CaMpylobacter Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 most people don't run shocks on duratorque suspension. if they're not hosing oil out and still seem to have some damping ability then they'll be totally fine have towed the sisters single axle on duratorque suspension caravan. I found that most of the bounce can be cancelled out by running the tyres at a decent pressure - if they're a bit soft it seems to amplify any bouncing tenfold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 Shocks ready for painting Don't know if it's just me, but i find the results from bead blasting hugely satisfying! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 most people don't run shocks on duratorque suspension. if they're not hosing oil out and still seem to have some damping ability then they'll be totally fine have towed the sisters single axle on duratorque suspension caravan. I found that most of the bounce can be cancelled out by running the tyres at a decent pressure - if they're a bit soft it seems to amplify any bouncing tenfold Further to this, when the old man bought his smaller boat, it had some shit-box tyres on it that were a big bag of dicks. The previous owner had pumped them up to standard car road tyre pressures but they were Ling Long Ping Pong Ning Nong light commercials that were supposed to run 70-80PSI so sorted that and the difference was hoojlee noticable. Also, holy shit Kempy, I hadn't read what you'd written yet and just assumed you'd bought new shocks! Looking schmick! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Cheers!, looking even more schmick with an etch primer and couple of coats of paint now. Photos to come of a disastrous effort on the caravan.... this thing is sucking my will to live right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Progress, apparently.... Kept finding lots of corrosion between the Aluminum and steel leaving lots of heavy pitting on the Aluminum surfaces, my choices were to bog it up with epoxies or to do it properly. After finding a friendly sheet metal company in Warkworth I decided that I'm to to entirely remove the side facing in the photo and put new Aluminum on the entire surface, the opposite side has only 1 tiny issue to deal with and I'll deal with that at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.QCR Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Only just found this ! Awesome work so far . Yeah galvanic corrosion the alloy and steel is a bastard . I've probably made all new sides and roofs for about 200 caravans over the last ten years as a coach builder . If I can recomend anything when puttin it back together use sikaflex products to seal everything . Lots of soapy water and turps to clean excess off . Any other questions just shout out . If I was closer if help out 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 Actually I do have the odd question, for a start what would you spray the galv steel and the back of the aluminium with prior to sticking them back together? I wanted to create some kind of barrier. Would etch primer on it's own be enough? I've been treating the rust with brunox epoxy anti corrosion spray, seems to be good stuff.( sand blasting any flaky stuff off first ) http://www.brunox.com/website/productpages/Epoxy-Spray-en.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.QCR Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Yeah any good ep then some zinc paint 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 I reckon house renovations are much easier than this. Here's my check list which is a reminder for me but also someone might read it and have some good ideas. Things still to get: New window rubber seals Outside shower Solar Panels x2 Solar Panel mounting hardware MMPT charge controller LED Lighting Wind down stabilisers New Draw Bar Carpet (squares I think?) Cabling replacement roof vent New Bedding squabs Curtains a freaking miracle Things I already have: Gas heater for hot water (need a flu kit) 12v Water pump 200AH Batteries 2000w invertor 12v Fridge/freezer Paint and stuff New Wheel Bearings New polystyrene insulation New Caravan interior ply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 nice work! I am impressed. It will be so so lush when finished 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 Stage 1 which is outside done and new interior walls hopefully 3-4 weeks, I'll take a break and do the rest over winter which is the furniture refresh etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddy415 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Good work no going back now haha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 Still pulling panels off, hope to stop doing that tomorrow. Anyone in Matakana /warkworth area that is handy with this type of stuff is more than welcome over the next few days, ill shout the steak, beers and some koha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxxy Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Things I already have: Gas heater for hot water (need a flu kit) 12v Water pump 200AH Batteries 2000w invertor 12v Fridge/freezer Paint and stuff New Wheel Bearings New polystyrene insulation New Caravan interior ply Ive seen a few with the califont mounted in a box over the drawbar, keeps the gas run short and no need to make another potential leak in the roof 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 Good idea that and I'll use it, it'll save space inside and avoid having to buy ducting to exhaust it outside. Opening up a new can of worms every day. The bottom corners are all stuffed so im replacing them all one by one, one to go! The step seemed a bit bouncy and the door a bit loose, found out why when I removed the panelling, nothing but rust so that's another job to the list. Will post picks tomorrow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostchips Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Still pulling panels off, hope to stop doing that tomorrow. Anyone in Matakana /warkworth area that is handy with this type of stuff is more than welcome over the next few days, ill shout the steak, beers and some koha. What kind of stuff do you need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 More of a hand really. OK here's the progress from a couple of days work I decided that after finding more and more corrosion around the bottom of the caravan that any patch up attempts would only end in tears and look bad, so I'm ripping into it, literally Left hand side work starts Some of the bits remaining from the corners The matching panels after years of sitting on a beach section without regular washing etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Shocks finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 A bit more detail on the process Front Right Hand corner before any work The white powdery coating is Aluminum oxide, up to 5mm thick, lots of steel missing... Another shot of the same place Sand Blasted and replacement bottom rail going in, san blasted parts treated with a couple of coats of Brunox, great stuff for this you can literally watch it creeping into the corners so it needs a couple of coats and it leaves an epoxy coating, top coat of Cold Galv, just as a barrier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kempy Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 New side support. Theres a 2mm thick steel strip that runs from the bottom all the way up the front of the curve to be added yet, looking a bit nicer now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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