Sealing a 1950's caravan

Lexxie · Newbie

Sealing a 1950's caravan

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I used a pool type paint ( base coat) on membrane. Then painted water based paint over it . Water based paint expands, stretches and doesn't crack like most oil based paints . On roof .,

warhorse · Senior Member

lexxie if its a 1950s van and it has fibro as you think,its sure to be asbestos,please take all precautions as it kills. regards ray

rgren2 · Guru

Shouldn't imagine it being fibro as it's heavy and relatively brittle, could be early fibreglass, ply or even Masonite.

Possum3 · Guru

Marine ply with Masonite interiors were the materials of choice in the fifties - If it is fibro it would be severely cracked after 60 years on the road and unrepairable.
Any waterproof membrane that can be painted on would re-do the sealing although I suggest you get a white colour and avoid the black bitumenised ones. Available at the big green shed.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Lexxie, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I tend to agree with the ply exterior. Hope you get it sorted soon, so you can get out here.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Lexxie · Newbie

Thank you all for your feedback...
There is ply inside and I will take a close-up picture of the outside when the rain stops (yay the rain!!! we need the rain!)... great to see the caravan is waterproof btw!

Here is a picture of the caravan:

https://www.facebook.com/TerraPermaculture/photos/pb.186566451355990.-2207520000.1481775259./1346647735347850/?type=3&theater or here https://www.instagram.com/p/BN5ziVyAoZE/

I stay away from the big green shed... I don't trust the long-term reliability of their products! Where else though could I find white liquid membrane?

macka17 · Guru

Looking at those sides. They look like 4 pieces of moulding. Probably early Fibreglass??.

Scrape it and see.

Roof. I'd probably go the Heat reflective paint systems.
Seals. protects, and reflects heat all in one go.
I have it. It's great.
Windows. I'd pull all of them and reseal properly
with the strip gasketing you can get from van repairers.
If you want to do it properly.

And at that age.
I'd pull the running gear out and dump.
Check chassis rails. and extend drawbar if keeping.
They normally waay too short.
New springs. Probably mounted on Angle irons to suit.
with axle, hubs, and wheels, with cable new.
You have checked frame to make sure it's worth doing. Haven't you.

Rotten frame. throw away.
Cheaper to build new from scratch.
Have fun.

Tony Bev · Guru

And a warm welcome to the forum from me, Lexxie

Sorry that I could not add to the information, already received

kiwijims · Guru

Hi Lexxie Welcome to the Gang,

I suggest that you place your inquiry on the Vintage Caravan Forum,

Your Caravan will cause quiet a stir there, and no doubt there are others on that Forum who have vans exactly the same as yours.

here is their Forum site............. http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi

Best of luck K.J.

Desert Dweller · Guru

The problem with sealing vintage caravans these days is that you may be sealing the existing rot in. Hopefully not in your case.