My caravan project started looking at caravans for our retirement.
We went caravan shopping and finally decided on a van that would suit our needs - $125000.00. Need to work for a few more years.
Driving to Perth one morning up the Kwinana Freewaywe saw a caravan carcass being towed; presumably to have the outer panels installed; and my wife said: ?why don't you build one?.!
That was the start of our caravan.
Whilst holidaying in Albany. WA, I spotted a 1976, 23Ft Capricorn dual axel van sitting unloved in a paddock. Inspected the chassis, paid $250.00 for it, and towed it home.
After a couple of weeks the Capricorn was stripped down to the chassis. Everything above the chassis went to the local scrap dealer and Gumtree for a total of $1600.00.
Then I was made redundant in October 2015; and the project became my full time job.
The suspension was removed and replaced with 3.5 Ton capacity springs and axles. The draw bar was removed and replaced with 150 x 50 x 3 RHS, with an extended ?A? frame that runs through as one piece to the front spring hangers.
The walls and roof and floor are a fiberglass composite, with a molded nose cone supplied by a company in Coolum Beach, Qld; and I`m in Mandurah WA.
Freight was astronomical, so I licensed the chassis as a ?flat top? and drove over to Qld to pick up the materials, which included the windows, doors and trims.
The trip was approx. 10000 Km`s and cost $2500.00 all up including insurance, which was much cheaper than the best freight quote of $5700.00.
The build started on the 23 March, 2015; and I was ?Done and dusted? at the end of October.
Took it on a test run to Port Hedland (3600 Km`s return) 2 weeks ago and nothing broke and towed like a dream, I`m happy.
My original build estimate was $40000.00, but lashed out on some good gear to make life more comfortable. The total cost was $45000.00 and have it insured for an agreed value of $80000.00, and weighed in at 2200 Kg`s.
We are leaving Mandurah on the 29th Dec. for Victoria to see my mum in Mt Beauty (she`s 87), then down to Mornington Peninsula to see my daughter and newest grandson. (Popped out on 9th Dec) Home end of Jan, 2016.
I have kept the verbal short, the pictures will tell the rest. ( Heaps more photos if anyone is interested)
That's a fantastic looking van and to have done it all yourself is a real credit to you hetho, welcome to the forum I am sure you will find us a friendly bunch and we look forward to maybe seeing your van one day out in the big playground.
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Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
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Hi Aussie Paul, KFT, Aussietraveller and Dougwe.
Thank you all for your kind comments, and welcome.
Hope to meet you all on the road somewhere.
Regards.
Hetho
