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Topic: Complete restoration - HELP!!!!!

Driving Miss Daisy

31/12/2011 at 6:19pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Lunar Venus 400

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Hello - I am completely new to caravans and also to this website but would like to say that I have already found the advice and content of tremendous help!
I have recently acquired an old lunar venus 400, Im not sure of its age but the gas fire was last serviced in 1981!!! Completely original (except for the curtains) she appeared in very good condition, on further inspection the whole one side is rotten!! Today I stood inside her wondering if I have bitten off more than I can chew and even contemplated sending poor Daisy to caravan heaven!!! On reading various posts on here I think Im going to strip her out and back to the bare bones to assess the true extent of damage. Does anyone have any advice for me please? Do you think she is worth saving or should I lay her to rest?
Many Thanks Carrie

Opensauce

31/12/2011 at 6:34pm
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Only you can answer that. nothing is beyond repair although it can be beyond economical repair. Do you want this particular caravan or just any caravan? Certainly if you cannot diy then it probably ain't worth it.

If you just want a cheap caravan you can get old ones off ebay for a few £100s that will be in better condition than the one you have. If you are prepared to take it to bits then do that & go from there.

Driving Miss Daisy

31/12/2011 at 6:42pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Lunar Venus 400

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Tentz,
Thanks for the reply, I have a passion for anything old/vintage and fell in love with this caravan from the day I saw it! I think she's worth saving and thankfully Im good at DIY! My husband is a builder (he steps in when I step out of my comfort zone!!). Im going to gut her then decide which way to go from there. I'll try and post some pics as I go along - wish me luck

HEJC72

31/12/2011 at 8:24pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Outfit: Holi * Perran 4 * Airedale 5

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This might help you:
http://www.1carpc.co.uk/wcdr/

Wizard is a wizard and several others have rescued damp vans and returned them to their former glory.

If you have specific questions it might be worth addressing it directly to Wizard with a topic heading "FAO Wizard"

Good Luck

-------------
Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum

wynnie69

31/12/2011 at 9:59pm
Location: WEST LOTHIAN
Outfit: COACHMAN 460 2

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you go girl ,do her proud and do her up ,its worth it to feel safe in the knowledge its safe and dry and when she is all done and dusted you can post her in all her splendour for all to see ,good luck im behind you all the way

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wynnie

Driving Miss Daisy

31/12/2011 at 11:06pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Lunar Venus 400

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Thank you all for your support. I feeling more positive already and itching to get started! Im sure I'll be on here constantly asking questions and seeking advice x

stuartggray

31/12/2011 at 11:50pm
Location: Dunfermline
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 560 4

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My Swift Corvette 1990 had one side completely gone. It was apparent that the sky light seals had let go completely once I started looking. I rebuilt the whole offside, even having to replace the wooden frame which had actually disappeared in some areas. I managed this from inside the 'van. I've now had it for 4 years and it is fully watertight according to my posh detector.
Materials uses were caravan glue, Sikaflex and Soudal, lots of it. A lot of ribbon mastic. Enough 4mm ply to cover the whole interior off side wall from front to back window. This was free, using the skins of old interior house doors.
At the end it took a lot of hours, nothing was too complicated and I only paid £140 for parts. Glue, screws, mastic, etc.
Took me a couple of months, but I was recovering from a 6 week spell in hospital.
I now feel dead proud I did it. The 'van is now part of the family.

Driving Miss Daisy

31/12/2011 at 11:55pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Lunar Venus 400

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Wow - well done you! Im a little concerned that I have no undercover space in which to do this - its going to be a lot of hard work!! But she's an old van and Im desperate to restore her to her former glory.

stuartggray

01/1/2012 at 1:00am
Location: Dunfermline
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 560 4

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Quote: Originally posted by Driving Miss Daisy on 31/12/2011Wow - well done you! Im a little concerned that I have no undercover space in which to do this - its going to be a lot of hard work!! But she's an old van and Im desperate to restore her to her former glory.

I did this on the drive in January/February when there was snow everywhere, no cover !!!
I did have the caravan electrics plugged into the garage mains with an electric heater running 24/7 though. Helped dry it out. Oh, and had a large tarp over the top.

Post last edited on 01/01/2012 01:07:05

jhsw

01/1/2012 at 5:39pm
Location: Lanarkshire
Outfit: Compass Lynx 340 2

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Hi Driving Miss Daisy, Know exactly what’s a head of you, as I also have had to re build a caravan from the chassis up, and only way I could tell there were any wooden struts in the van, was by the black marks left by the rotten wood on the panels, it was my very first van, that was long before I knew anything about this forum and long before the internet, if you decide to re build, it will be more than worth the time effort and cost, you will find all the help you need on this forum in the repair and damp sections. This is the van I re-built from chassis up.

ACEpic1.jpg image by caravanhauller ACEpic2.jpg image by caravanhauller

hope this of some encouragement to you.

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If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.

John

Driving Miss Daisy

01/1/2012 at 10:06pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Lunar Venus 400

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An update for you all -

Today I have started to gut the caravan, carefully removing the seats, wardrobe etc in order to put them back in. The front corner was very wet, the timber was like sponge and is now non existant! and the whole one side is the same including part of the roof - eeek!!! My plan is to continue to completely gut her then rebuild the frame where needed. Once this is done I will reseal the entire outside and windows!!! Im guessing here that this would be the correct order in which to complete these jobs - PLEASE if I am wrong or there is a better method, I'd be grateful for some advice!!!

Its going to be a long ride but Im determined to get through it (with the help of my incredibly patient and helpful husband, who happens to be a builder with superb carpentry skills!!!)

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