Hi couple of weeks ago mick and me rescued this Fisher Petite from a garden other side of Leeds mick the happy new owner "be better than the tent for sure mick so I thought" Now mick likes a challenge I thought he had a good one here for sure. Looks pretty good eh well watch this space for progress up date
Well Phase one of the restoration started this weekend floor has rotten areas so the plan is to lift the top part off the floor, roll the trailer and floor out for repair (good idea mick I come help you) well as you can see it did not go quite as micks masterplan so this is where we are now I needed a sit down after that unable to see this as being better than a tent somehow mick is sure he can fix this but afraid way I see it a lot a lot of work and here is the front panel looking like its on its way to the tip Now has anyone any ideas suggestions to offer before I take a chain saw to it tomorrow pete
Rotten ply has a one way trip. Hard to see that under sheet ally though. But you have a half decent basis for a general usage trailer.
Restorable? No doubt. On "The Caravan Show" a while back, there was the rebuild of a Berkeley Statesman double decker van. Links to the rebuild are posted below. I reckon you could do a similar job on your van (On a smaller scale) without too much trouble. Just remember to keep the weight down but the strength up and I'm sure you'll have a fine van in the end. I've seen what you chaps can do with lamps and I would find that far more daunting than restoring that van. Good luck, I can't wait to see it finished at Newark in June. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Well that's not a bad idea dave but I wondered about going here to get another one anyone will be better than what we got now http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/467134 You almost had me convinced there matt I think it could be done maybe but its the cost of all the new materials and is it worth it? off round later think its got to come to bits now and see how bad it is as for Newark 2013 I doubt it ashover possibly!! pete
Well Pete, there are bound to be many caravan graveyards nearer to you than that one - I sold mine to a yard in Spennymoor. I doubt they'd have one of those, though. I can't recall ever seeing one before in just about 50 years of caravanning, on and off (mostly off!). I wouldn't mind a little 2-berth myself but it's the storage that's the problem... I think Derek has it right - make a trailer out of it (and Mick can take his tent to Newark in it!)
He may be a jewel/blacksmith but he's also a wizard with wood, mdf & ply. I wouldn't right it off just yet!
Well, no-one's saying Mick can't put it right - anything can be repaired or restored if you chuck enough time and money at it. But is it going to be financially worthwhile, that's the key to it. I saw the Berkeley Statesman Matthew refers to being restored. It must have cost an absolute fortune to do that, but then I think it was the sole survivor of an unusual and upmarket type of caravan. But good luck to ya, Mick!
Can the alloy skin be removed and reused? If it can then that is a big help as you can use it as a template to cut out the new sections before re-attaching it at the end. The alternative if it can't and possibly the only economical option would be to fabricate the shell from ply and then use a good quality external paint. Keep it maintained and a fresh coat of paint every now and then and there is no reason that shouldn't work. Check out Wickes , as they have a good range of ply, and selected lines are special offer if you buy five or more. No I'm not a Wickes sales rep I just can't find a good price anywhere else.
Well we had a good few hours today ripping this box apart, to say it was so rotten with rusty nails holding it in place it was not so easy. Mick took some pictures of the state of it now I will post them for him later tonight maybe. It is now in bits almost flat packed ready for mick to make new panels and go for a total restoration job!!! That's the plan anyway think maybe 50% of it is headed for the tip some of the wood was just like compost hard to believe it could be towed in that state really. pete
Go on - you know you can do it: - http://www.flickr.com/photos/citroenazu/8709713532/in/set-72157633406116963/
You can always build a teardrop with the trailer...I built one a couple of years ago, here is how I did it: http://blog.makezine.com/projects/teardrop-camper-trailer/
Hi ! I'll send some more pics to Peter , to down load onto site tomorrow evening . A bit knackered to night as caravan is in Leeds and I live in Harrogate. My latest idea is to make the sides up in my living room and hope it goes through the doorway and then at right angles through front door ! mick
Citromobile is an annual meeting organised by the Citroen Car Club in Holland. This years was in Amsterdam at the end of April. This was last years, not sure of the location: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61766673@N00/sets/72157629606360698/. Always some weird and wonderful exhibits, though I have never been myself. The flickr link came through the 2CV-L Yahoo forum. More: http://www.flickr.com/photos/citroenazu/sets/72157633406116963/
That's a nice camper you have there I did think about making myself one at one point but the wet muddy weather we have in the uk your more likely to be stuck inside it all day so something to stand up in is better idea In the end I went for this pop top seen here in Snowdonia enduring 4 days of rain!!!! pete
Well here is the state of play at the moment all flat packed ready for the next stage looks a lot tidier in the garden now than it did yesterday Now its tidier in the garden but not so in the house as tilley rips micks caravan catalogue to pieces!!! cheers pete
Hi ! I know I am more "barking mad" than the my dog " tilley " ! Next job is to remove the aliminium sheeting from the rotten timber sides ,still not to late to change my mind and put the whole lot in the bin and go and buy myself a caravan like Peter's eriba ! as seen above ! mick
Nah! Mick, between you and Pete I reckon that you will have that little beauty ready for Newark - And if I don't see it there I reckon that I will see it at Ashover Problem will be, at Ashover, is whether you are allocated to the lampie area or the vintage caravan site Anyway, there is no way that you are not going to see that project through . I know that . Good luck mates - Steve.
Good luck chaps,I've spent many happy hours welding up and replacing panels in old classic cars, even my last escort van was a real rustbucket.I've done an old commer camper which took many hours of resto.Rule of thumb is that it costs at least twice as much as first thought and takes three times longer. Google Amari plastics Dibond, I reskinned an old ambulance with this stuff, its two thin ally sheets with a plastic core ,might just be the best solution.
Well, it's all gone very quiet on the caravan restoration front - is the Fisher Petite making an appearance at Newark, or not..?
I know Ray but me and mick had some laughs with it, some of it is residing in Harrogate at this point in time but its never going to get to Newark pete
Hi ! Its on track , just going in the wrong direction ! OK ! So plan "A" and "B" were a little optamistic ! Plan " c " was no better ! Confused ?? .....good so am I ! Most of the caravan is lying in Harrogate recycling centre for scrap aluminium as wood all rotten but glue would not un stick itself from the metal cleanly . I took loads of pics and measurements , now if you could just cancell the stove gathering for another 6 weeks I may be in with a chance of turning up with the caravan ! mick
