TECHNICALLETTERSto effect repairs.
Why is no one building ‘retro’ caravans in this
country? They could modernize where necessary but keep
it simple. When one thinks about it, do you really need a
microwave, a full tent, gas bottles and stoves, electric water
pumps, automatic reversing brakes, anti-sway towball
coupling and the like? These can all be added later or
utensils taken from home.
After all, who really cooks a full course meal in a
caravan – it’s normally all done on a fire outside.
A good, basic caravan, one that is more a bedroom
on wheels where one can sleep comfortably at night is
surely more practical and affordable than one wanting to
be all things?
When you have to pay R500 000 for a caravan, the Air
BnB starts to look appealing – know what I mean?
Geoff MeyerGodfrey: While I agree that there were some top selling classics
such as the Sprite Musketeer and Major as well as Jurgens
models that could all make good retro builds ... on second
thought, I like the idea!
Not sure if this would make them much cheaper though.
Caravanning is a lifestyle, one in which you enjoy your own
bed and gear and, while the initial outlay might be considered
expensive, time invariably proves that when it comes to selling
the caravan it can fetch almost the original price – meaning that
overall your holidays were, in fact, cheap.Do it right the fi rst time
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weights up to 25kgW HITE RUST
MychildrenandI recently
spentourholidayat
ScottburghCaravanPark,
wherewehada lovelytime
camping.
I havetwoquestions:
1.Howdoesonetreatwhite
rustonyourcaravan
polesandotherplaces
whereit appears?
2.How do I prevent white
rust?
We are going to Salt Rock
inDecember,andI hearthe
whiterustis hecticthere!
Thankyoufora wonderful
magazine.
Poelie SmithGodfrey: Contrary to belief
that aluminium does not rust,
it does – although strictly
speaking it’s not rust. Exposed
to moisture over a period of
time, ‘naked’ aluminium will
develop an oxide dusting in the
form of bumps or powder. Thebest thing you can do is to have
the poles anodized.
What is anodizing? It is an
electrochemical process that
deposits a thin coating of oxide
to the aluminium surface and
it is available in a wide choice
of durable colours resistant to
corrosion. Choose the lighter
colours to deflect heat.
The benefit of anodizing is
that when handling the poles
your hands stay clean and so
too the ‘canvas’ sleeves in yourRETRO CARAVANS
There once was a time when caravan manufacturers
produced about 11 000 caravans a year, and they were cheap
in comparison to what one finds today.
Thinking back on those popular blue and white Sprite
Musketeers with a double bed up front, two single bunks
with hammocks above – they were just so practical, popular
and perfect for the larger family.
I think the construction of those early models were so
much easier to repair too, aluminium side walls came off so
easily compared to bonded, one could get into the wall panels
tent. Thereafter treat the poles
with reasonable care so that
the anodized surface does not
scratch – as durable as it is.