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Subject Topic: What do you reckon to this A Frame? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personnavyeyelash
14/7/2016 at 9:15pm
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We bought a van off eBay, we know it needs some work, possibly too much for us, but it was a gamble we took. My father in law is an engineer so can help, but he can't get down to see the van for another 2 weeks and isn't very good with technology so I can't email him the photos!

The seller originally said, "Our original thoughts were that the chassis needs a good clean up to get rid of surface rust and then treating/hammerite. Unfortunately though when hubby removed the broken gas bottle box it became apparent that the A frame needs welding or replacing." obviously they aren't experts so we just took a punt on it.

What do you guys think? Just the Aframe? Or the whole chasis? Can it be repaired or does it need to be replaced, which I would imagine means making a new A Frame and this is a 1978 Eccles Topaz caravan?

Any thoughts, opinions and guidance would be great. We are based in Bristol so any repair people around the area you could suggest would also be fab.

Thanks


Personalan126
15/7/2016 at 3:38pm
 Location: West Scotland
 Outfit: Fleetwood Garland and Almera View alan126's Profile View Profile   Reply to alan126 Reply   Quote alan126 Quote  
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get the chipping hammer out, might be surface rust but if the chassis dissolves or chips away then it is out with the welder

-------------
My E-mail

knockhill marshal and proud


PersonGrampian91
15/7/2016 at 4:49pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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Wire brush on a grinder or drill and be brutal about it, dont think that looks bad and go lightly. After you have stripped it all back then get a small hammer and go over the whole thing.

Tapping away, a nice clang = paint it. A dull thud = replace it.

Dont leave it open to the elements, get a coat of paint over it if your saving it.


Personnavyeyelash
17/7/2016 at 1:51pm
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Yay thanks both, she arrived today so I'll check it out in a second. Fingers crossed for a nice clang!


Personnavyeyelash
17/7/2016 at 3:40pm
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Well it all sounds the same to me! But I sanded a patch down and I don't think it's too bad in the chassis but is quite bad and eaten away on the a frame. Are a frames universal?


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PersonGCMS2012
17/7/2016 at 8:08pm
 Location: Northumberland
 Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK View GCMS2012's Profile View Profile   Reply to GCMS2012 Reply   Quote GCMS2012 Quote  
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Don't sand it....

Get a 'wire wheel' onto a grinder and don't be shy with it either!

Just done the same with my rear brake callipers, then followed it with red calliper paint.

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Damned if I do...

Damned if I don't!!!!


Personalan126
18/7/2016 at 12:47pm
 Location: West Scotland
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any decent blacksmith can weld you up and fabricate a new a frame, it si only box section. get galvanised steel though. the A frame just bolts on, so if need be you disconnect the brake cables, unbolt from van support a frame with axle stands and use the old one as a template

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knockhill marshal and proud


Personnavyeyelash
18/7/2016 at 3:22pm
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Sorry when I say "I sanded" what I mean is my husband put a brush thing on the drill and gave it a good going over and it came up lovely! haha

I've got a nice chap coming out to have a look at it later today, he does mobile welding. How much would you expect a new A frame to cost? I'm hoping it can just be fixed rather than whole new one? I've added some pics of the most broken part and also the part my husband put the wire brush on.







Thanks so much for your help :)


Personwinchman
20/7/2016 at 3:39pm
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What did the welder chap say? it just looks like surface corrosion to me, but its an easy repair even if it has big holes in it, these older caravans are easy to repair so would last forever.


Personnavyeyelash
29/7/2016 at 7:51pm
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The welder chap said mostly surface rust and a few bad patches which he repaired and he's going to clean up the underside for us and save us a job!



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