between the spring hangers and just behind the rear hanger where breaks were frequent. After 35 years I had to build a complete new chassis for mine ,but used 100 X 50..Springs were also a problem.Very narrow and certainly not forgiving.There is more thought put into modern vans.
dwellem said
01:38 PM May 29, 2018
Thanks for the information so far,anyone else with comments.
Hylife said
02:57 PM May 30, 2018
Had a 78 millard with an aluminium frame. 18'x8'. Tared at 1100kg.
Did approx. 40,000km towing that thing with a late 80s Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 hatchback.
Can't do that now of course, but back then you could tow up to one and a half times the cars GVM.
The Lancer weighed 1500kg so other than being a little under powered with a head wind, it towed it just fine.
Of course, back then you could only tow at a maximum speed of 80kph regardless of vehicle, once your trailer was over 500kg in weight, except for Vic and NT.
Suspension on those old vans was sh!t though so they all wagged. It is why the truckies of the day coined the term 'wobblies' for us caravanners.
Can people here suggest what caravans made in the 60s and 70s would have aluminium frames. I am looking for a van under 16ft for a project. Thanks, Den
Millard used Aluminum frames in the 70's & 80's, I believe York caravans came out of the same factory also with an Aluminum frame. Windsor where mostly Timber Frames.
Thanks for the information so far,anyone else with comments.
Did approx. 40,000km towing that thing with a late 80s Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 hatchback.
Can't do that now of course, but back then you could tow up to one and a half times the cars GVM.
The Lancer weighed 1500kg so other than being a little under powered with a head wind, it towed it just fine.
Of course, back then you could only tow at a maximum speed of 80kph regardless of vehicle, once your trailer was over 500kg in weight, except for Vic and NT.
Suspension on those old vans was sh!t though so they all wagged. It is why the truckies of the day coined the term 'wobblies' for us caravanners.